Soil

Formation Factors

• Parent Material
• Topography
• Climate
• Biota
• Temperature

HORIZONS

• A-Horizon: topsoil; contains most organic matter from decaying roots & actions of animals in the soil; darkest layer; good for plant growth

B-Horizon

• found below the A-Horizon
• contains a lot of clay carried by water seeping through topsoil

C-Horizon

• Bottom layer
• Parent material
• Mostly weathered rock & sediment

Soil Properties

• Color
• Texture - amt. of sand, silt, or clay
• Structure - shape of clumps
• Consistency - hard or soft
• Infiltration - how fast water can enter

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• Moisture
• pH
• Fertility - amt. of nutrients to support plant growth
• Temperature

Soil Types

• change by location
• depend on climate

Soil Testing

• We test soil to determine what fertilizers should be used and also to determine what crops will grow best in that particular soil