Soil and Nutrients NOTES

I. Soil:

A. Formation:

Unless soil is transported,

weathering and time break down

parent rock and humus (organic material).

I. Soil:

B. Characteristics:

• color: darker soil = more nutrients (usually)

I. Soil:B. Characteristics:• texture: • varies from sand (large

particles, loose, sinks in water) to clay (small particles, clumped, suspended in water)

• between these extremes is best: loam (mixture of sand and clay)

I. Soil:

B. Characteristics:• depth: near surface = generally more nutrative

II. Nutrients:• A. Macronutrients:• Nutrients needed in larger

quantities (from nature or from compost or fertilizer)

• N, P, K (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium)--limiting factors

• Also C,O,H,Ca,Mg,Na--but they are not limiting as they are readily available in most environments

II. Nutrients:

• B. Micronutrients:

• Nutrients needed in small quantities--but still potential limiting factors and of equal importance

• Cu, Zn, Fe, I, Mn, others

II. Nutrients:

• C. Availability of nutrients:

II. Nutrients:

• D. Cycling of nutrients: