Principles in Soil

Science
Prepared by:
Jhon Vincent C. Caisip
Outline:
What is Soil?
What is Soil Science?
Concept of Soil
Composition and Component of Soil
Basic Properties of Soil
Field of Study in Soil Science
What is Soil?
• A natural and dynamic
body formed on the land
surface and made up of
porous mixture of organic
and inorganic materials
whose composition and
properties influence the
growth of plants
• Mixture of organic and
inorganic materials which
developed on the earths
surface through
weathering
SOIL SCIENCE
• A body of knowledge
evolved from the study of
soils thru the application
of chemistry, physics,
biology and geology
CONCEPT OF SOIL

To the layman
it is a dirt that must be washed off from their bodies

To the farmer
it is a medium that provides physical support, nutrients and
water to his crop

To a geologist
it is a an obstacle that must be cleared for him to get the rock
and mineral or a clue to the nature and history of the material
underneath the soil
To a mining engineer
it is a materials that must be excavate to get the deposit he/she
interested in

To a construction engineer
it is a materials that must be compacted and manipulated so
that he/she can build stable foundations for his road and buildings

To a soil specialist
the soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic materials formed
from the weathering of rock and minerals and whose properties are
conditioned in various degrees by the influence of climate, living
organisms and relief acting on the parent material over period of time
 inorganic m atter
organic m atter
20% water
air

45%

30%

5%
Pore Space (50 %) Soil Solids (50%)

Fig. 1. Soil Composition showing the approximate

volumetric proportion of the constituents.
 IDEAL SOIL COMPOSITION

•Soils with mineral particles of 45% or more are generally called MINERAL SOILS.
•Soils with organic matter content of 18% or more are called ORGANIC SOILS.
•Organic soils are also called PEAT and MUCK soils or BOG soils.
•PEAT SOILS are organic soils composed of slightly decomposed plant and animal residues the composition of which is still
recognizable.
•MUCK SOILS are organic soils with 20-50% OM that are well decomposed and the original materials cannot be distinguished
anymore.
•BOG SOIL is a general term for organic soils under the Soil Order Histosols.
 COMPOSITION OF THE SOIL
The soil is a complex mixture of solids and pore spaces that are occupied by water and
air.
Air in the soil is made up of:
N2 - 78%

O2 - 20% (This is significant to root respiration because it is easier for roots to

get oxygen from the soil than through the leaves).

CO2 - 0.5 % (Concentration is higher in the soil than in the atmosphere)

Water in the soil is in the form of a solution where nutrient elements are dissolved.

The solid part of the soil is a mixture of ORGANIC and INORGANIC materials.

• ORGANIC MATERIALS include dead residues of plants, animals, and microorganisms.

• INORGANIC MATERIALS are the weathered rocks, minerals, and nutrient elements.

Pore spaces are occupied by air and water.

• Soil is particulate and porous

Soil Solid
mineral matter and
organic matter

Physical Component of a Soil

Basic properties of soil
• 3 dimensional body (with
length, width and depth)
and it also called pedon
soil profile is defined as a
vertical section of the soil
from ground surface
downward to where the soil
meets the underling rock
Soil horizon is a layer
parallel to the soil surface,
whose physical, chemical
and biological
characteristics differ from
the layers above and
beneath
Pedological
Soil is considered as a natural
body with major emphasis on its
genesis, properties and classification
as it occurs in its environment
Edapological
soil is studied in relation
to agricultural production

Why the productivity of soil

varies?
What are the ways of improving
or conserving soil fertility?

Soil is studied as component of

a farm
PEDOLOGICAL APPROACH
• Soil Survey and Classification
• Soil Chemistry
• Soil Physics
EDAPHOLOGICAL APPROACH
• Soil Fertility
• Soil Conservation and
Management