11_SoilsF24

Soils Botany 101 Fall 2024

Learning Objectives

• Define what constitutes soil

• Understand the biological significance of soil

• Learn how soil forms from parent materials

• Explore the importance of soil for plant growth

• Assess the impact of intensive agriculture and deforestation on soil health

Soil Formation Processes

• Processes: Volcanic activity, erosion, weathering, transport

• Rocks:

  • Igneous: e.g., basalt (fine crystalline), granite (coarse crystalline)

  • Sedimentary: e.g., sandstone, limestone

  • Metamorphic: e.g., marble, slate

• Cycles: Uplift, melting, metamorphism, deposition

• Parent Material: Source from which soils develop

Soil Horizons

• A-Horizon (Topsoil):

  • Organic matter decomposes, key for plant growth

  • Worms and microbes enrich the soil

• B-Horizon (Subsoil):

  • Accumulates minerals leached from upper layers

• C-Horizon:

  • Weathered parent material

• Transition Zones:

  • Areas where different horizons meet

Soil Characteristics and Composition

• Water Interaction: Rain influences soil layers

• Soil Character: Affected by climate, rainfall, and vegetation

• Distinct composition and texture in different horizons

Soil Fertility and Composition Enhancements

• Importance of organic matter and minerals

• Role of weathering in nutrient release

• Strategies: Reduced fertilizer use, improved CO2 capture, enhanced soil health through bacteria

Glaciation Effects

• Influence on soil types in regions like New England

• Features formed: Ground moraine, kettle lakes, outwash plains

• Bedrock: Solid rock beneath soils

Soil Classification

• Types: Clay, silty clay, sandy, loam

• Health Indicators: Combination of soil structure, chemistry, organic content, biology, permeability

Soil Cycles

• Interdependence: Water, plants, and soil interactions

• Processes: Transpiration, absorption, runoff

Environmental Impacts

• Eutrophication: Resulting from excess nitrogen and phosphorus

• Soil Degradation: Consequences on agriculture and natural ecosystems

Vocabulary

• Key Terms:

  • Eutrophication

  • Soil health

  • Soil minerals

  • Parent material

  • Weathering

  • Glaciation

  • Moraine