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Soil
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 | dark-colored organic material in soil |
fertility | a measure of how well soil supports plant growth |
loam | rich, fertile soil that is made up of about equal parts of clay, sand, and silt |
topsoil | mixture of humus, clay, and other minerals that forms the crumbly, topmost layer of soil |
subsoil | the layer of soil beneath the topsoil that contains mostly clay and other minerals |
litter | the loose layer of dead plant leaves and stems on the surface of the soil |
decomposer | soil organism that breaks down the remains of organisms and digests them |
soil horizon | the layer of soil that differs in color and texture from the layers above or below it |
soil conservation | the management of soil to prevent its destruction |