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Soil Vocabulary
Term | Definition |
---|---|
soil | the loose, weathered material on Earth's surface in which plants can grow |
bedrock | the solid layer of rock beneath the soil |
humus | a dark-colored substance that forms as plant and animal remains decay |
fertility | a measure of how well the soil supports plant growth |
loam | soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt |
pH scale | measures acidity |
soil horizon | a layer of soil that differs in color, texture, and composition from the layers above or below it |
topsoil | a crumbly, dark brown soil that is a mixture of humus, clay, and other materials |
subsoil | usually consists of clay and other particles of rock, but little humus |
decomposer | the organisms that break the remains of dead organisms into smaller pieces and digest them with chemicals |