Soil Profile and Soil Fertility

Various layers in soil are called soil horizons.

Right at the top you will see some

vegetation, that is, trees or grass.
Just below the vegetation you will
see a very dark layer of soil, this is
humus. Below the humus you will
see another dark layer, and this is
topsoil. Below the topsoil there is a
layer which is light in colour, and this
is subsoil. Below this you will see
pieces of stones, and this is
gravel/weathered rock fragments.
Below the gravel you will see an
impervious rock, and this is bedrock
or parent rock.

Horizon O (Humus)
- Layer is made up of partially decayed organic matter and surface organisms.
- It is often dark brown to black in colour due to the organic content.

Horizon A (Topsoil)
- The soil is dark in colour.
- It contains humus from rotting vegetation.
- Most roots are found in this horizon.

Horizon B (Subsoil)
- It is light in colour.
- It contains less nutrients than topsoil.
- Roots of long rooted plants are found in this horizon.

Horizon C (Gravel soil)

- This is soil with small stones.
- It is poor in nutrients.
- Tree roots may be found.

Horizon D (Parent/Bed Rock)

- The rock is impervious, that is, it doesn't allow water to pass through, so it forms a water
table.
- If you dig a well and reach this layer, you will have a permanent water supply.
Soil Profile and Soil Fertility

Management of soil fertility

- Fertile soils are soils that can sustain plant growth.

- Soil fertility can be lost hence the need to manage soil fertility.
- The management of soil fertility is important to ensure food security and environmental
sustainability.
- The soil fertility management methods must be able to make the most of crop production
while minimising soil degradation and exhausting soil nutrients.
- Soil degradation is the decline in soil health due to poor management.

Methods of Soil Fertility Management

1. Applying fertilizers both organic and inorganic

- When soil nutrients are missing or in short supply we add fertilizers to replace the lost
nutrients.
- They can be added from a variety of sources like organic matter, for example, compost or
animal manure.
- They can be added from sources like inorganic matter, for example, manufactured fertilisers
that contain nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.

2. Crop Rotation
- Is the growing of different types of crops on the same piece of land year after year.
- This is done so that the crop does not use up only one set of nutrients as growing the same
crop on the same piece of land year after year (monocropping) gradually exhausts the soil of
certain nutrients.
- Crop rotation helps in reducing soil erosion, increasing soil fertility and crop yield.

3. Adding lime
- Lime is crushed limestone.
- It helps to raise the pH levels of acidic soils.
- When added to soil, it dissolves and neutralises soil acidity.
- It is a source of calcium and magnesium.
- It improves the uptake of major plant nutrients.
- It contains natural nutrients which promote healthy plant growth.

4. Adding ant heap soil

- Farmer’s which cannot afford inorganic fertilizers can use ant soil to boost physical structure
of unfertile soils.
- It improves the water holding capacity of the soil, helps retains soil moisture and texture.
Soil Profile and Soil Fertility

Exercise: Soil Profile and Soil Fertility

Total: 20 Marks

Answer all questions in the spaces provided.

1. Topsoil is ________________ in colour, while subsoil is ___________________ in colour. [2]

2. Topsoil is _______________ in nutrients, while subsoil is _______________ in nutrients. [2]
3. Describe Horizon C.
___________________________________________________________________________
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4. Which horizon contains most plant roots? ______________________________________ [1]
5. Describe the characteristics of topsoil.
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6. What is soil degradation?
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_________________________________________________________________________[2]
7. Why is it important to manage soil fertility?
___________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________[2]
8. Name and describe 2 methods of soil fertility management.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________[4]
9. Name 2 of the 3 major nutrients needed by plants.
_________________________________________________________________________[2]