Forest Soils. Forests used to cover the Eastern half of the United States, and most of southern Canada. Most forests are not too hot, or not too cold,

Forest Soils

Forests used to cover the Eastern half of the United States,

and most of southern Canada.

Most forests are not too hot, or not too cold, and have moderate amounts of precipitation.

ALFISOLModerately Weathered

SPODOSOLSandy, Acidic

There are two main types of forests. Pine forests have ashy white layers (E horizons) and are called Spodosols. Deciduous

forests have soils called alfisols, and are not as leached. But clay accumulates in the SUBSOIL.

There are a lot of organisms in the woods.

Like salamanders, chipmunks, squirrels, and deer.

There are a lot of TREES, mosses, fungi and bacteria.

The BIGGEST organism on the Earth is actually a FUNGUS in a temperate forest!

Can you think of a place that relief would be steep?

CO2 from Respiration

CO2 from Atmosphere

CO2 from Respiration

Animal Waste

Dead Animals

Fallen Leaves

Worms

Tree Roots

Soil Carbon from Living Sources Soil Carbon from Dead Sources

Bacteria

CO2 from Respiration

Forests are Important to the Carbon Cycle

Temperate forests store carbon in trees and soils, which keeps it from being released

into the air.

CLEAR CUTTING is removing all trees at once.

Why could this be a problem?

FORESTS are FILTERS.

PLANTS and SOILS work

together to remove germs, extra

nutrients, and other pollutants

from the WATER.

Vocabulary

• E Horizon (eluviated)• Subsoils• Fungus• Leaching

Vocabulary

• Spodosols – acidic, sandy forest soils under conifers

• Alfisols - moderately leached soils often found in temperate forests

• Respiration – animals breathing in and out generate carbon dioxide

• Carbon dioxide – a greenhouse gas