Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the term 'morphology' primarily refer to in the context of soil characteristics?
What does the term 'morphology' primarily refer to in the context of soil characteristics?
Which soil color can be indicative of high organic matter content?
Which soil color can be indicative of high organic matter content?
What is the primary characteristic of Goethite?
What is the primary characteristic of Goethite?
In soil morphology, what is the significance of color 'value'?
In soil morphology, what is the significance of color 'value'?
Signup and view all the answers
What condition typically results in grey, olive, or blue soil colors?
What condition typically results in grey, olive, or blue soil colors?
Signup and view all the answers
What attribute of soil color describes its actual hue or shade?
What attribute of soil color describes its actual hue or shade?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following elements is associated with a white soil color?
Which of the following elements is associated with a white soil color?
Signup and view all the answers
Which mineral is responsible for the blue coloration in soils?
Which mineral is responsible for the blue coloration in soils?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'value' refer to in soil color determination?
What does the term 'value' refer to in soil color determination?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following colors is NOT commonly found in soils?
Which of the following colors is NOT commonly found in soils?
Signup and view all the answers
How is chroma defined in relation to soil colors?
How is chroma defined in relation to soil colors?
Signup and view all the answers
What color pages does the Munsell Soil Color Chart use to indicate combinations?
What color pages does the Munsell Soil Color Chart use to indicate combinations?
Signup and view all the answers
Which moisture condition is NOT one of the three reported for soil color determination?
Which moisture condition is NOT one of the three reported for soil color determination?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the Munsell chart's vertical arrangement of value units indicate?
What does the Munsell chart's vertical arrangement of value units indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
What is meant by soil color 'mottles'?
What is meant by soil color 'mottles'?
Signup and view all the answers
In the Munsell Soil Color Chart, what does a high chroma value indicate?
In the Munsell Soil Color Chart, what does a high chroma value indicate?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Soil Morphology
- Soil morphology deals with the study of soil form, shape, and arrangement of soil particles.
- It is divided into two categories: Profile morphology (study in situ) and Micromorphology (study with the aid of microscopes and computer-aided image processors).
Soil Morphological Properties
- Commonly described soil morphological properties include:
- Colour
- Colour mottles
- Texture
- Structure
- Consistency
Soil Colour
- Soil colour is the most obvious soil morphological characteristic.
- It gives an indication of certain conditions, such as:
- Organic matter content (black, brown, or grey soil colour)
- Presence of iron oxides (goethite, lepidocrocite, hydrogoethite, limonite, and xanthosiderite, resulting in brownish-black, yellow, and brown colours)
- Presence of high amounts of potassium, sodium, aluminium, and manganese (resulting in unique soil colours such as white, black, and yellow)
- Drainage condition of the soil/water table fluctuation (grey, olive, and blue colours in anaerobic conditions)
Description of Soil Colour
- Soil colour is described by three attributes:
- Hue (dominant spectral colour, related to wavelength of light reflected by soil particles)
- Value (lightness or darkness of the colour, affected by moisture)
- Chroma (strength or purity of colour, indicating degree of difference between white, black, or neutral colour)
Soil Colour Determination
- Soil colour determinations are reported at three different moisture contents: wet, moist, and dry.
- Internationally, soil colour is commonly reported using Munsell Soil Color Charts.
- The Munsell book consists of 15 pages, each with a number followed by a letter or letters indicating the hue (e.g., 10 Y/R page contains yellow-red colours).
Colour Mottles
- Colour mottles occur when a soil contains more than one colour, with a dominant background colour and differently coloured mottles.
- Mottles form under alternative wet-dry soil moisture conditions.
- Soil mottles are described by their abundance, size, and contrast to the background colour.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the properties of soil that can be observed by sight or feel, including its form, shape, and arrangement of particles. Learn about profile morphology and more.
