Soil Formation and

Composition
Chapter 7 Section 2
Soil Formation
 Soil Composition


 Soil- the loose,  Soil is a mixture of

weathered material
on Earth’s surface in
which plants can
grow
 Soil forms as rock is  Type of rock depends
broken down by
weathering and
mixes with other
materials on the
surface
 Bedrock- the solid
layer of rock beneath
the soil
rock particles,
minerals, decayed
organic material, air,
and water
on the bedrock that
was weathered to
form the soil and the
type of weathering
Soil Formation
Soil Texture
 Soil Horizons


 Soil texture depends on  Soil horizon- a layer of

the size of individual
soil particles
 Largest to smallest:
 gravel > sand > silt >
clay
 Loam- soil that is made
up of about equal
parts of clay, sand,
and silt
 Soil texture is important
for plant growth
soil that differs in
color and texture
from the layers
above or below it
 Soil horizons are made
of topsoil, subsoil,
and weathered rock
What are soil horizons???
Soil horizon is a layer of soil that
differs in color and texture from
the layers above or below it
The Rate of Soil Formation
The rate at which soil forms
depends on the climate and type
of rock
Weathering occurs more quickly
in warm, wet climates
Weathering in occurs slowly in
hot, dry climates
 Life in Soil
 Some soil organisms mix the soil and make
spaces in it for air and water
 Some soil organisms make humus, the
material that makes soil fertile
 Litter- a loose layer formed by plants as they
shed leaves
 Decomposition- occurs as organisms that live
in soil turn dead organic matter into humus
 Decomposers- organisms that break the
remains of dead organisms into smaller
pieces and digest them with chemicals
 Fungus, protists, bacteria, and worms are
decomposers
Soil Types
Soils are classified into groups
based on the climate in a region
Soils can be classified based on
their soil composition- rocky,
sandy, or rich in clay
Major soil types of North America:
forest, prairie, desert, mountain,
tundra, and tropical soils
Review
 What role does weathering play in the formation of
soil?
 Soil forms as rock is broken down by weathering
and mixes with other materials on the surface
 What are the different materials that make up soil?
 Rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material,
air, and water
 How do plants and animals affect the formation
composition of soil?
 Some soil organisms mix the soil and make spaces
in it for air and water. Other soil organisms make
humus.
How do forest soils differ from prairie soils?

 Prairie soils have topsoil that is thick and rich in

humus, while northern and southern forest soils may
be low in humus
 Earthworms breathe by absorbing air in the soil