1. Properties of Soil

2. SOIL
Mixture of mineral matter, organic matter, water, and air. Properties of soil

3. 4 Soil components
Average soils will contain 45% minerals and 5% organic matter.
The components air and water equal the other 50%.
Air 25%
Mineral Matter 45%
Water 25%
Organic Matter 5%

4. Soil components
The two components Water and Air change depending on the amount of water or rain fall a soil receives.
The four parts of a soil:
mineral
organic matter (HUMUS)
water
air

5. 5 Soil Formation Factors
1. Parent material-The material that soils will be formed from.
2. Climatic factors* Most influential of the four factors.
a. Temperature
b. Rain
c. Wind
*Active factors

6. Soil Formation Factors
3. Relief (topography)The elevation or slope of the land.Soil Formation Factors 4. Biota* (biosphere) All Living organisms in an environment 5. Time-The amount of time that materials have been weathered, determine the type of soil and it’s properties.

7. Soil Profile
consists of 3 basic layers
topsoil
subsoil
soil bedrock

8. Topsoil
represents depth normally plowed

9. Subsoil
deep rooting plants send roots down into subsoil

10. Master Horizons
O-(organic) forms above the mineral soil. This horizon is usually found in forested areas.
A-This is the top soil. It is a dark humus layer where most plant rooting occurs

11. Master Horizons
B-zone of illuviation or accumulation from zones above it.
C-parent material composed of wind- blown silt(loess),river deposits or glacial till,
R-Bedrock

12. Soil
classified according to percentage of sand, silt, and clay they contain. We call this Soil texture!

13. Soil Physical Characteristics
What is Soil Texture?
It is the proportion of three sizes of soil particles.
Which are:
Sand (Large)
Silt (Medium)
Clay (Small)

14. Soil Structure
Soils have three different particle sizes The largest particles are sand. They range from mm in diameter

15. Soil Structure
Particles that are between mm in diameter are considered silt. The soil particles .002 mm in diameter and smaller are clay particles.

16. Soil Texture What is Sand?
It is the largest and is further divided into four subcategories.
They are:
Very coarse sand
Coarse sand
Medium sand
Fine Sand

17. Soil Texture
Sand
it is the largest soil separate and is composed mainly of weathered grains of quartz.
Sand is also gritty to the touch.
Sand grains will not stick to each other.
silt and clay make up less than 20% by weight
drain well
little water holding capacity

18. Soil Texture What will sand do to the soil?
It will improve the soil by improving the water infiltration and aeration

19. Soil Texture is the medium sized soil separated.
Silt
is the medium sized soil separated.
Silt particles are silky or powdery to the touch
Silt grains will not stick to one another just like sand grains.
Silt is the best soil as it has the ability to hold large amounts of water in a form plants can use.

20. Soil Texture must contain at least 30% clay
is the smallest size soil separate.
It is composed of tiny crystals
Clay is formed by chemical reactions between weathered minerals to form tiny particle of new minerals.
Clay will hold more plant nutrients than any other separate.
Clay grains will stick to one another.
must contain at least 30% clay
holds more moisture than is good for plants
poor drainage

21. Loamy Soil
most desirable soil equal parts sand, silt and clay

22. Soil Texture

25. Soil Texture 1. 40% sand 22% clay and 38% silt
What is the soil classified as?

26. Soil Texture 2.
30% sand 30 % clay and 40 % silt
What is it?

27. Soil Texture 3.
40% sand 10 % clay and 50% silt
What is it?

28. Soil Texture 4.
40 % sand 30% clay and 30% silt.
What is it?