soil formation and morphology basics

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Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

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Processes Additions Losses Translocations Transformations

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Page 1: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Formation and Morphology

Basics

Page 2: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

AdditionsLossesTranslocationsTransformations

Processes

Page 3: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Pedogenesis:

The process of soil formation as the resultof the combination of soil forming factors leading to addition, loss, transformation and translocation of materials

Page 4: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Forming Factors

Page 5: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

ClimateOrganisms

ReliefParent Material

Time

Soil Forming Factors

Page 6: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics
Page 7: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Climate

Climate involves both local (microclimatic) and global (macroclimatic) considerations. The key components of climate in soil formation are moisture and temperature.

Temperature speeds reactionsWater promotes translocation

Page 8: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Organisms   The soil and the organisms living on and in it comprise an ecosystem. The active components of the soil ecosystem are the vegetation, fauna, including microorganisms, and man.

Page 9: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Grassland Forest Pineland

Organisms: Vegetation

Page 10: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Organisms: Meso-/Macrofauna

EarthwormsTermites

AntsBeetles

ArthropodsRabbitsMoles

Page 11: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Organisms: microorganisms

BacteriaVirusAlgaeFungi

Actinomycetesprotozoa

Page 12: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Relief/Topography

Altitude elevation climate, vegetation type, potential energy

slope gradient overland and subsurface flow, velocity and runoff rate

aspect slope direction solar radiation

Page 13: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Parent Material

in situ weathering of consolidated rock

superficial deposits, which may have been transported by ice, water, wind or gravity

organic sediments

Page 14: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Time acts on soil formation in two ways:

 

The value of a soil forming factor may change with time (e.g. climatic change, new parent material).

 

The extent of a pedogenetic reaction depends on the time for which it has operated.

Time

Page 15: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil as a Natural Body

Parent Material

Bedrock

Additions

Losses

Translocations

Transformations

Differentiation

Bedrock

Page 16: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Horizons

Roughly parallel layers in the soil with varying composition and properties

Page 17: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Profile

Soil Profile – 2D representation of a vertical section of soil from the surface to its deepest layers or horizons.

The Essentials of Soils

Page 18: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Horizons

Page 19: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Soil Horizons

Roughly parallel layers in the soil with varying composition and properties

Page 20: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Definitions:

Eluviation: the loss of materials including clays,organic matter, oxides of Fe and Al.

Illuviation: accumulation of materials resultingfrom eluvial horizons.

Page 21: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

A horizon [

Page 22: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

A horizon• topsoil/plow layer.• Accumulates organic

material• Often darker than soil

below.• high in plant roots, biotic

activity• Zone of gas and water

exchange

The A HorizonThe A Horizon

A horizon

Page 23: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

A horizonE horizon

Page 24: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

- Zone of EEluviation

The E horizonThe E horizon

E horizon

A horizon

Elluviation = exitIlluviation = into

•Organic matter•Clay•Carbonates•Fe, Al oxides•color

(Illuvial)

(Elluvial)

Page 25: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

A horizon

B horizon[E horizon

Page 26: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

- Accumulates material lost from above, or forms in place.

(translocation, transformation)

- Zone of Illuviation (translocation).

- Maximum expression of soil development.

• clays, O.M., Fe/Al• soil structure• Strong color development• Potentially high reactivity

B horizon

The B HorizonThe B Horizon

Page 27: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

A horizon

B horizon

C horizon [

E horizon

Page 28: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

-Weakly altered by soil forming processes.

-Closely resembles parent material C horizon

The C horizonThe C horizon

Page 29: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

A horizon

B horizon

C horizon

E horizon

R HorizonFlorida?

Page 30: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

R horizon

The R HorizonThe R Horizon

limestone

Page 31: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

O Horizon

Page 32: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

• Surface Horizon• Organic horizon Very high in organic matter

Usually dark-colored

• Often called peat, muck

• Some are very fertile, valuable

• In some countries, O horizon used as fuel.

The O HorizonThe O Horizon

Page 33: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics

Master HorizonsMaster Horizons

Page 34: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics
Page 35: Soil Formation and Morphology Basics