SOIL CHEMISTRY

by Group 2
 Soil chemistry
Soil chemistry is the branch of science
that focuses on the study of chemical
processes and interactions that occur in
the soil. This includes the analysis of soil
composition, the behavior of various
elements and compounds, and their
influence on plant growth.
 What is soil?
•Soil may be defined as the unconsolidated
mineral on the top layer of the earth's crust that
serves as a natural medium for the growth of
land plants.
• It provides the three main nutrients for plants
to live and grow. these are the: nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium.
• It is also known as the "living skin of the earth".
Components of Soil
 SOIL ORGANIC MATTER
- Organic matter includes any plant or animal
1. material that returns to the soil and goes through the
decomposition process.

WATER
- Water is an essential constituent of healthy, productive
2. soils. It serves to bind and secure the physical particulates
in soil structure and is the medium by which natural
chemicals and essential trace element nutrients are
transported to plants.
 AIR
- This soil air supports the life of plants and
3. other organisms present in the soil. The soil
air contains a number of gases which
nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water
vapor are the most important.

MINERALS
4. -Soil minerals serve as both sources and sinks of
essential plant nutrients.
 SOIL
HORIZON
 Soil Horizon
Soil horizons are different layers in the soil that
have unique properties. They form naturally over
time and have letters (like O, A, E, B, C, and
sometimes R) to identify them. Each layer has its
own characteristics, such as color, texture, and
the amount of plant material. These layers help
us understand the soil's health, how plants grow
in it,and how nutrients and water move through
the soil.
 Horizon 0
This is the top layer of soil and is
made up of leaves, plants, and
other organic materials that have
decomposed.
 Horizon A
The A horizon is the layer below the
O horizon. It's often called the
topsoil and is where plants grow
their roots. It's dark and rich in
nutrients because it contains a lot
of organic matter.
 Horizon E
This layer is not always present, but
when it is, it's between the A and B horizons. It's
lighter in color because minerals and nutrients
have been washed out of it. It's like a filter that
lets water pass through and takes away some of
the minerals.
 Horizon B
The B horizon is underneath the A or
E horizon. It's sometimes called the subsoil.
This layer collects the minerals and nutrients
that were washed down from the upper layers.
It can have different colors and textures
depending on what has accumulated in it.
 Horizon C
The C horizon is made up of weathered
rock and minerals, but it doesn't have
much organic matter. It's not as developed
as the upper layers and doesn't have the
same characteristics.
 Horizon R
The R horizon is the bottom layer, and it's
made up of solid rock or unweathered
material. It's like the hard foundation
beneath all the soil layers.
COLORS OF SOIL
1. BLACK
-These soils are often associated with high levels of
organic matter (peats).

[Link]/PALE/BLEACHED
-These soils are often referred to as bleached or
'washed out'. The iron and manganese particles have
been leached out due to high amounts of rainfall or
drainage.
[Link]
-This colour indicates good drainage. Iron found within
the soil is oxidised more readily due to the higher
oxygen content. This causes the soil to develop a 'rusty'
colour.

[Link] TO YELLOW-BROWN
-These soils often have poorer drainage than red soils.
The iron compounds in these soils are in a hydrated
form and therefore do not produce the 'rusty' colour.
[Link]
-Soils associated with moderate organic matter level
and iron oxides.

6. GREY/GREEN
-These soils are associated with very poor drainage or
waterlogging. The lack of air in these soils provides
conditions for iron and manganese to form compounds
that give these soils their colour.
TEXTURE OF SOIL
1. SAND
It is most extensively used construction material. It consists of
particles of rock and hard minerals, such as silicon dioxide.
They are the largest type of soil particles, where each particle
is visible to naked eye.

2. SILT
Silt is a sediment material with an intermediate size between sand
and clay. Carried by water during flood it forms a fertile deposit on
valleys floor.
3. CLAY
Clay is a fine grained cohesive soil. They stick together readily
and form a sticky or gluey texture when they are wet or dry.

4. LOAM
Loam is a mixture of clay, sand and silt and benefits from the
qualities of these 3 different textures, favouring water retention,
air circulation, drainage and fertility. These soils are fertile, easy
to work with and provide good drainage.
 LAND
LAND POLLUTION
POLLUTION
Land pollution refers to the degradation of the Earth's surface caused by human
activities such as littering, dumping of waste, and contamination from industrial
activities.

effects of land pollution

•lost of fertile land for agriculture
•environmental impact
•effects on Human health, and etc.

preventions
•reforestation
•reduce, reuse and recycle
•using less pesticles in agriculture
 SOIL PH
This is a measure of the soil acidity or alkalinity and
is sometimes called the soil "water" pH. This is
because it is a measure of the pH of the soil solution,
which is considered the active pH that affects plant
growth. Soil pH is the foundation of essentially all
soil chemistry and nutrient reaction.
CATION
CATIONEXCHANGE CAPACITY
EXCHANGE CAPACITY
-the cation exchange capacity (cec) of a soil its capacity
to exchange between the soil particles and the soil
solution.
-cec is the sum total of exchangeable ions that soil can
absorb. similarly it also used to describe the ability of a
soil to hold ions.
-5 most abundant exchangeable cations in the soil are
calcium(Ca++), magnesium (Mg++), potassium(K++),
sodium(Na++), aluminum (Al++).
 references
Soil Chemistry - Republic of the Philippines Don Honorio Ventur
State University Villa de Bacolor,. Studocu. (n.d.)
[Link]
venturatechnological-state-university/civil-
engineering/soilchemistry/2421161

Slideshare. (2019, May 10). Soil Chemistry. SlideShare

[Link]
14486004

YouTube. (2021, February 15). Group 6 - soil chemistry. YouTube

[Link]
v=8lWd2EsYO7s&si=cGn32UHVlz_iNqm
[Link]
trysg?.4-.3.a