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“Helping PeopleUnderstand Soils”
Ten Key Messages
Soils Perform Vital Functions
Sustaining plant and animal lifebelow and above the surface
Regulating and partitioningwater and solute flow
Filtering, buffering, degrading,immobilizing, and detoxifying
Storing and cyclingnutrients
Providing supportto structures
Rain
RunoffSoilInfiltration
Soil is the Basis of the Ecosystem
The living systemsoccurring above andbelow the groundsurface are determinedby the properties of thesoil. We often ignore thesoil because it is hard toobserve.
Soils Support LifeOrganism Typesbacteriafungiprotozoanematodesarthropodsearthworms
Roles & Benefitsdecompositionrelease nutrientscreate poresstabilize soils
Soil Management Affects Soil Quality
Soil QualitySoil Test Kit
Soil is a natural body of solids, liquid, and gases,with either horizons, or layers or the ability to
support rooted plants.
Pedology, the study of soil, is a unique discipline.
color texture
structureconsistence
rootspores
other features
Soils Have Unique Physical, Chemical, andBiological Properties Important to Their Use
Soil-Forming Factors Determine theLocation and Kind of Soil
There are 23,000 soil series in various combinationswith different slopes and surface textures in the U.S.
Soil FormingFactors:
Parent MaterialClimate
Living OrganismsTopography
Time
Soil Survey is a Scientifically-Based Inventory
A soil survey includes maps,descriptions, properties, climate,and interpretations. These areexcellent sources of information.
About 3000 counties in theUnited States have a soil survey.
Soils Have Limitations Which Must BeUnderstood
Concerns for life and propertiesallergies contaminantscorrosivity crop lossdust erosionflooding frost actiongypsum dissolution liquefactionpiping radonrapid runoff salt build upsand blowing sedimentationseptic failure shrink-swellsinkholes slope failuressoil borne disease subsidencesulfidic materials urban hydrologywater tables
Scientific Names for Soils Reduce Ambiguity
• Like plants and animals, soils are classified• The system is called Soil Taxonomy• The highest level is the soil order (12)• The lowest level is the soil series, often a
place name
Soil Order Formative termsAlfisols Alf from combination of al (aluminum) and f (ferrous) ironAndisols Ando from Japanese term dark referring to dark volcanic ashAridisols Latin, aridies, dry aridEntisols Ent meaningless, root recentGelisols Latin gelare, to freezeHistosols Greek, histos, tissueInceptisols Latin, incepum, beginning, inceptionMollisols Latin, mollis, soft, mollifyOxisols French oxideSpodosols Greek spodos, wood ashUltisols Latin ultimus, last, ultimateVertisols Latin verto, vertical cracking
Soil Science Can Be Usefully IncorporatedInto Other Studies
Scienceecology, biology, chemistry
Social Studiesworld trade, land use
Mathematicssoil loss over one hectare
Historysettlement of the U.S., dust bowl
Artsoil crayons, acrylic paints
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