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The Dirt
on Soil
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How does soil form?
Soil is a loose mixture of rock fragments, organic
matter, water, and air that can support the growth
of vegetation.

Humans are directly and indirectly dependent on
the soil for plants and their products.

Soil is a product of chemical and mechanical
weathering. The breaking apart of rock and the
activities of living things also contribute to the
formation of soil.
The Dirt on Soil
How does soil form?
Soil begins when bedrock, AKA parent
material is weathered

Over time, organisms such as bacteria, fungi,
and insects begin to live among the
weathered pieces

Organic waste from these organisms add
nutrients to the weathered material, forming
soil

Soil is BOTH biotic and abiotic

Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil
How is soil biotic?
Some living things break down, or decompose,
the remains of dead organisms. This process
forms humus, a substance that contains nutrients
that plants need to grow.

Larger animals, such as earthworms and moles,
live in the soil. They loosen and mix the soil as the
burrow, increasing the air and drainage of the soil.

Some soils have greater organic content than
others (ex: forests vs. deserts).



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The Dirt on Soil
What is a soil horizon?
Typically, the top layer of soil contains the
most developed soil. Lower layers (closer to
bedrock) are made of less-weathered
materials.

Soil that developed from the bedrock below it
is residual soil, soil that has undergone
erosion and deposition is called transported
soil.

Bedrock and soil may contain the same
minerals, but in different ratios due to
chemical weathering.



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil
What is a soil horizon?
A vertical section of
soil layers from the
top layer down is a
soil profile.

Each layer of soil in a
soil profile is a soil
horizon.

Main horizons are: O,
A, B, C



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil
What is a soil horizon?
The A horizon is the topmost layer of soil, often
referred to as topsoil. It contains the most humus.

The B horizon is under the A horizon. It has larger,
less weathered rock fragments and less humus
than the A horizon.

The C horizon is under the B horizon. It is the
least-developed layer, containing the largest rock
fragments and no organic matter.

Solid rock is under the C horizon.



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil
Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
What are some soil characteristics?
Factors that affect weathering of soil include rock
type, climate, topography, and the abundance and
variety of living things.

Soil texture describes the soil based on the
relative amounts of soil particles. Soil particles
can be classified as sand (the largest particle),
silt, or clay (the smallest particle).

Soil color depends on the minerals and organic
matter that make up the soil.

The Dirt on Soil
What are some soil characteristics?
Soil pH is a measure of how acidic or basic the soil
is. Soil pH is depends on the minerals, sediment,
and organic matter found in the soil.

Pore space describes the spaces between soil
particles. Water and air are found in the pore
spaces of soils.

Soil fertility describes how well a soil can support
plant growth. Soil fertility depends on climate, the
amount of humus, minerals, and nutrients, and
the topography of the area.



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The Dirt on Soil
What are some soil characteristics?
How does the pore space of the soil on the left
compare to that of the soil on the right?



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil
What are some soil characteristics?



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil



Copyright Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company
The Dirt on Soil