Soils-weathered rock

Order that particles will settle in water

Sand- heaviest settles first

Silt- settles second

Clay- lightest settles third

Soils

• A horizon / top soil-(dark) – contains the most organic material

• B horizon / sub soil-(brown) – area where nutrients leach to, from the A

horizon

• C horizon-(white gray-tan) – weathered bedrock

• Bedrock-parent material

Organic Material

• Once living or from a living thing (manure).

• Gives the soil it’s dark color

• Located in the A horizon

• Aids in moisture retention

Leaching

• Water and minerals leach through the top soil into the lower layers of soil horizons B and C. This is the reason that farmers use fertilizers and manure.

Organisms

Organisms are very important for plant life

• Organisms break down material for plants to use

• Organisms also create holes and burrows for air and water to get into the soil. Which further mechanically and chemically weathers the soil

Soil Quality

• Good soil

Good soil has 3% to 5% of organic matter

• Sandy soil

Sandy soil contains 1% of organic matter

• Silt and clay

Silt and clay contain up to 5% organic matter

Health of Soil

• The way to determine the health of soil and it’s ability to produce is by the amount of organic matter in the soil

Soil particles

• Small soil particlesSmall soil particles hold more organic matter

because they stick to each other. Which means that the organic material gets held between the particles

• Large soil particlesLarge soil particles don’t pack as easy and don’t

hold as much organic matter

Ex: sugar vs flour

Nitrogen

• N=Nitrogen• composes 78% of the earths atmosphere • Largest nutrient that makes up plants• Gives plants their rich green color

(chlorophyll) • Excessive nitrogen may delay crop

maturity because it produces excessive growth of stems and leaves at the expense of the fruit ripening

Phosphorous

• P=Phosphorous

• Works for the plant reproduction cycle

• Found in high amounts in seeds, fruits, and roots

• Adds vigor to plants to help make them healthy and energetic

• Encourages root development

Potassium

• K=Potassium• Soils that are high in

clay content are high in potassium

• Encourages smooth action of nitrogen and phosphorous

• Adds vigor to plants• Strengthens stems• Guards against

disease • Involved in

production of amino acids (builds proteins)

pH scaleAcid-Base scale

• Soils with ph higher than 7.0 or lower than 6.0 will slow nutrient uptake for most plants

• To bring up the pH in the soil farmers use lime to neutralize the acids.

• To bring ph down in soil farmers spread turkey, chicken, or goose manure. (poultry manure is high in acid)