Soil Profile & Horizons

What is soil?

• Weathering forms the rocks and minerals

• A mixture of rock, mineral particles and organic matter.

• The layers in the soil profile used to classify soil types.

• Organic material in soil comes from living things such as plant and animal remains

How is soil formed? Check all that apply!

• Weathering forms the rocks and minerals of soil

• A mixture of rock, mineral particles and organic matter.

• The layers in the soil profile used to classify soil types.

• Organic material in soil comes from living things such as plant and animal remains

What is a soil profile?

• Weathering forms the rocks and minerals

• A mixture of rock, mineral particles and organic matter.

• The layers in the soil profile used to classify soil types.

• Is a vertical cross section of soil.

What is a soil horizon?

• Weathering forms the rocks and minerals

• A mixture of rock, mineral particles and organic matter.

• The layers in the soil profile used to classify soil types.

• Is a vertical cross section of soil.

Made of grass, decaying organic matter. Plants & insects live here. It is typically 0-2ft deep.

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon

Made of small fine soil particles & other organic matter. Plant roots, fungi, & earthworms live in the horizon. It is typically 2-10ft deep.

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon

Made of humus, clay, & minerals (iron/aluminum). Nothing grows here, typically red/brown color, & 10-30ft deep.

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon

Made of broken up rocks & parent material. Nothing lives in & it is typically 30-48ft deep.

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon

Made of solid rock & nothing lives in the layer

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon