Soil Chemistry

17/08/2022 1
 Definition
 Soil chemistry (SC) is the

study of chemical

characteristics of the soil

 SC is affected by mineral

composition, organic matter

and environmental factors

17/08/2022 2
 What is soil ?
 Soil is the thin layer of
material on the earths
surface
 It consist weathered and
organic materials, air and
water
 Function of soil is food
production
 Important role in climate
regulation
17/08/2022 3
 Two basic sources
1. Edaphology
 “edapha” is Greek word, means Soil
 Natural entity, biochemically weathered and product of nature
 Factors – structure & composition , its physical & chemical properties

2. Pedology
 Pedology is a branch of science deals with formation of soil and
its classification and its describtion

17/08/2022 4
 Formation of soil
Weathering – disintegration of rocks and minerals
 Its not the true soil because plant can’t grow in this
 This weathered materials have to undergo a complex process term as pedogenesis

17/08/2022 5
Pedogenesis – is largely biological phenomenon
 Organic components, dead organic mater, living organisams
(bacteria, fungi, algae).
 This undergo bio physical and bio chemical changes

17/08/2022 6
 Classification of soil
1. Basis of strong ecological genetic approach

i. Class a – normal/zonal soil

ii. Class b – transitional soil
iii. Class c – abnormal soil
2. Based on the origin mineral matter

A. Residual soils
 Weathering & Pedogenesis occurs at the place (Parent rock)
A. Transported soils

i. Colluvial soil (transported by gravity)

ii. Alluvial (transported by running water)
iii. Glacial (transported by glaciers which are large masses of ice, snow)
iv. Eolian (transported by wind)

17/08/2022 7
 Soil profile

 Vertical cross-section of soil

 Develop in 2000-10000 years

17/08/2022 8
17/08/2022 9
Key factors for the formation of soil

1. Type of parent material

2. Climate
3. Overlying vegetation
4. Topography or slope
5. time

17/08/2022 10
17/08/2022 11
17/08/2022 12
17/08/2022 13
17/08/2022 14