SOIL AND SOIL COMPONENTS

Soil is the covering on the solid encrust of the earth land mass.
Soil is made up of broken down rock material of varying
degree of fineness from parent rock due to different kind of
erosion cause by the weather.
THERE ARE TWO BASIC CONCEPTS OF SOIL
1. The Pedology: Considers soil as a natural entity, a
biochemical weathered and synthesized product of nature.
Aspects such as origin of the soil, its classification and its
description are all related to pedeology.
2. The Edaphology: Conceives the soil as natural habitat for
plant. Edaphology is the study of soil from the stand point
of higher plants. It considers the various properties of the
soil related to plant growth and production.
Buckman and Brady defined “Soil as a dynamic natural
body on the surface of the earth in which plants grow,
composed of minerals, organic materials and living forms.”
Joffe and Marbut defined “Soil as a natural body developed
by natural forces acting on natural materials.” It is usually
differentiated into horizons from mineral and organic
constituents of variable depth which differ from parent
material below in morphology, physical properties,
constitution, chemical properties, composition and biological
characteristics.
COMPONENTS OF SOIL:
The soil consists of four major components i.e. mineral matter,
organic matter, soil air and soil water. The volumetric
composition of mineral (inorganic) soil is:
a. Mineral matter 45%
b. Organic matter 5%
c. Soil water 25 %
d. Soil air 25%
Macro organism like rodents, insects, warms and micro-
organism like bacteria, fungi and algae live in the soil in large
numbers. There is a three phase system in which the mineral
and organic matter, form the solid phase. The water containing
salts and some gasses in solution is the liquid phase and the
various gasses form the gaseous phase.
Each phase contains a number of constituents which make the
whole system highly complex. On the account of changes
continuously taking place in the soil, the system is never in
equilibrium.
Mineral matter: The mineral are extremely variable in size.
Some are as large as the smaller rock fragments, other such as
colloidal clay particles are so small that they cannot be seen
without the aid of an electron microscope.
Organic matter: It represents partially synthesized plant and
animal residues. Such material is continuously being broken
down by the action of soil micro- organism. Organic matter
influences soil properties and consequently on plant growth. It
improves the physical condition of the soil, it increases the water
holding capacity of the soil and is a measure source of nutrient
for the plants. It is also a main source of energy for soil micro-
organism.
Soil water: It is a major component of the soil in relation to
plant growth. The water is held within the soil pores, if the
moisture content of the soil is optimum then the plants can
readily absorb the soil water. Not all the water which soil holds is
available to plants. Much of the water remains in the soil as a
thin film. Soil water dissolves salts and make up the soil solution
which is an important medium for the supply of nutrients to the
plants. There is an exchange of nutrients between the soil solids
and the soil solution and then between soil solution and plants.
Soil air: A part of the soil volume that is not occupied by soil
particles known as pore space is filled partly with soil water and
partly with soil air. The pore space is occupied by both air and
water. Volume of the air varies inversely with that of water. As
the moisture content of the soil increases, the air content
decreases and vice-versa.
Soil air has marked effect on the plant and root growth
including sol micro- organism, plant nutrient formation and
there availability. The content and composition of soil air is
determined to a large degree by the soil- water relationship. It
contains a number of gasses i.e. nitrogen, oxygen, carbon
dioxide and water vapors. Soil air differs from atmosphere in
several respects. First soil air contains greater proportion of
carbon dioxide and lesser amount of oxygen. Soil air has higher
moisture content than the atmosphere.
 Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases,
liquids, and the myriad of organisms that together
support plant life. It is a natural body that exists as part
of the pedosphere and which performs four important
functions: it is a medium for plant growth; it is a means
of water storage, supply and purification; it is a modifier
of the atmosphere; and it is a habitat for organisms that
take part in decomposition of organic matter and the
creation of a habitat for new organisms.
 Soil Horizons (layers): Soil is made up of distinct horizontal
layers; these layers are called horizons. They range from rich,
organic upper layers (humus and topsoil) to underlying rocky
layers ( subsoil, regolith and bedrock).
Humus
gives the Leaching
topsoil a takes
rich brown minerals
color carried by
water to the
subsoil
In a mature soil profile,
there are three distinct
layers(horizons) of the
soil. The undisturbed rock
below the soil is called the
bedrock.
The Ao-horizon consists of
the highly decayed organic
material referred to as the
peat and humus. Humus
gives soil horizon A a rich
brown color. We see no
such brown layer in the
Pine Barrens.
In the A horizon,
water percolates
downward and
carries minerals as
it goes. This is
called “leaching.”
Leaching carries
minerals down into
the lower soil
horizons.
The B-Horizon is called the
subsoil.
This horizon is where the
leached minerals from
horizon A end up.
These leached minerals may
color the subsoil. For
example, the presence of iron
my color the subsoil red.

Horizon B-Zone of Accumulation of leached minerals

The C-horizon is called the zone of
weathered bedrock. When you have a
residual soil, one formed over the
original bedrock, the C-horizon
resembles the bedrock, but it is
weathered.
In a residual soil, the bedrock is below
the C-horizon.
Remember that the Coastal Plain does
not have bedrock under the soil profile,
but it has layers of sand, clay and gravel.
That is because of the sea level changes
over time and the rivers that flowed over
it.
O Horizon - The top, organic layer of soil is dark in
colour, made up mostly of leaf litter and humus
(decomposed organic matter) that make the soil fertile

A Horizon - The layer called topsoil. Seeds germinate

and plant roots grow. It is made up of humus
(decomposed organic matter) mixed with mineral
particles. It is a soft and porous layer. It is a shelter of
living organisms like worms and rodents.
B Horizon - Also called the subsoil. It contains clay and
mineral deposits (like iron, aluminum oxides, and
calcium carbonate) that it receives from layers above it
when mineralized water drips from the soil above. This
layer is hard and compact. Roots of bigger plants
extends till this layer
C Horizon - Also called regolith. It
consists of slightly broken-up
bedrock (weathered parents rocks
with cracks and crevices). Plant
roots do not penetrate into this
layer; very little organic material is
found in this layer.

R Horizon - The unweathered rock

(bedrock) layer that is the last of all
the other layers. This layer is very
hard.
Asoil horizon makes up a distinct layer of soil.
The soil profile is a vertical section of the soil
that depicts all of its horizons. The soil profile
extends from the soil surface to the parent rock
material. By examining a soil profile, we can
gain valuable insight into soil fertility. As the
soil weathers and/or organic matter
decomposes, the profile of the soil changes.
 Soil has three examples of
state: solid soil, soil with air in
the pores and soil with water
in the pores. Due to the
number of different forms of
organic and mineral
compositions, there are
various types of soil that
undergoes different
environmental pressures.
Clay Soil
Clay is one of the many types of soils that are distinguished as soil
in which the particles are packed tightly together with each other
with little or no air space. Because of this characteristic, clay is the
densest and heaviest type of soil.
Defining Factors:
Fine particles
Smooth when dry
Sticky when wet
Retains water
Drains poorly
Less spaces to let air pass
Rich in nutrients
Cool and dense

Ideal for crops like:

Leafy vegetables, Peas, Tomatoes, and Peppers
Silty Soil
Silty soil is extremely smooth and since it retains plenty of
water, it is fertile. Despite the good characteristics of this kind
of soil, it lacks nutrients compared to other types of soils. Silty
soil is ideal for agricultural use as the particles in silty soil are
miniscule.
Defining Factors:
Tiny particles
Slippery when wet
Not grainy or rocky
Extremely fertile
Retains water
Easily transported by wind and water
Good for agriculture purposes
Easily compacted

Ideal for crops like:

All vegetables and fruits
Sandy Soil
Sandy soils are one of the worst types of soils to grown any kind of
plants in. This is because sandy soil has one of the largest particles
and that prevents the soil from retaining water, making it hard for
the roots of plants to establish.

Defining Factors:
Large particles
Dry and gritty to touch
Easily drains water
Less water retention
Warm and airy
Even when wet, easily crumbles through the fingers
Lacks essential nutrients

Ideal for crops like:

Watermelons, Peanuts, and Peaches
Tulips, Cistus, and Hibiscus
Loamy Soil
Loamy soil is one of the perfect types of soil because it is a mix of
sand, clay, silt and even some humus. The pH level of loamy soil is
6, with high calcium levels. The specific composition of loamy soil
can vary, but with the right balance of additives, it can be made
ideal.
Defining Factors:
Well- drained
Fertile
Mixture of sand, silt and clay
Retains water
Retains nutrients
Strong granular structure
Soft and crumbly
Easy to work with
Well aerated
Ideal for crops like:
Tomatoes, Carrots, Parsnips, and Potatoes
Roses, Amaryllis, Marigolds, and Zinnias
Chalky Soil
These kinds of soils are found in limestone beds that have chalk
deposits that are deep. This is not an ideal soil for growing plants
because it can be hard to work with. Chalky soil is alkali and
causes yellow and stunted plants.
Defining Factors:
Lime rich soil
Stony
Severely dry in summers
Poor in nutrients
Warms quickly in summers
Porous
Highly alkaline
Free-draining

Ideal for plants like:

Honeysuckle, Jasminum, Rosa, and Geranium
Peaty Soil
The soil has a lot of organic material and is rich in water, which
makes it one of the best types of soils for plants. But the soil
needs to be drained first. Because of a high water and nutrient
content, peaty soil keeps plants healthy even in dry weather. The
acidic water content is good for controlling plant diseases and
can be used to balance the pH level of other kinds of soils.
Defining Factors:
Dark brown in color
Soft and spongy to the touch
Contains acidic water
Rich in organic matter
Retains water
Stores nutrients
Improves soil buffering
Well aerated Ideal for plants like:
Found in bogs Sphagnum Moss, Ericaceous Shrubs,
Mixed in soil to improve structure and Sedges