SOILS

1
SOILS

• CHARACTERISTICS, TYPES AND QUALITY FOR
  HORTICULTURAL USES

2
SOILS

• Soils defined
• Parent material
• Climate
• Topography
• Decaying plants and animals
• Time

3
SOILS

• Components
• Solids
• Mineral material
• Organic material
• Pore space
• Air
• Water

4
SOILS

• Functions (Horticultural)
• Support
• Nutrients
• Air
• Water

5
SOILS

• Soil layers
• Soil profile
• Surface
• Subsurface
• Subsoil
• Parent material
• Bedrock

6
SOILS

• Physical properties(seen, felt, measured)
• Color
• Texture
• Structure
• Depth
• Organic matter
• Water-holding capacity

7
SOILS

• Color
• Organic matter content
• Soil minerals
• Drainage conditions
• Degree of oxidation (weathering)
• Light color in surface soil
• Dark color in surface soil
• Shades of red, yellow or gray

8
SOILS

• Texture
• Particle size
• Sand
• Silt
• Clay
• Soil type based on of particle sizes
• Loam

9
SOILS

• Grouping of particles
• Platy
• Blocky
• Granular
• Loose structureless
• Compacted structureless

10
SOILS

• The vertical depth of a soil for plant growth
• From the surface to a layer that stops the
  downward growth of plant roots
• Inhibiting layers
• Rock
• Gravel
• Clay
• Water
• pH

11
SOILS

• Organic matter
• Plants
• Animals
• Humus
• Carbon dioxide
• North Carolina soils generally low in organic
  matter content because of accelerated
  decomposition

12
SOILS

• Water-holding capacity
• Water enters the soil from rainfall or irrigation
• Water fills pore space and forces air out
  (½-rule)
• Water is lost through runoff, drainage
  (percolation or leaching), evaporation, and
  transpiration
• Surface runoff impacted by gravity, slope
  texture, physical properties of the surface

13
SOILS

• Improving soil (stewardship)
• Minimize soil compaction
• Reduce drainage problems
• Decrease erosion (water and wind)
• Cover crops
• Incorporate organic matter