Getting Dirty with SOILS

Getting Dirty with

SOILS

Why Care?

Why Care?

 I. Soil Profile

the horizons……OABCR 

R

E

Diagnostic properties (B horizon)

• Texture

• Structure

• Color

Texture

•Structure

Diagnostic properties (B horizon)

• Texture

• Structure

• Color

Munsell Color Chart

R

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

B. Biota

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

B. Biota

C. Parent material

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

B. Biota

C. Parent material

1. Residual soils vs. Transported soils

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

B. Biota

C. Parent material

D. Slope

Soils

II. Major Factors Controlling Soil Formation

(from Jenny, 1951)

A. Climate

B. Biota

C. Parent material

D. Slope

E. Time

III. Major Soil Types

III. Major Soil Types A. Method: non genetic, based solely on physical properties

III. Major Soil Types A. Method: non genetic, based solely on physical properties

III. Major Soil Types A. Method: non genetic, based solely on physical properties B. Soil Types (Orders)

there are 12 total…..we will examine some of these.

Soil Orders

Inceptisols

Mollisols

Ultisols

Oxisols

Aridisols

Vertisols

Inceptisol

Found on steep hillslopes and floodplains

Ultisols

Common in forested areas

Oxisol

Common in the tropics

Mollisol

Common in prairie environments

Vertisol

Aridisols

IV. Synthesis of Climate, Time, andParent Material

V. Soil FertilityA. Fertilizers 5 – 10 - 5

V. Soil FertilityA. Fertilizers 5 – 10 – 5N P K

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersNitrogen

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersNitrogen

* darker, stronger leaves

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersNitrogen

* darker, stronger leaves* helps with uptake of other nutrients

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPhosphorous

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPhosphorous

* strengthens stems and roots

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPhosphorous

* strengthens stems and roots* enhances flowering, and seed

production

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPhosphorous

* strengthens stems and roots* enhances flowering, and seed

production* increases plant’s resistance to

certain diseases

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPotassium (Potash)

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPotassium (Potash)

* strengthens cell walls and stemsof plants.

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersPotassium (Potash)

* strengthens cell walls and stemsof plants.

* helps in plant respiration and uptake of other minerals.

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersB. Organic Matter

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersB. Organic MatterC. Lime

V. Soil FertilityA. FertilizersB. Organic MatterC. LimeD. Trace Elementsessential to plantsFe, Cu, Zn Mg, Mg

VI. Soil Erosion

AlexandriaFredericksburgRichmondPetersburgEmporia

AlexandriaFredericksburgRichmondPetersburgEmporia