Weathering and Organic Processes from soil What are some reasons that you use soil in your everyday life?

Weathering and Organic Weathering and Organic Processes from soilProcesses from soilWhat are some What are some reasons that you reasons that you use soil in your use soil in your everyday life? everyday life?

Weathering and Organic Weathering and Organic Processes from soilProcesses from soil

Soil is a mixture of Soil is a mixture of four materials: four materials: weathered rock weathered rock particles, organic particles, organic matter, water, and matter, water, and air.air.

Each soil is Each soil is different depending different depending on where the rock on where the rock particles cam from.particles cam from.


Water and air make Water and air make up about 20-30% of up about 20-30% of a soils volume. a soils volume.

5% comes from 5% comes from organic matter organic matter which is remains which is remains and wastes of and wastes of plants, animals, plants, animals, and other living and other living organisms. organisms.


What type of soil that forms in an What type of soil that forms in an area depends upon the following area depends upon the following factors:factors:

1.1. The type of rock in the areaThe type of rock in the area2.2. The area’s climate The area’s climate 3.3. Landforms in the areaLandforms in the area4.4. Plant coverPlant cover5.5. TimeTime6.6. Animals and other organismsAnimals and other organisms


What are the differences between What are the differences between the two soils, think about how soil is the two soils, think about how soil is made.made.


Why do you think Why do you think soil is made up of soil is made up of different materials different materials as you dig deeper?as you dig deeper?

As you dig you will As you dig you will find less organic find less organic and weathered and weathered material in the soilmaterial in the soil


Climate will control Climate will control what types of soil what types of soil you find in that you find in that area.area.

The shape of the The shape of the land also affects land also affects soil. Mountainous soil. Mountainous regions can be very regions can be very different from soils different from soils found in valleys. found in valleys. Why?Why?


There are four world soil typesThere are four world soil types 1. Tropical Soils1. Tropical Soils 2. Desert Soils2. Desert Soils 3. Temperate Soils3. Temperate Soils 4. Arctic Soils4. Arctic Soils


Tropical soils from Tropical soils from in warm, rainy in warm, rainy regions. Heavy regions. Heavy rains wash away rains wash away minerals, leaving minerals, leaving only a thin surface only a thin surface layer of Humus. layer of Humus. Tropical soils are Tropical soils are not suitable for not suitable for growing most crops. growing most crops.


Desert Soils form in Desert Soils form in dry regions. These dry regions. These soils are shallow soils are shallow and contain little and contain little organic matter. organic matter. With the low With the low rainfall, chemical rainfall, chemical weathering and soil weathering and soil formation occur formation occur very slowly.very slowly.


Temperate soils Temperate soils from in regions with from in regions with moderate rainfall moderate rainfall and temperatures. and temperatures. Some temperate Some temperate soils are dark soils are dark colored, rich in colored, rich in organic matter and organic matter and minerals and good minerals and good for growing crops. for growing crops.


Arctic soils form in Arctic soils form in cold, dry regions cold, dry regions where chemical where chemical weathering is slow. weathering is slow. They usually don’t They usually don’t have well have well developed developed horizons. horizons.


Living Organisms affect the Living Organisms affect the characteristics soilcharacteristics soil

Plants break down to form Humus and Plants break down to form Humus and trees add to organic matter as they trees add to organic matter as they are broken downare broken down

Microorganisms include decomposers Microorganisms include decomposers such as bacteria and fungisuch as bacteria and fungi

These microorganisms decompose These microorganisms decompose plants and animals that give nutrients plants and animals that give nutrients to the soilto the soil


Animals Animals loosen and loosen and mix the soil mix the soil they also add they also add to the soil to the soil when their when their bodies bodies decompose.decompose.


Properties of soil can be measured.Properties of soil can be measured. Texture of soil is determined by the Texture of soil is determined by the

size of weathered rock and the size of weathered rock and the particles around it. particles around it.

The color of soil comes from iron and The color of soil comes from iron and humus content.humus content.

Pore space refers to how much space Pore space refers to how much space is between the soil particles.is between the soil particles.


Chemistry is another property of soil.Chemistry is another property of soil. Plants absorb the nutrients they Plants absorb the nutrients they

need from water in the soilneed from water in the soil

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Weathering and Organic Processes from soil What are some reasons that you use soil in your everyday life?