“Helping PeopleUnderstand Soils”

Ten Key Messages

Soils Perform Vital Functions

Sustaining plant and animal lifebelow and above the surface

Regulating and partitioningwater and solute flow

Filtering, buffering, degrading,immobilizing, and detoxifying

Storing and cyclingnutrients

Providing supportto structures

Rain

RunoffSoilInfiltration

Soil is the Basis of the Ecosystem

The living systemsoccurring above andbelow the groundsurface are determinedby the properties of thesoil. We often ignore thesoil because it is hard toobserve.

Soils Support LifeOrganism Typesbacteriafungiprotozoanematodesarthropodsearthworms

Roles & Benefitsdecompositionrelease nutrientscreate poresstabilize soils

Soil Management Affects Soil Quality

Soil QualitySoil Test Kit

Soil is a natural body of solids, liquid, and gases,with either horizons, or layers or the ability to

support rooted plants.

Pedology, the study of soil, is a unique discipline.

color texture

structureconsistence

rootspores

other features

Soils Have Unique Physical, Chemical, andBiological Properties Important to Their Use

Soil-Forming Factors Determine theLocation and Kind of Soil

There are 23,000 soil series in various combinationswith different slopes and surface textures in the U.S.

Soil FormingFactors:

Parent MaterialClimate

Living OrganismsTopography

Time

Soil Survey is a Scientifically-Based Inventory

A soil survey includes maps,descriptions, properties, climate,and interpretations. These areexcellent sources of information.

About 3000 counties in theUnited States have a soil survey.

Soils Have Limitations Which Must BeUnderstood

Concerns for life and propertiesallergies contaminantscorrosivity crop lossdust erosionflooding frost actiongypsum dissolution liquefactionpiping radonrapid runoff salt build upsand blowing sedimentationseptic failure shrink-swellsinkholes slope failuressoil borne disease subsidencesulfidic materials urban hydrologywater tables

Scientific Names for Soils Reduce Ambiguity

• Like plants and animals, soils are classified• The system is called Soil Taxonomy• The highest level is the soil order (12)• The lowest level is the soil series, often a

place name

Soil Order Formative termsAlfisols Alf from combination of al (aluminum) and f (ferrous) ironAndisols Ando from Japanese term dark referring to dark volcanic ashAridisols Latin, aridies, dry aridEntisols Ent meaningless, root recentGelisols Latin gelare, to freezeHistosols Greek, histos, tissueInceptisols Latin, incepum, beginning, inceptionMollisols Latin, mollis, soft, mollifyOxisols French oxideSpodosols Greek spodos, wood ashUltisols Latin ultimus, last, ultimateVertisols Latin verto, vertical cracking

Soil Science Can Be Usefully IncorporatedInto Other Studies

Scienceecology, biology, chemistry

Social Studiesworld trade, land use

Mathematicssoil loss over one hectare

Historysettlement of the U.S., dust bowl

Artsoil crayons, acrylic paints