The soil profile is an important tool in nutrient management.

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. For instance, a highly weathered, infertile soil usually contains a light-colored
layer in the subsurface soil from which nutrients have leached away. On the other hand, a highly fertile
soil often has a deep surface layer that contains high amounts of organic matter. With clues provided by
soil profile, we can begin to predict how a soil will perform under certain nutrient management
conditions.

In the previous section, we looked at how soil is actually an integration of water, air, minerals and
organic matter. Now we will view the soil as a vital part of the earth’s physical landscape. The world’s
soils are like blankets that cover most of the earth’s land surfaces. We could not survive without it since
most crops would not be able to grow in the dense rock that lies underneath. There is no uniform depth
to our earth’s soils. While it can be absent in places of exposed bedrock, soil may extend up to tens of
meters into the earth’s surface. Although this may not seem insignificant when compared to the depth
to the core of the earth, the soil profile can be very intricate and diverse. In fact, the soil profile is made
up of distinct layers, known as horizons. The five most common horizons are collectively known as the
master horizons.

Scientists have developed methods to describe the various components and characteristics of the
soil profile. By using common terminology, soil profile descriptions are valuable for deciding how the soil
might be used and/or predicting how the soil might react to its intended use. Technical descriptions of
the soil are not only useful for farmers, but for scientists, ecologists, soil engineers, hydrologists and
land use planners. The soil is arranged in layers or horizons during its formation. These layers or horizons
are known as the soil profile. It is the vertical section of the soil that is exposed by a soil pit. The layers of
soil can easily be identified by the soil colour and size of soil particles. The different layers of soil are
topsoil, subsoil, and parent rock. Each layer of soil has distinct characteristics.

Soil profile helps in determining the role of the soil as well. It helps one to differentiate the given
sample of soil from other soil samples based on factors like its colour, texture, structure, and thickness,
as well as its chemical composition. Soil profile variation occurs from the soil surface to the parent
material. As described above, the vertical variation is usually split into homogeneous regions, called soil
horizons, within which the soil properties are assumed to be homogeneous. With soil samples collected
on a horizon basis and analyzed for soil properties, the vertical distribution of the properties is displayed
in a segmented pattern. In many cases, soil properties vary continuously with depth, and such a
distribution could be presented more suitably using the continuous depth function. Jenny (2019) stated
that every soil property has its own specific depth function. Depth functions with mathematical
equations have been developed for several soil properties.
 The soil profile is a valuable tool in managing soil nutrients as it provides insights into soil fertility.
It changes as the soil weathers and organic matter decomposes. For example, infertile soils often have a
light-colored layer in the subsurface due to nutrient leaching, while fertile soils have a deep surface layer
rich in organic matter. By studying the soil profile, we can make predictions about how a soil will
perform under different nutrient management conditions. In the previous section, we discussed how soil
is a combination of water, air, minerals, and organic matter. Now, let's view soil as an essential part of
the Earth's physical landscape.

Soils cover most of the Earth's land surfaces like blankets and are crucial for our survival as crops
cannot grow in the dense rock underneath. Soils vary in depth, ranging from absent in areas with
exposed bedrock to extending tens of meters into the Earth's surface. Despite not being as deep as the
Earth's core, the soil profile can be complex and diverse, consisting of distinct layers known as horizons.
The most common horizons are collectively referred to as the master horizons. Scientists use
standardized methods to describe the components and characteristics of soil profiles, which are
valuable for determining soil use and predicting soil behavior. These descriptions are not only useful for
farmers but also for scientists, ecologists, soil engineers, hydrologists, and land use planners.

Soil formation results in the arrangement of layers or horizons in the soil profile. These layers,
including topsoil, subsoil, and parent rock, have distinct characteristics that can be identified by soil
color, texture, structure, and thickness, as well as chemical composition. Soil profiles also help in
understanding the role of soil. They allow for differentiation of soil samples based on factors such as
color, texture, structure, thickness, and chemical composition.

Soil profiles vary vertically from the soil surface to the parent material. The vertical variation is
usually divided into homogeneous regions called soil horizons, where soil properties are assumed to be
uniform. Soil properties can be analyzed by collecting samples from each horizon and displaying the
vertical distribution in segmented patterns. In some cases, soil properties vary continuously with depth,
and continuous depth functions may be more suitable for presenting such distributions. Jenny (2019)
noted that each soil property has its own specific depth function, and mathematical equations have
been developed for several soil properties.