2. Soil and Nutrients NOTES

3. I. Soil: A. Formation: Unless soil is transported, weathering and time break down parent rock and humus (organic material).

4. I. Soil: B. Characteristics: color: darker soil = more nutrients (usually)

5. I. Soil: B. Characteristics: texture: varies from sand (large particles, loose, sinks in water) to clay (small particles, clumped, suspended in water) between these extremes is best: loam (mixture of sand and clay)

6. I. Soil: B. Characteristics: depth: near surface = generally more nutrative

7. II. Nutrients: A. Macronutrients: Nutrients needed in larger quantities (from nature or from compost or fertilizer) N, P, K (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium)--limiting factors Also C,O,H,Ca,Mg,Na--but they are not limiting as they are readily available in most environments

8. II. Nutrients: B. Micronutrients: Nutrients needed in small quantities--but still potential limiting factors and of equal importance Cu, Zn, Fe, I, Mn, others

9. II. Nutrients: C. Availability of nutrients:

10. II. Nutrients: D. Cycling of nutrients: