What is soil ?
Horizon A / topsoil
1st layer of soil and it is the darkest layer of soil ( dark brown or black ) Contains humus , plant roots , small animals , water and nutrients for plant growth . The darker the soil the more nutrients it contains
B Horizon / subsoil
2nd layer of soil and lighter in color (?reddish brown , it has fewer nutrients and water . Limited plant growth
C Horizon / parent material
3rd layer of soil and lighter in color ( gray ) . No nutrients , animals or plant growth . Contains weathered rock and sediment
PH
Acidity in the soil
R Horizon / bedrock
Below the last layer of soil and it is solid rock . It has not been weather edit broken down yet . No soil in this layer
Water retention
How well it holds water
Partial size
If it is a Gravel , sand , silt or clay
Soil horizon
Is a side profile of the layers of soil
What is soil ?
It is a mixture of minerals , water , air , organic matter and countless organisms that are the decaying remains of once living things . It is the skin of the earth
O Horizon / litter
Not really a layer of soil , it's on top of the first layer of soil and contains grass , plants , and animals
Viability
Nutrients in the soil ( nitrogen , phosphorus , etc )
What are the characteristics of soil ?
Texture , particle size , ph , water retention and viability
Soil Texture
What the soil feels like. How much sand , silt and clay is found in soil