How to Make a Soil Profile

Abu Khairul Bashar, Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University,

Savar, Dhaka-1342

Introduction:
The soil profile is one of the most important concepts in soil science. It is a key to understanding
the processes that have taken in soil development and is the means of determining the types of soil
that occur and is the basis for their classification. The soil profile is defined as a vertical section of
the soil from the ground surface downwards to where the soil meets the underlying rock. Every
soil profile is made up of layers called soil horizons. Soil horizons can be as thin as a few
millimeters or thicker than a meter. A soil horizon is a layer generally parallel to the soil surface,
whose physical characteristics differ from the layers above and beneath.

Major Horizons:

There are 6 major horizons in the soil profile. Not all soil profiles contain all 6 horizons; and so,
soil profiles differ from one location to another. The 6 master horizons are represented by the
letters: O, A, E, B, C and Bedrock.

O: The O horizon is a surface horizon that is comprised of organic material at various
stages of decomposition. It is most prominent in forested areas where there is the
accumulation of debris fallen from trees.
A: The A horizon is a surface horizon that largely consists of minerals (sand, silt, and
clay) and with appreciable amounts of organic matter. This horizon is predominantly the
surface layer of many soils in grasslands and agricultural lands.
E: The E horizon is a subsurface horizon that has been heavily leached. Leaching is the
process in which soluble nutrients are lost from the soil due to precipitation or irrigation.
The horizon is typically light in color. It is generally found beneath the O horizon.
B: The B horizon is a subsurface horizon that has accumulated from the layer(s) above. It
is a site of deposition of certain minerals that have leached from the layer(s) above.
C: The C horizon is a subsurface horizon. It is the least weathered horizon. Also known
as the saprolite, it is unconsolidated, loose parent material.
R: Original solid rock. Unweathered parent material.
Materials:
Field data notebook.
Pen or pencil.
Camera.
A Marker Pen.
Plastic Tarp or Polybags
GPS.
Shear
Spray bottle full of water.
Meter stick or tape measure.
Shovel or other digging tool for digging a pit.
Trowel or metal spoon for taking small soil samples.
Plastic tarp or sheet for storing soil removed from the pit.

Locations:

1
st
Location-
2
nd
Location-
3
rd
Location-

Procedure:

Identify a location and write down the GPS recording. The presence of grasses, trees and
other types of vegetation are usually a good indicator for a successful pit.
Use a shovel and dig a pit that is at least 1 meter (3 feet) deep. The pit should be wide
enough that anyone can easily observe the different layers (horizons) of soil all the way
to the bottom of the pit. Usually this means digging a pit that is as wide as it is deep.
Make a sketch of the profile horizons types and depths in field notebook.
Take a photograph of the profile that clearly shows the horizons. Take another
photograph(s) of the landscape surrounding your soil pit.
Examine each horizon and determine these characteristics
Collect soil sample from 5 cm deep and amount is about 100gm and stored on the plastic
tarp.
Refill the soil pit.



Conclusion:
Each soil profile is different because soils differ greatly from each other and from one place to another,
due to interactions between the five soil-forming factors. Each section of soil on a landscape has its
own unique characteristics. The face of a soil, or the way it looks if you cut a section of it out of the
ground, is called a soil profile, like the profile of a person's face.