Class 13b: Soils (pedology)

1
Class 13b Soils (pedology)
2
What is soil?

• Not just dirt

3
Soil components

• Parent material
• Temperature and moisture

4
Soil formation

• Bedrock breaks apart into regolith

5
Classifying soils color

• Color tells you about chemistry

6
Classifying soils texture

• Size, organization of particles

7
Classifying soils texture
8
Classifying soils structure

• Arrangement of soil particles

9
Classifying soils structure

• Porosity
• Permeability

10
Soil moisture
11
Soil-water balance

• Warmer temperatures higher ET
• Higher precipitation higher percolation

12
Soil profiles
13
Soil classification

• More complicated than climate

14
Entisols

• Relativey new most recent soils

15
Oxisols

• Old soils minerals except oxides leached out

16
Aridisols

• Found in arid environments

17
Mollisols

• Most productive soil

18
Alfisols

• Significant aluminum (Al) and iron (Fe)

19
Spodosols

• Most acidic soil minerals leached to lower
  horizon

20
Soil degradation

• Forms in 500 years, but can disappear in one

21
Soil degradation
22
Soil degradation

• Salinization salty soil