Exploring the Layers of Soil

What are the main components of soil?

• Minerals, air, water, organic matter, and organisms

• Only minerals and water

• Just organic matter and air

• Only decaying remains of living things

Which layer of soil is also known as the organic layer?

• C horizon

• O horizon

• B horizon

• A horizon

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

What makes the topsoil dark brown, porous, and soft?

• Humus or compost

• High mineral content

• Metal salts

• Presence of large rocks

Which organisms are commonly found in the topsoil?

• Earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, bacteria, and fungi

• Birds and mammals

• Fish and amphibians

• Reptiles and insects

Why is the subsoil lighter in color compared to the topsoil?

• It has more water

• It has less humus

• It has more air

• It has fewer minerals

What is the primary composition of the parent material layer?

• Large rocks

• Small pebbles

• Sand and silt

• Clay and loam

Which layer is known for being rich in minerals and containing metal salts?

• C horizon

• B horizon

• A horizon

• O horizon

Why do farmers often mix horizon A and horizon B when plowing their fields?

• To remove large rocks

• To increase the water content

• To enhance mineral content and soil structure

• To improve soil color

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS1-5

Which layer is situated several feet below the surface and consists of various rocks?

• O horizon

• A horizon

• R horizon

• B horizon

What types of rocks are found in the bedrock layer?

• Granite, quartzite, basalt, and sandstone

• Limestone, shale, and clay

• Marble, slate, and gneiss

• Sandstone, siltstone, and mudstone

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3