PLSC204 Final: final concepts

• School: University of Delaware
• Department: Plant and Soil Sciences
• Course: PLSC204
• Professor: Jeffrey Fuhrmann

Document Summary

5 functions/ crucial ecological roles of soil. Recycling system for nutrients and organic wastes. Engineering medium (will not talk about in the class) A horizon is high in organic matter but still a mineral horizon. B horizon altered from the parent material, subsoil horizon, many types. C horizon thought to be like the parent material for the overlying horizons. O horizon is non mineral horizon at soil surface. R horizon - can"t dig with a shovel. E horizon is highly eluvial horizon with bleached appearance. Approx 50% of an ideal soil would be occupied by solids. Natural mineral soils in humid regions generally have phs in 4-6 range. Potassium, calcium, and phosphorus are plant macronutrients obtained from the soil. Both silt and clay exhibit high cohesiveness/plasticity. 5 soil forming factors include climate, biota, parent material, topography and time. Soil development can be viewed through 4 soil forming processes. Annual effective rainfall on slope is generally less than annual precipitation.