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    Soils

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    majidnarejo5254
    Soil science studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. A soil analysis examines characteristics like texture, color, consistency, profile, fertility, porosity, permeability, microbiology, pH, and salinity. Soil texture depends on percentages of sand, silt, and clay, which determine soil type. Color and consistency provide information about composition and structure. The soil profile shows its horizons or layers. Fertility indicates nutrient content. Porosity and permeability influence water movement. Microbial life drives nutrient recycling. pH and salinity affect chemical balance and plant growth.

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    Soils

    Uploaded by

    majidnarejo5254
    47 views10 pages
    Soil science studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. A soil analysis examines characteristics like texture, color, consistency, profile, fertility, porosity, permeability, microbiology, pH, and salinity. Soil texture depends on percentages of sand, silt, and clay, which determine soil type. Color and consistency provide information about composition and structure. The soil profile shows its horizons or layers. Fertility indicates nutrient content. Porosity and permeability influence water movement. Microbial life drives nutrient recycling. pH and salinity affect chemical balance and plant growth.

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    Soil science studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. A soil analysis examines characteristics like texture, color, consistency, profile, fertility, porosity, permeability, microbiology, pH, and salinity. Soil texture depends on percentages of sand, silt, and clay, which determine soil type. Color and consistency provide information about composition and structure. The soil profile shows its horizons or layers. Fertility indicates nutrient content. Porosity and permeability influence water movement. Microbial life drives nutrient recycling. pH and salinity affect chemical balance and plant growth.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    47 views10 pages

    Soils

    Uploaded by

    majidnarejo5254
    Soil science studies the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils. A soil analysis examines characteristics like texture, color, consistency, profile, fertility, porosity, permeability, microbiology, pH, and salinity. Soil texture depends on percentages of sand, silt, and clay, which determine soil type. Color and consistency provide information about composition and structure. The soil profile shows its horizons or layers. Fertility indicates nutrient content. Porosity and permeability influence water movement. Microbial life drives nutrient recycling. pH and salinity affect chemical balance and plant growth.

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    of 10

    Soil Science

    Soil science is the study of the physical, chemical


    and biological properties of soils. Soil Science
    allows us to optimize use and preservation of land
    for agriculture…U of Wisconsin-Madison
    Main features of a soil analysis:
     Soil texture (type) – sand, silt, clay, loam
     Color – related to humus content, etc.
     Consistency – how closely particles are packed
     Soil profile – horizons or layers
     Fertility – presence of N, P, and K
     Porosity and permeability – how water interacts
    with the soil
     Soil microbiology – evidence of life in soil
     Soil pH – levels of acid and base in the soil
     Salinity – how much salt is in the soil?
    Soil Texture
     Particle size: sand is largest, silt is next, clay is
    the smallest particle size.
     Humus (decaying plant and animal materials)
    contributes to a good loam soil.
     The soil triangle is used to identify a soil once
    the percentage of each particle size is known.
     Estimating particle size percentages requires a
    specific technique be followed for accuracy.
     Tactile alternatives are used for a good guess.
    Color Consistency
     Determined by the kinds  Densely packed soils are
    of minerals in the soil heavy and hard for roots
     ALSO is due to the to penetrate.
    presence of humus – the  They also do not let air
    more humus, the darker or moisture percolate in
    a soil usually is very easily.
     Amount of moisture in  Loose or friable soils are
    the soil affects its color – the best for water and air
    damp soils are darker – penetration and root
    so soils must be studied growth.
    while dry.  Loose soils are easily
    eroded.
    Soil Profile
     Most soils are divided
    into four horizons or
    layers: O, A, B, C.
     O = leaf litter
     A = topsoil
     B = subsoil
     C = weathered rock
     Below the C is the R
    horizon – bedrock or
    parent material.
    Soil Fertility
     Nitrogen – essential for proteins of all types; needed in
    large amounts; available as ammonia and nitrates in soil;
    promotes rich green leaf color
     Phosphorus – essential in DNA, RNA, and ATP, among
    others; needed in smaller amounts than N; available as
    phosphates and phosphorus oxides; promotes fruit and
    seed formation and healthy energy metabolism
     Potassium – essential for proper osmotic balance and
    starch formation; needed in large amounts; available as
    potassium salts in soil; promotes healthy roots and vigor
     Other macronutrients and micronutrients: magnesium,
    calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, boron, chlorine, zinc, etc.
    Porosity and Permeability
     The availability of water in a soil is critical for
    agriculture. Without it, nothing grows.
     There are many ways to measure how soils
    interact with water.
     Porosity measures how much space there is
    between soil particles for water and air.
     Permeability measures how easily water flows
    downward through a soil to reach plant roots.
     Water holding capacity measures how much water
    is retained in soil after it drains.
    Microbial Life in Soil
     Soil is much more than dirt!
     The living parts of soil – bacteria, fungi, and
    invertebrate animals (like worms) – are critical
    for recycling nutrients and helping plants absorb
    those nutrients.
     Decomposers, nitrogen fixers, and mycorrhizae
    are all examples.
     Pathogens and parasites are also present.
    Berlese extraction: one way to study soil life

    A typical set-up: A sample of some


    organisms extracted
    using a Berlese
    funnel:
    pH Salinity
     pH measures how much  Salinity affects osmosis
    acid or base is in a soil. and water balance in
    A high acid content plants and animals.
    means a low pH.  Pure water has 0 ppm of
     Most plants tolerate pH salinity and sea water
    from 3 to 10 with 5 to 9 has about 30,000 ppm.
    being preferred values.  Plants tolerate a wide
     Very low or very high range of salinity, but
    pH can “burn” plants. anything over 3,000
    ppm causes problems.

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