Soil Chemistry
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.
