click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
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 |