Explain the various horizons of soil. Draw a well labeled diagram showing all the horizons
Answers
Answer:
Most soils have three major horizons (A, B, C) and some have an organic horizon (O). The horizons are:
O -(humus or organic) Mostly organic matter such as decomposing leaves. The O horizon is thin in some soils, thick in others, and not present at all in others.
A -(topsoil) Mostly minerals from parent material with organic matter incorporated. A good material for plants and other organisms to live.
E - (eluviated) - Leached of clay, minerals, and organic matter, leaving a concentration of sand and silt particles of quartz or other resistant materials – missing in some soils but often found in older soils and forest soils.
B - (subsoil) Rich in minerals that leached (moved down) from the A or E horizons and accumulated here.
C - (parent material) The deposit at Earth’s surface from which the soil developed.
R - (bedrock) A mass of rock such as granite, basalt, quartzite, limestone or sandstone that forms the parent material for some soils – if the bedrock is close enough to the surface to weather. This is not soil and is located under the C horizon.
Answer:
horizon and showing all hope