1. Soil

2. Formation of Soil Combination of sediments and organic material 4 main components – Organic material – Sediment – Water – Air Combinations of these form different types of soil

3. 5 Factors that affect properties of soil Parent Material: type of rock that was broken down Climate: temperature and precipitation Topography: how steep the land is Organism: plants and animals that put in and take out nutrients Time: 500 yrs. for every inch of soil, different climates=shorter/longer

4. Soil Horizons Horizons are Layers O = Organic Horizon – 0-2” – living organisms – Mostly made of humus – “plant litter” – Dark in color

5. Soil Horizons A Horizon – 2-10” – Top Soil – Humus/mineral mixture – Plant roots grow – Very dark-colored

6. Soil Horizons B Horizon – 10-30” – “Sub Soil” – Lots of nutrients – Water leaching brings clay, salt, mineral deposits – Less organic matter – Lighter in color

7. Soil Horizons C Horizon – 30-48” – Weathered parent material and bedrock – Almost no organic matter – No plant roots

8. Soil Degradation Topsoil removed by plowing Vegetation is removed Compacting soil Drying of soil Nutrients depleted

9. Reclamation Reclaiming of land destroyed by mining/farming Layer of topsoil, add fast growing plants Landscape matching surrounding areas