Soil Vocabulary

The loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow

• humus

• soil

• loam

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

the solid layer of rock beneath the soil

• soil

• loam

• bedrock

a dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay.

• loam

• litter

• humus

a measure of how well the soil supports plant growth.

• Fertility

• loam

• humus

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt

• top soil

• loam

• humus

A layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it

• loam

• top soil

• soil horizon

a crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals; Horizon A

• sub soil

• humus

• top soil

the B horizon; usually consists of clay and other particles washed down from the A horizon; little humus

• topsoil

• humus

• subsoil

a loose layer of leaves

• litter

• decomposer

• nutrients

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

the organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals

• litter

• decomposers

• soil horizon