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