introduction to soil iafnr plant and soil sciences module

18
INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

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Page 1: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

INTRODUCTION TO SOILIAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

Page 2: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

WHAT IS SOIL?

Traditionally, Soil is defined as… The material that nourishes and supports growing plants It can include rocks, water, snow, and even air, all of which are capable of supporting plant life.

Image retrieved from: http://bonnieplants.com/library/articles/soil-soil-building/

Page 3: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

FORMATION OF SOIL

Five Factors of Soil Formation Parent Material-The rock or

other material in which soil is formed Glaciers Wind Water Gravity

Time Climate Organisms Topography

Organisms

Time

Topography

Climate

Parent Material

Page 4: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Composition

Soils are made up of four substances Mineral Matter

From breakdown of rocks 45% of volume

Organic Matter Plant and Animal material 5% of Volume

Air Water

With Air makes up 50% of volume

Texture

Mineral Particles in soil are Sand, Silt, Clay

Also Stones, Cobble or Gravel Soil textures are classified as

Fine-made up of mostly clay Medium-silty or loamy in nature,

fine or course to touch Coarse-high sand contact, feel

like table salt

Page 5: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Structure

Structure refers to the arrangement of soil particles Classified into three classes

Structureless-single grain With-structure-granular, platy etc. Structure-destroyed-puddles

Soil structure is important to the absorption of water and the circulation of air

Density and Depth

Bulk Density- the weight of oven-dry soil with is natural arrangement Influence water movement, root

depth, and other physical limitations

Soil Depth-total depth of the topsoil, subsoil, and parent material that allow root growth Depth of soil can cause a

change in crop yield

Page 6: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Colors

Important in recognizing different soil types and characteristics Primarily due to two factors

Humus (Organic Matter)-Dark brown, almost black color in soil

Iron-affects color from weathering of minerals and can be Gray, Red, and Yellow in color

Water Relations

The size, shape, and arrangement of the soil particles and pores determine the ability of a soil to retain water. Large pores conduct water

quicker than fine pores

Page 7: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

THE SOIL PROFILE

Image retrieved from: http://clu-in.org/ecotools/seq.cfm

Page 8: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

SOIL FERTILITY

Nitrogen Part of the chlorophyll which

gives plants their green color Plants that lack in Nitrogen will

lose their normal green color and turn yellow Tips of lower or bottom leaves

turn yellow first

Phosphorus High need for phosphorus by

young plants near root system and seed Tips of lower or bottom leaves

turn blue-green or purple when deficient

Potassium Second to Nitrogen in amounts

used by plants Deficiencies most likely to occur

in sandy soils Browning along lower or bottom leaf

edges

Soil pH Soil pH id s measure of how acidic or basic a soil is pH scale ranges from 0-14

0-6.9 acidic 7 is neutral 7.1-14 basic

Page 9: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

LAB ACTIVITY

Page 10: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

SOIL TYPESJIGSAW ACTIVITY

Page 11: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

SOIL CLASSIFICATIONS

Soils are classified just like plants

They are grouped according to their Agronomic Use- good/ poor soil for certain crops Color Organic Matter Content- mineral soil or peat soil Texture- sand or loam Moisture Condition-wet or dry

Scientific Classification 12 soil orders- used worldwide

Broken down into suborders, great groups, subgroups, families, and series Soil series- used locally

Page 13: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

12 SOIL ORDERS

Page 14: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

12 SOIL ORDERS

Page 15: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

12 SOIL ORDERS

Page 16: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

12 SOIL ORDERS

Page 17: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

Order Description

Alfisols Located in semiarid to moist areas, clay and minerals located in the subsurface, 10% of world land surface

Andisols Highly productive soils, contains volcanic materials, located in cool areas with moderate-high rainfall, 1% of worlds land surface

Aridisols Very dry soils, common in the deserts, 12% of world land surface

Entisols Dunes and flood planes, multiple environments, 16% of world land surface

Gelisols Permafrost near surface, common in high latitudes, 9% of world land surface

Histosols High organic matter content and saturation, common called bogs, 1% of world land surface

Inceptisols Semiarid to humid environments, located in variety of climates, 17% of world land surface

Mollisols Dark color, high organic matter content and very fertile, 7% of world land surface

Oxisols Located in subtropical and tropical regions, low fertility, 8% of world land surface

Spodosols Found under coniferous forests in humid areas, acidic and infertile, 4% of world land surface

Ultisols Humid area soil, dominated by quartz and iron and acidic, 8% of world land surface

Vertisols High content of expanding clay materials, high natural fertility, 2% of world land surface

Page 18: INTRODUCTION TO SOIL IAFNR Plant and Soil Sciences Module

REFERENCES

Parker, R. (2010). Plant and Soil Science: Fundamentals and Applications. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.

United States Department of Agriculture. The Twelve Orders of Soil Taxonomy. Retrieved from http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/edu/?cid=nrcs142p2_053588