Soils Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992 Literature cited: Schroeder, D. and Blum, W.E.H. 1992. Bodenkunde in Stichworten. Gebrüder Borntraeger, D-1000 Berlin.
Geology and Life
Conceptual model Source: Knight, 1994
Soil who needs it Video
Human-Soil connection Adam = human Adamah = farmland Source: http://hiphappy.wordpress.com/2008/05/22/food-research/
Why is soil important? Source: The University of Vermont
What is soil? http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/a_comp.aspx
Minerals
Minerals (cont.) 2-0.063 mm 0.063 0.002 mm < 0.002 mm Source: http://www.iconn.org/presentations/ceca_fall2007/roche_files/frame.htm#slide0074.htm
Minerals (cont.) Animation: Weathering of feldspar Exchangeable Ions (x) H 2 0 Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992
Organics
Difference Between Organic and Inorganic compounds? Source: http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/onlcourse/chm110/outlines/topic6.html
Organics Why important? Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992 Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992 http://workingwall.blogspot.com/
Mineralization Organic Humic Substances (are organic!) Fire Inorganic Source: http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/enlarge/decomposing-leaf_pod_image.html
Decomposition resistance Cellulose Source: http://nutrition.jbpub.com/resources/chemistryreview9.cfm
Decomposition resistance (cont.) C/N ratio Source: http://www.ccathsu.com/wastereduction/composting/ralphsp2002/composting.html
Humic substances Very important for water and nutrient budget of soil! Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992
Soil Water
Soil Water (cont.)
Soil Water (cont.) Plant available water Field Capacity Sand < Loam < Silt < Clay < Peat Source: http://www.terragis.bees.unsw.edu.au/terragis_soil/sp_water-soil_moisture_classification.html
Volumetric water content Source: http://www.decagon.com/assets/virtual-seminar-slides/03252010.pdf
Task (5 minutes/each) Do you think volumetric water content provides some good information of how much water is available for plant growth? Source: http://pkd.eijkelkamp.com/
Soil Water (Cont.) S Silt C
Soil Water (cont.)
Gas
Soil Air Soil Breathing O 2 CO 2 Diffusion CO 2 O 2 Air pore
Bulk density Bulk density = Mass of dry soil/volume of solids and pore space Source: http://westexasgardener.com/2011/08/17/heres-the-dirt-on-soil/ Video
Bulk density (cont.) Source: USDA 1999, Soil quality test kit guide
Soil chemistry Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992
Reduction-Oxidation Source: Freeman, 2002. Biology. Source: Costa Tropical News
Soil Color Mn Organic Substances Fe Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992
Crystal lattice minerals are not plant available Exchange reaction in soils Soil Soil solution Plant roots
_ + + + + + + + Plant-nutrient uptake Soil Soil solution Plant roots - - - + + - + + + + + +
Illustration Source: www.vernier.com
Task - What happened? Deionized water Soil Soil solution
Task (everybody) What is more prone to leaching, ammonium fertilizer (NH 4+ ) or nitrate fertilizer (N0 3- ) and why?
It s time for some miracle gro
ph Activity ph = -log c H + Concentration Selected ecological effects of ph Source: Schroeder and Blum, 1992
Ion-exchange capacity ph CEC AEC Al +++ - H + - - - Ca ++ - Cation Anion PO 4 --- - + + Soil Particles < 0.002 mm Clay minerals Humic substances + + - - - - Mg ++ K + Na + NO 3 - Interesting Facts: Humic substances can absorb more cations than clay minerals Soil particles have generally more negatively than positively charged surfaces Ion exchange capacity of clay particle depends on the parent material they were derived from (p.67) Basic acidity of soil depends on parent material: Basalt higher ph than Granit (p.77)
Soil texture classification Animation
Task (5 minutes/each) Why does soil texture provide some interesting information about soil properties?
Soil texture classification Sedimentation method Mechanical Sieving Source: http://www.weblife.org/cob/cob_043.html; http://www.connecticutvalleybiological.com
Task (5 minutes/each) Answer the following question: You have a low soil ph (6) should you be concerned about Mg deficiency in your plants?
Soil analysis Soil Quality Test Kit Guide
You can t judge a soil by looking at its cover Animation
Web Soil Survey Coordinates for Osprey Point: 44.961334, -116.074676