ENVIRSC 1C03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Humus, Protozoa, Aeration
7 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Natural body consisting of layers, horizons and/or organic material of variable thickness. Differs from the parent material by its morphology, its chemical and physical properties, its mineralogy and its biology. Plays an important role in nutrient cycling, particularly the nitrogen cycle. Hosts countless organisms including decomposers and detritus feeders which break down dead organic material. A vertical arrangement of all the soil horizons down to the parent material, known as the bedrock. Layer of mineral, organic soil or soil material approximately parallel to the land surface. A horizon: corresponds to the topsoil which is found near the surface and zone of mineral leaching. B horizon: (subsoil) zone where leached organic and/or mineral materials accumulate. C horizon: (transition) is just above the parent material and is largely unaffected by the soil forming processes above. Outermost layer of an organic soil and is made up of: organic matter, mineral particles, and an interactive food web mineral particles, and an interactive food web.
