Soils vocab quiz 1

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

• loam

• bedrock

• litter

• soil horizon

this occurs when plants shed leaves and their remains fall to the ground.

• decomposers

• litter

• subsoil

• soil

solid layer of rock beneath the soil.

• bedrock

• subsoil

• topsoil

• humus

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

• soil

• leaching

• loam

• humus

also called horizon B, consists mostly of clay and other particles.

• bedrock

• subsoil

• topsoil

• humus

this is when water passes through the horizons carrying nutrients with it.

• decomposers

• leaching

• loam

• soil horizon

also called horizon A, this is a crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals.

• bedrock

• subsoil

• topsoil

• humus

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

• soil

• soil horizon

• bedrock

• litter

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

• bedrock

• subsoil

• topsoil

• humus

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

• leaching

• loam

• humus

• decomposers