Chapter One The Importance of Soil Video

The Importance of Soil Additional acreage is lost due to urbanization or degradation . Soil is a nonrenewable resource

The Importance of Soil Most of the time we take soil for granted. Soil is a very thin and often fragile layer of life supporting material.

The Importance of Soil What does living things need? Proper temperature Oxygen Water Carbon Other nutrients These factors are exchanged in the soil that allow elements to be recycled rather than lost

The Importance of Soil Oxygen: Plant roots need oxygen to grow. Gases will pass in and out of the soil to supply the oxygen for the roots

The Importance of Soil Temperature Plants will grow best in certain soil temperature ranges. Most plants will root in temperature around 40-50 degrees F. Water: Seldom stays in one place

The Importance of Soil Carbon: Plant leaves collect sunlight to use the energy in the process of photosynthesis. Which involves converting atmosphere carbon to biological carbon Atmosphere carbon = carbon dioxide Biological carbon = simple sugars

The Importance of Soil Nutrients : Plant nutrients are chemicals a plant needs to grow. There are two types of nutrients cycles Nitrogen cycle Mineral cycle

The Importance of Soil Nitrogen: Comes directly from the atmosphere where it occurs as a gas that plants cannot use.

4 Needs of Soil There are four needs of the soil Anchorage Water Oxygen Nutrients

4 Needs of Soil Anchorage: Water: This is where plants grow freely and are firmly supported or anchored so they can grow to reach the sunlight. Water: Soil will provide the plants with all the water the plant needs Roots are the best water absorbing body .

4 Needs of Soil Oxygen: All creature even plants need oxygen. Plants release oxygen during photosynthesis but consume it during respiration.

4 Needs of Soil Nutrients: There are 16 nutrients usually considered to be needed for plants. Plants obtain 13 of the 16 nutrients from the soil itself. Other nutrients come from Air and water. Carbon Oxygen hydrogen

3 phase system What is soil Matrix? It is the arrangement of solid particles and pore spaces which consists of three phases of solid , liquid, and gases.

3 phase system The ideal Soil Type: 50% solid material 25% water 45 % mineral particles 5% organic matter 25% water 25% gases

3 phase system Root Growth: Water reaches the root by two ways either water flows toward the root Or the root grows into moist soil

Soil Particles Sand: .05-2mm Silt: .002-.05 mm Clay: <.002 mm

Sand .05-2mm Sand drains easily = POOR ABILITY TO RETAIN MOISTURE Little chemical activity = LITTLE NUTRIENT BONDING

Silt .002-.05mm Able to hold lots of water and gives water to plants easily Little chemical activity = LITTLE NUTRIENT BONDING May compact under heavy traffic = poor air and water movement

Clay <.002mm Water adheres very well to clay = HIGH ABILITY TO RETAIN MOISTURE But can hold water so tightly plants can’t get it Very chemically active = GOOD NUTRIENT BONDING

Soil Texture Ribbon Test Used to determine what particles your soil is made up of Loam- a fertile soil of clay and sand containing humus. Ribbon test Video

Soil Texture Triangle Video