Soil Science Summary PDF

LESSON 1: What is soil? - A natural body comprised of solid, liquid, and gases. - Characterized by horizons or layers. - The ability to support rooted plants in natural environment. - Dynamic natural bodies - Effects of climate and biotic activities, as modified...

LESSON 1: What is soil? - A natural body comprised of solid, liquid, and gases. - Characterized by horizons or layers. - The ability to support rooted plants in natural environment. - Dynamic natural bodies - Effects of climate and biotic activities, as modified by topography, acting on parent materials over periods of time - A thin portion of earth crust which is mixture of organic and inorganic matter. Function and ecosystem services of soil 1. Ecosystem services - Provisioning- such as water, food, medicines, lumber, etc. - Regulating - Purify water, decompose waste, control pests. - Supportive – nutrient cycling, seed dispersal - Cultural – spiritual uplift, scenic views, outdoor recreation 6 roles of the soil 1. Physical support – anchoring the root system - Air – maintaining the quantity and quality of the air. - Water – soil pores adsorb water hold it where it can be used by plant roots. - Temperature – the insulation properties that protects the root systems in different temperature. - Protection from toxins – protects plants from such substances - Suppress toxin producing organisms - Nutrient elements – a fertile soil provides supply nutrients in the crops. 2. Soil regulate water supply – can remove and replenish the water through soil layers. 3. Soils recycle raw materials 4. Soils modify the atmosphere – by adsorbing gases such as carbon dioxide. 5. Soils as habitat to various organisms – a handful of soil may be home to billions organisms. 6. Soils as an engineering medium – most constructed structures do rest on the soil, and many construction projects require excavation Approaches in the study of soil 1. Pedology – Derive from the word “pedon” means soil earth; “logia” means study - Concerned with the study of soil as a natural body - Focuses on understanding and characterizing soil formation, evolution, morphology and classification of soils. 2. Edaphology – from “edaphos”means soil or ground - The study emphasis their practical use. Plant growth. Field of Study in Soil Science Soil Physics - generally about physical properties and physical process. Soil Chemistry and mineralogy – deals with chemical compositions, chemical properties, and chemical reactions of the soil. Soil microbiology – deals with soil ecology, microbial population, their transformations in soil. Land use – deals with utilization or allocation of lands Soil Fertility – nutrient supplying capacity of the soil Soil Genesis, Morphology and Classification – Weathering, factors of soil formation Soil conservation and Management – Protection of soil, soil erosion, chemical deterioration. Different components of the soil 1. Mineral contituents (45%)– most soil’s solid framework consist of mineral particles - The larger soil particles - Smaller paticles tend to be single mineral a. Sand (2-.0 -.0.05mm) – are large enough to be seen by the naked eye. Gritty when rubbed in between the fingers. The primary mineral. b. Silt ( 0.05 – 0.002mm) – are too small to be seen without microscope or to be felt individually floury feels when rubbed in between the fingers c. Clay (