what is the difference between topsoil and subsoil ?
Answers
Answer:
Subsoil is the layer of soil below the 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
Answer:
The first layer, or horizon, is only several feet deep on the planet's surface; this topsoil horizon provides the richest amount of organic matter for germinating seeds since plants and animals decay on the ground level. As decomposition occurs in the topsoil, microorganisms, from bacteria to fungi, populate the soil to keep the decaying process active. As a result, topsoil is the perfect substrate for plant growth with its rich nutrients and protected moisture trapped in small, open underground pockets. You are familiar with this layer since you actively till it for almost any gardening activity, from sodding to cultivating roses.
Residing beneath the topsoil, the subsoil does not have high organic matter concentrations but offers rich minerals for searching root systems. Varying in colors like red and yellow, this hidden soil layer is directly affected by water movement. Minerals from the topsoil find their way down into the subsoil through water runoff; clays also concentrate beneath the fertile topsoil. As a result, mineral deficiencies in the topsoil force roots to dive deeper for nutrients while allowing them to establish themselves deeper in the soil structure.