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Env 2 Notesmid

The document provides an overview of soil profiles, including the different horizons and soil-forming processes such as weathering, translocation, and decomposition. It discusses the importance of soil for plant growth, including nutrient cycling and the effects of soil texture on agricultural potential. Additionally, it highlights the conditions that restrict root growth and the characteristics of various soil types.

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Asya Mammadova
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5 views3 pages

Env 2 Notesmid

The document provides an overview of soil profiles, including the different horizons and soil-forming processes such as weathering, translocation, and decomposition. It discusses the importance of soil for plant growth, including nutrient cycling and the effects of soil texture on agricultural potential. Additionally, it highlights the conditions that restrict root growth and the characteristics of various soil types.

Uploaded by

Asya Mammadova
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Soil

Soil profile- vertical section through soil, divided into horizons


1. Organic Horizon O
2. Mixed-mineral organic horizon A
3. Eluvial horizon E
4. Illuvial horizon B
5. Bedrock or parent material C

Soil forming processes-


1. Gains and losses of material
2. Water movement
3. Chemical transformation

Soil- open system in steady state equilibrium.


Principle soil forming processes- weathering of bedrock, organic changes, material
movement, waterlogging
Weathering- defines base horizon, introduces nutrients, fertility, drainage

Translocation- material movement


Leaching- downward movement
Arid-semi-arid environment- evapotranspiration>precipitation, upward movement
Punjab irrigation scheme- salinization

Decomposition
Leaf litter to humus
Near surface
Litter decomposed into dark mass
Degraded gradually
Detritivores- fungi, algae, small insects, bacteria, warms
Wet conditions- forms peat
Mineralization-nitrogenous compounds

Weathering
Decomposition + disintegration of rocks in situ
Decomp-chemical weathering, Granite- kaolinite

Disintegration- mechanical
Smaller fragments of same rock

Biological- by animals, both disintegration and decomposition

Interrelated processes

Weathering- breaks rock down, forms regolith, which forms soil


Nutrient cycling
Macronutrients- oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon
Micronutrients/ trace elements- magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus

Soil benefits for plants:

-anchorage for roots


-supply of water
-supply of oxygen
-supply of mineral nutrients(nitrogen)
-protection against adverse changes of temperature and ph

Conditions restrict root growth


Physical:
- Mechanical barriers
- Absence of cracks
- Oxygen shortage due to waterlogging
- Dryness
- Too high/low temperature

Chemical:
- High aluminium concentration, due to low ph
- Low nutrient supply
- Phytotoxic chemicals in anaerobic soil

Soil texture

Loam-ideal soil for cultivation, balance b/w water holding ab -freely draining
Soil text- sand, silt, clay
Loam- balanced soil with significant proportions of sand, silt, clay

Soil type:

Agricultural potential
- porosity/ permeability of soil
- Surface area of soil peds

Drainage- depends on pore spaces


Light, medium, heavy

Heavy clay- holds more water than light soil


Light soil- easily drained of water, warms up quickly- allow early growth in spring

Heavy soil- smaller pores, very large chemically active surface- water/nutrient retentive

Clay-absorbs water, soils swells when wet-shrinks when dry


Clay<silt<sand
Silt- drains faster than clay, slower than sand, low farming potential

Air spaces- small peds-ideal

Sandy soil- low primary productivity bc of poor water holding, low nutrient status

Clay soil- low pp bc of poor aeration/poor water infiltration

Loam soil- high pp, medium infiltration rate, water holding cap, nutrients status, aeration,
ease of working

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