Soil

Let’s dig in!

General Study Questions form the Soil Survey Soil Pit

Soil is a living naturally occurring dynamic system at the interface of air and rock. Soil forms in response to forces of climate and organisms that act on the parent material in a specific landscape (topography) over a period of time

Soil Exam

Food Fiber Fuel Buildings Recyles and detoxifies waste

Soil = 6 feet deep 1 rsp of soil = 50 billion living things

Importance of Soil

Soil Profile

What is soil composed

of?

Soil is composed of three main

elements: Sand Clay Silt

The amount or percentage of each element determines the soil's texture

Soil texture

Determine the

texture

Sand = feels gritty Silt = feels floury Clay = sticky when wet

Loams = mixture of materialshttp://www.envirothonpa.org/pdfs/10%20-%20Soil%20Reference.pdf

Textures

Factors forming soil

Soil Structure

Topsoil – dark organic matter Subsoil = less organic matter Red soil = often high iron, well drained Wet soil = lack of O leads to grey colors

Soil Color

Soil pH range of 6 to 7 is most favorable

for plant growth Great diversity of pH in PA (more acidic

than alkaline) Low pH = add lime High pH = add sulfur or sulfuric acid

Soil pH

http

://soils.usda.gov/survey/online_surveys/pennsylvania/#york2003

Resources:http://www.envirothonpa.org/StationTraining2.html?tab=2#TabbedPanels1

Soil Survey