Soil Chemistry

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Chemical Weathering

Breakdown of rocks through a change in their chemical makeup.

Environmental Soil Chemistry

It is the study of chemical reactions between soils and environmentally important plant nutrients, radionuclides, metals, metalloids, and organic chemicals.

E - eluviated

Leached of clay, minerals, and organic matter, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles of quartz or other resistant materials - missing in some soils but often found in older soils and forest soils.

Peaty

They are acidic and as a result, does not support decomposition very well. It is dark in color, rich in organic material, although contains less nutrients than loamy soils.

Chalky

They are alkaline with a pH of about 7.5. It is not acidic and often stony with chalk or limestone bedrock. It is free draining because of its coarse and stony nature. Not the best for crops to grow in as they lack manganese and iron.

Sandy Soils

They are free draining, with the largest, but fine and hard particles. It has a gritty feel. It does not bind very well.

Silty Soils

This kind is finer, smoother in texture and holds water better than sandy soils.

Loamy

This soil is a mixture of sand, clay and silt particles and has the ability to retain water.

1. Specific Pollution 2. Widespread Pollution

Two Types of Soil Pollution

1. Sandy Soils 2. Silty Soils 3. Clay 4. Loamy 5. Peaty 6. Chalky

Types of Soil

Biological Weathering

Breakdown of rocks by living things.

Climate

Affecting the rate of weathering and organic decomposition.

Soil Degradation

A complex problem that requires governments, institutions, communities and individuals to take joint measures.

R - bedrock

A mass of rock such as granite, basalt, quartzite, limestone or sandstone that forms the parent material for some soils.

Physical Weathering

Breakdown of rocks from the result of a mechanical action.

Soil Chemistry

Discipline embracing all chemical and mineralogical compounds and reactions occurring in soils and soil-forming processes.

1. Parent Material 2. Organisms 3. Climate 4. Topography 5. Time

Factors Affecting Soil Formation

Topography

Grade of slope affecting drainage, erosion and deposition.

Living Organisms

Influencing soil formation.

Time

Influencing soil properties.

Widespread Pollution

It covers extensive areas and has several causes the reasons for which are difficult to identify.

Soil

It is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support life.

Specific Pollution

It is accounted for by particular causes, occurring in small areas the reasons for which can be easily identified.

Soil Chemistry

It is the branch of soil science that deals with the chemical composition, chemical properties, and chemical reactions of soils.

Soil pH

It is the measure of acidity or alkalinity of a soil.

Pedogenesis

It is the process of soil formation as regulated by the effects of place, environment, and history.

Parent Material

Minerals forming the basis of soil.

A - topsoil

Mostly minerals from parent material with organic matter incorporated. A good material for plants and other organisms to live.

O - humus or organic

Mostly organic matter such as decomposing leaves.

B - subsoil

Rich in minerals that leached (moved down) from the A or E horizons and accumulated here.

Clay

The particles that make up this are the finest and they bind very well. It has very little air spaces.

1. O - humus or organic 2. A - topsoil 3. E - eluviated 4. B - subsoil 5. C - parent material 6. R - bedrock

Soil Horizon

Weathering of Rocks

Soil is the thin layer of material covering the earth's surface and is formed from the [ answer ].

Neutral

Soils with a pH of 7 are?

Alkaline or "Sweet"

Soils with pH values above 7 are?

Acid or "Sour"

Soils with pH values below 7 are?

C - parent material

The deposit at Earth's surface from which the soil developed.


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