ssc ch2

in what conditions are e horizons found in soil?

in areas with high rainfall and in well-developed forest vegetation, as acidic litter increases eluviation

Oi meaning

slightly decomposed organic matter

Oe meaning

medium/moderately decomposed organic matter

Oa meaning

highly decomposed organic matter

what does p mean?

plowed

what does g mean

gleying

what does h mean

illuvial accumulation of organic matter

what does k mean?

accumulation of carbonates; means water is not reaching that horizon

what is s mean?

illuvial organic matter and iron, aluminum oxidesw

what does t stand for?

accumulation of silicate clays

why do e layers look washed out, empty, and not colored?

because it is the elluvial layer, stuff moves out of it

what horizon is most impacted by weathering?

A horizon

what are deep, dark browns?

organic matter

what is white?

carbonates, salts

what is red, yellow?

iron

what are black stains?

sulfides, manganese

what is grey/tan?

uncoated particles

what does soil color tell us?

minerals, degree of erosion, organic matter, lack of or presence of oxygen

munsell system

hue, value, chroma

hue

basic color

value

lightlness/darkness; high means salts and carbonates; low means organic matter

chroma

color intensity (strength, purity, and saturation of color); low means low chemical weathering; high means high chemical weathering

Fe2+

blue/green; oxygen is absent from pores; water in pores instead; h2o soluble; leaching turns soil grey (gleying)

Fe3+ + e-

Red/yellow; oxygen present in pores; immobile;

what happens when Fe2+ oxidizes?

It becomes Fe3+ and the soil turns orange