Give the difference between top soil and subsoil.
Answers
Answered by
86
Subsoil is the layer of soil below the topsoil. It contains mainly sandy and clay deposits without a lot of organic matter. Although subsoil is much less fertile than topsoil, it can be amended to increase its plant-growing capacities. Subsoil is also much lighter in color and much harder to handle than topsoil. It is, however, much looser than the hardened layer of bedrock lying beneath it. One advantage that subsoil has over topsoil is that it contains few if any weed seeds because of its depth, therefore increasing its attractiveness to growers and companies that make topsoil.
Topsoil
The layer of soil closest to our feet is topsoil. Geologists refer to it as the “A” horizon, whereas subsoil is the “B” horizon. Topsoil is much more fertile than subsoil because it contains more organic matter, thus giving it a darker color. A layer of humus, which is essentially dead and decaying organic matter, sometimes covers topsoil. This humus has a number of important properties for gardeners, and, as it decays into topsoil, it creates a nutrient-rich blend of soil that gardeners and landscapers dream about. Unfortunately, being the top level of soil comes at a price. Topsoil is lost to soil erosion and poor farming practices at an alarming rate. In fact, the Green Trust organization estimated that the U.S. lost about 60 percent of its topsoil in 200 years of farming.
mark as brainliest
Topsoil
The layer of soil closest to our feet is topsoil. Geologists refer to it as the “A” horizon, whereas subsoil is the “B” horizon. Topsoil is much more fertile than subsoil because it contains more organic matter, thus giving it a darker color. A layer of humus, which is essentially dead and decaying organic matter, sometimes covers topsoil. This humus has a number of important properties for gardeners, and, as it decays into topsoil, it creates a nutrient-rich blend of soil that gardeners and landscapers dream about. Unfortunately, being the top level of soil comes at a price. Topsoil is lost to soil erosion and poor farming practices at an alarming rate. In fact, the Green Trust organization estimated that the U.S. lost about 60 percent of its topsoil in 200 years of farming.
mark as brainliest
Answered by
57
Topsoil and Subsoil
Explanation:
- The outermost layer of soil is called topsoil. It is the top 5-10 inches. It has the highest amount of microorganisms and organic matter, it contains organic water, air, mineral particles and water, most of the biological activity takes place in this layer.
- Subsoil if found under the topsoil, it is also made up of clay, silt and small particles of sand. It has less humus and organic content compared to the topsoil. It is more compact as compared to topsoil because it doesn't hold any air in the soil.
Learn More:
What is Humus? What are the advantages of Humus?
https://brainly.in/question/12478555
Similar questions