Soils. Soil Weathering and erosion transports materials across Earth’s surface Weathering and...

SoilsSoils

SoilSoil

Weathering and erosion transports Weathering and erosion transports materials across Earth’s surfacematerials across Earth’s surface

The loose material covers most of The loose material covers most of Earth’s surface is a Earth’s surface is a resourceresource. .

Soil (not dirt) is a combination of Soil (not dirt) is a combination of weathered rock and organic material weathered rock and organic material that can support plant life. that can support plant life.

Soil formation is a Soil formation is a slowslow process. process.

Soil FormationSoil Formation Parent materialParent material – the material weathered – the material weathered

into soilinto soil Residual SoilResidual Soil – –

Soil that contains weathered material that Soil that contains weathered material that matches the local bedrockmatches the local bedrock

The local bedrock was weathered in place and The local bedrock was weathered in place and turned into soil. (Remember this is a very slow turned into soil. (Remember this is a very slow process)process)

Transported SoilTransported Soil Soil that contains weathered material that is Soil that contains weathered material that is

different from the local bedrock.different from the local bedrock. The rock material needed to make the soil was The rock material needed to make the soil was

‘transported’ (wind, water, glaciers) ‘transported’ (wind, water, glaciers) NYS is mostly covered in transported soilNYS is mostly covered in transported soil

Soil ProfilesSoil Profiles

The ‘ideal’ soil The ‘ideal’ soil profile is composed profile is composed of 4 layersof 4 layers O - organicO - organic A - leachingA - leaching B - accumulationB - accumulation C – weathered C – weathered

parent materialparent material

Soil ProfilesSoil Profiles

Types of SoilTypes of Soil

There are many different soils that There are many different soils that are formed under unique conditionsare formed under unique conditions

Soil composition –Soil composition – Inorganic material sand, silt, Inorganic material sand, silt, clayclay. . This material affects the amount of This material affects the amount of

water within soil water within soil sand dries out fast, clayey soil dries sand dries out fast, clayey soil dries

slower.slower.

Soil Soil ClassificatiClassificati

onon• Different conditions lead to different soil types.

Factors that influence Soil Factors that influence Soil DevelopmentDevelopment

TimeTime Parent MaterialParent Material Plants and animalsPlants and animals Topography (slope)Topography (slope) ClimateClimate

Some Soil PhotosSome Soil Photos

New York Tennessee

South Dakota

California

Houston, TX

North East US

Northeast woodland

Tropical Soils:

•Very thick B layer

England

Desert Soil

Hawaii Soil