SOIL & THEIR

CLASSIFICATION
WHAT IS SOIL?
 MEANING OF SOIL
• Dynamic natural body
capable of supporting a
vegetative cover.
• Composed of weathered
minerals along with
water, oxygen and
organic materials.
 What is the
difference between
soil and dirt?
PRINCIPAL SOIL
COMPONENTS
SOIL COMPONENTS

5% Inorganic
Materials
25% Soil Water
45%
Soil Air

25% Organic
Matter
CHARACTERISTICS
OF SOIL
 COLOR
•Color of the soil offers
clue to physical &
chemical structure of
the soil.
EXAMPLES OF SOIL COLOR
• Black or dark brown
soil
• Light brown or gray
soil
• Red or yellow soil
 TEXTURE
• A term used to describe
the way a soil feels. This is
affected by the amount of
sand to silt to clay ratio.
• The particles that make up
soil are categorized into
three groups by size –
sand, silt, and clay.
TEXTURAL TRIANGLE
 EXAMPLE!
•21% of Clay, 66% of
Sand and 13% of Silt.
70% OF CLAY
60% OF SAND
60% OF SAND
60% OF SAND
 STRUCTURE

•Refers to the way soil

grains hold together
into small clumps.
• Peds- the clumps of
soil of varying sizes.
TYPES OF SOIL STRUCTURE
 ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY

• Soil pH is a measure of the

acidity and alkalinity.
• pH levels range from 0 to 14,
below 7 is acid or acidic and
above 7 is alkaline.
• The optimal pH range for
most plants is between 5.5
and 7.0
ACIDITY AND ALKALINITY
SOIL PROFILE
SOIL PROFILE
 SOIL PROFILE
• A Horizon (Top soil)
-uppermost & darkest layer.
-contains humus that makes the
soil fertile.
• B Horizon (Subsoil)
-harder & more compact than A
horizon.
-lighter color, often gray/red.
-contains little humus.
 SOIL PROFILE
• C Horizon
-lowermost layer
-horizon where minerals are
found.
• D Horizon
-Bed rock