Soil Profile

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

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.

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

• A 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 solid rock & nothing lives in the layer

• A Horizon

• C Horizon

• Bedrock

• O horizon

• B Horizon

Which layer is the parent material?

• Horizon O

• Horizon A

• Horizon B

• Horizon C

• Horizon R

Which layer is the subsoil?

• Horizon O

• Horizon A

• Horizon B

• Horizon C

• Horizon R

The horizon is called the subsoil, usually consist of clay and other particles leached down from the A Horizon

• B Horizon
• A Horizon
• Erosion
• Bedrock

Which horizon provides the best environment for the growth of plant roots?

• A

• O

• The Solum

• B