Maha Abdel Karim

Mr. Mangan
IB2 ESS
26 October 2016
5.1 Introduction to Soil Systems

Part A: Soil Profile

O / Organic horizon:
- decomposed litter
- partly decomposed (fermenting) litter
- well-decomposed humus
A / Mixed mineral-organic horizon:
- humus
- ploughed (field or garden)
- gleyed or waterlogged
E / Eluvial or leached horizon:
- strongly leached, ash coloured horizon, as in
a podzol
- weakly bleached, light brown horizon, as in a
brown earth
B / Illuvial or deposited horizon:
- iron deposited
- clay deposited
- humus deposited
C / Bedrock or parent material:
- rock
- unconsolidated materials

Part B Soil texture

1. Soil is a mixture of organic matter, nutrients, air, water
2. Soil texture is a measure of the volume proportions of clay, silt, sand
3. Soil texture determines:
Surface area of peds determines the water holding capacity of the soil and
Pore spaces determine the rate at which water moves through it
4. Rate the following soil types with relation to permeability (sand, clay)
Low permeability - clay
high permeability - sand
5. Loam is best for growing crops as they have a mix of
silt at the volume proportion of 40%
sand at the volume proportion of 40%
clay at the volume proportion of 20%

Texture

Nutrient
Capacity
Good

Infiltration

Water holding capacity

Aeration

Workability

Poor

Good

Poor

Poor

Medium

Medium

Poor-medium

Poor-medium

Medium

Poor

Good

Poor

Good

Good

Medium

Medium

Medium

Medium

Medium

Clay
Silt
Sand
Loam
20% clay, 40-60% sand
and 80% silt
productivity of Soil

II

Primary

After looking at the structure & properties of the types of soil, predict which will have the greatest primary productivity = Loam

Low permeable content holds nutrients and water,

High porosity content ensures seepage of water, it has large air spaces that roots can dig through and decomposers can use for decomposition.
Different soil types have the clay and sand together.

III The soil horizon layers

Soil Horizon

Labels with details

L undecomposed litter

O Organic

F partly decomposed (fermenting) litter

H well-decomposed humus
H humus

A Mixed mineral organic

P ploughed, as in a field or a garden

G gleyed or waterlogged

E Eluvial or leached horizon (not always present, mostly in

A strongly leached, ash coloured horizon, as in a podzol

older soils)

B weakly bleaches, light brown horizon, as in a brown earth

Fe iron deposited

B illuvial or deposited horizon

T clay deposited
H humus deposited
R rock

C bedrock or parent material

U unconsolidated materials

IV Define these key terms/definitions:

Terms
Leaching
Gleying

Drain away from soil, ash, or similar material by the action of percolating liquid (rainwater)
Wetland soil that is saturated with groundwater for long enough periods to develop gleyic colour pattern

Feralization

Becoming wild, going back to natural state

Podsolization

Process of soil formation especially in humid regions involving principally leaching of the upper layers with te accumulation of material
in lower layers and development of horizon (specifically, development of a podzol)

Salinization
Humus
Weathering

Build-up of salts in soils, eventually to toxic levels for plants

Organic component of soil, formed by the decomposition of leaves and other plant material by soil microorganisms
To wear away the texture or appearance of soil/rock by long exposure to atmosphere

Erosion

Process of eroding by wind, water, or natural agents

Eluvium

Removal of material from soil layer

Alluvium

Deposit of clay, silt, and sand left by flowing floodwater in a river valley or delta, typically producing fertile soil

Illuvium

Material displaces across a soil profile, from one layer to another, by action of rainwater

V
1. Define what we mean by the term soil?
Soil system storage including organic matter, organisms, nutrients, minerals, air, and water.
2. Describe how soil is a mixture of the lithosphere/biosphere/atmosphere/hydrosphere
All the gasses condense and form parts of the soil, and helps makes plants which also release gasses back up.
3. Draw and label a systems diagram of soil using inputs/outputs and stores.

4. What is a soil profile (and horizon)? Draw a sample profile with details of all the main layers.

5. What is the average % make-up of the soil constituents?

45-49%
6. Write a simple soil food chain or web.

VI Group Work
7. Create a graphic organizer on soil systems that should include the following: inputs, outputs and processes, transfers, transformations.

VII
1. Identify the biome where the soil compartment represents the largest store of nutrients.
Deciduous
2. Explain the importance of soil organisms in ecosystems.
Allows plants to grow, more producers, primary consumers can consume them and the food web is made. Richer soil, more plants and more
food for everyone

Figure 1
Figure 2 below shows the composition of two soil samples, Soil A and Soil B. Soil A is classified as clay and its position is indicated on Figure 1.

Figure 2
a. With reference to Figure 1 and Figure 2, determine the classification of Soil B.
Loam
b. Deduce, giving a reason, whether Soil A or Soil B would be best for growing crops.
i.
ii.

The best soil for growing crops: B - Loam

Reason: Loam soil has high primary productivity due to medium infiltration rate, water-holding capacity, nutrient status, aeration, and
ease of working.