Soil

What is soil?

• loose mineral and organic materials on earth's surface; serves as a medium for plant growth

• types of crushed rock and organic minerals found in the Earth's crust; serves as a medium for plant anchorage

• types of sedimentary rock formed from the remains of plants and animals; serves as a medium for plant growth

• loose material that contains dirt and rocks; serves as a medium for plant anchorage

What is dirt?

• clay particles

• misplaced soil

• what you plant the plants in

• micro crushed rock

Why do plants need soil?

• shade, shelter, water, food

• photosynthesis & chlorophyll

• homes for plant roots and insects

• water, air, nutrients, anchorage

What does the ideal soil look like?

50% Pore Space: ​ (a)   ​ (b)  

50% Solid Material: ​ (c)   ​ (d)  

• 25% air
• 25% water
• 45% minerals
• 5% organic matter
• 10% air
• 40% water
• 25% minerals
• 25% organic matter

What does the ideal soil look like?

e

f

g

h

d

c

b

a

organic matter

25%

5%

air

mineral particles

water

45%

25 %

Percentages of materials in the Organic Matter of soil

c

d

e

f

b

a

80%

organisms

10 %

humus

roots

10%

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-6

NGSS.HS-LS2-4

What are the 3 particles that make up mineral material?

• sand

• silt

• organisms

• humus

• clay

Match the following minerals to their size

• clay

• largest particles

  (2mm-.05mm)

• sand

• smallest particle (>.002mm)

• silt

• second largest/medium particle

  (.05-.002)

Match the following minerals to their nutrient capacity

• sand

• high nutrient holding capacity

• clay

• medium nutrient capacity

• silt

• low nutrient capacity

Match the following minerals to their drainage

• sand

• medium drainage/medium water holding capacity

• silt

• low drainage/high water holding capacity

• clay

• high drainage/low water holding capacity

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-5