Soil as a System: Components, Formation, Profiles, and Essential Nutrients

Notes

Soil as a system Soil- a plant supporting system consisting of rocks, organic matter, air, gases, nutrients, and dead and living microorganisms Soil is an ecosystem You have to put back what you take out of the soil Soil formation is slow and complex Parent material- the base geologic material of soil •lava, volcanic ash, rock, dunes, river sediments Bedrock- the continuous mass of solid rock compromising the earths crust Weathering- the physical, chemical, or biological process that breaks down rocks to form soil A soil profile consists of horizons (each layer of soil) O horizon - organic (litter layer) A horizon E horizon - Eluviated (leaching layer) B horizon C horizon R horizon - rock (parent material) The big four 1. pH- degree of acidity or alkalinity of the soil 2. Nitrogen- stimulates above ground growth, produces rich green color of healthy vegetation 3. Phosphorus- stimulated early root formation, jump starts plant growth 4. Potassium- plant vigor, disease resistance, strong plant structure, chlorophyll development Land ethic- an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage