Unit test : Soil

Soil is a mixture of

rock and minerals, organic matter, & living things

Three main sediments of soil

clay, silt, & sand

Even proportion of sand, silt, and clay found in soil

loam / clay loam

plants prefer ___ pH levels

6.0 - 6.8

Generic soil types

pedalfer, pedocal, laterites

temp climates

pedalfer

dry climates

pedocal

wet climates

laterite

Dominant soil order in Cedar Park

Mollisols & alfisols

Soil begins as

bedrock

As soil forms/distinctive layers

horizons

When soil horizons are viewed together from the side

soil profile

order of soil layers

O, A, E, B, C, R

O Horizon

humus

A Horizon

topsoil

E Horizon

eluviation layer

B Horizon

subsoil

C Horizon

regolith

R Horizon

bedrock

Nitrogen in plants

chlorophyll for leaves/plant growth

Potassium in plants

for stems in new cell growth

Phosphorus in plants

root development for flowers & fruit