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Feb 17, 2023 · Soil Horizons. The soil is the topmost layer of the earth’s crust consisting of air, water, inorganic minerals (rock, sand, clay, and slit), and organic matter (dead plants and animals). It forms the source of food for plants. It provides shelter for many animals such as insects, centipedes, burrowing animals, microorganisms, and many others.
Horizons. The action and interaction of soil-forming processes as influenced by soil-forming factors gives rise to distinct soil horizons. These layers are assigned distinctive alphabetic symbols as a form of shorthand for their characteristics.
The B horizon (subsoil) consists of small particles that have moved downward, resulting in a dense layer in the soil. In some soils, the B horizon contains nodules or a layer of calcium carbonate. The subsoil is usually lighter in color than topsoil and often contains an accumulation of minerals.
Horizon sequence. Many soils have an organic surface layer, which is denominated with a capital letter "O" (letters may differ depending on the system). The mineral soil usually starts with an A horizon. If a well-developed subsoil horizon as a result of soil formation exists, it is generally called a B horizon.
The B horizon is an accumulation of mostly fine material that has moved downward, resulting in a dense layer in the soil. In some soils, the B horizon contains nodules or a layer of calcium carbonate. The C horizon, or soil base, includes the parent material, plus the organic and inorganic material that is broken down to form soil. The parent ...
An “A” horizon is a histic epipedon (one or more horizons) that is characterized by saturation (for 30 days or more, cumulative) and reduction for some time during normal years (or is artificially drained) and either: Consists of organic soil material (see below) that:
Jun 15, 2024 · Soil horizons serve as reservoirs for essential nutrients needed by plants for growth. The upper horizons, such as the A and O horizons, contain organic matter rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and other micronutrients.
