SOILS

SOILSACIDITY AND TEMPERATURE OF SOIL Nekelle De Coteau 6B

WHAT IS SOIL Soil is the mixture of broken rocks, minerals and living

organisms and decaying organic matter called humus

Soil is a natural body consisting of layers that are primarily composed of minerals which differ from their parent materials in their texture structure, and other characteristics.

IMAGES OF SOILS

SOIL PH Soil Ph is the measure of acidity or alkalinity in soil

ACIDIC SOIL Soil is said to be acid when it is below 7 on the pH scale.

These soils can be very useful for cultivation as organic matter is broken down rapidly

Acidic soil is good for farming because it helps to release secondary minerals

WHAT CONTRIBUTES TO ACIDIC SOIL? Rainfall

Fertilizer use

Plant root activity

Weathering of materials

Acid rain

ALKALINE SOIL These are when the soil is above 6 on the pH

scale

These soil have poor structure and low infiltration capacity

They have a hard calcareous layer

GLOBAL VARIATION IN SOIL PH

Red = acidic soil. Yellow = neutral soil. Blue = alkaline soil. Black = no data.

SOIL TEMPERATURES Soil temperature is the temperature

measured near the surface of the soil

Soil with little vegetation happens to heat up more rapidly

This contributes to a warm “moist” soil and will have greater biota activity

This is because it gives rapid breakdown to organic matter

IMAGES OF SOILS Alkaline Acidic

REFERENCES

Geography an Integrated Approach

Wikipedia.com

organicgardening.about.com