Soil Science

Soil science is the study of the physical, chemical

and biological properties of soils. Soil Science
allows us to optimize use and preservation of land
for agriculture…U of Wisconsin-Madison
 Main features of a soil analysis:
 Soil texture (type) – sand, silt, clay, loam
 Color – related to humus content, etc.
 Consistency – how closely particles are packed
 Soil profile – horizons or layers
 Fertility – presence of N, P, and K
 Porosity and permeability – how water interacts
with the soil
 Soil microbiology – evidence of life in soil
 Soil pH – levels of acid and base in the soil
 Salinity – how much salt is in the soil?
 Soil Texture
 Particle size: sand is largest, silt is next, clay is
the smallest particle size.
 Humus (decaying plant and animal materials)
contributes to a good loam soil.
 The soil triangle is used to identify a soil once
the percentage of each particle size is known.
 Estimating particle size percentages requires a
specific technique be followed for accuracy.
 Tactile alternatives are used for a good guess.
 Color
 Determined by the kinds
of minerals in the soil
 ALSO is due to the
presence of humus – the
more humus, the darker
a soil usually is
 Amount of moisture in
the soil affects its color –
damp soils are darker –
so soils must be studied
while dry.
Consistency
 Densely packed soils are
heavy and hard for roots
to penetrate.
 They also do not let air
or moisture percolate in
very easily.
 Loose or friable soils are
the best for water and air
penetration and root
growth.
 Loose soils are easily
eroded.
 Soil Profile
 Most soils are divided
into four horizons or
layers: O, A, B, C.
 O = leaf litter
 A = topsoil
 B = subsoil
 C = weathered rock
 Below the C is the R
horizon – bedrock or
parent material.
 Soil Fertility
 Nitrogen – essential for proteins of all types; needed in
large amounts; available as ammonia and nitrates in soil;
promotes rich green leaf color
 Phosphorus – essential in DNA, RNA, and ATP, among
others; needed in smaller amounts than N; available as
phosphates and phosphorus oxides; promotes fruit and
seed formation and healthy energy metabolism
 Potassium – essential for proper osmotic balance and
starch formation; needed in large amounts; available as
potassium salts in soil; promotes healthy roots and vigor
 Other macronutrients and micronutrients: magnesium,
calcium, iron, sulfur, copper, boron, chlorine, zinc, etc.
 Porosity and Permeability
 The availability of water in a soil is critical for
agriculture. Without it, nothing grows.
 There are many ways to measure how soils
interact with water.
 Porosity measures how much space there is
between soil particles for water and air.
 Permeability measures how easily water flows
downward through a soil to reach plant roots.
 Water holding capacity measures how much water
is retained in soil after it drains.
 Microbial Life in Soil
 Soil is much more than dirt!
 The living parts of soil – bacteria, fungi, and
invertebrate animals (like worms) – are critical
for recycling nutrients and helping plants absorb
those nutrients.
 Decomposers, nitrogen fixers, and mycorrhizae
are all examples.
 Pathogens and parasites are also present.
Berlese extraction: one way to study soil life

A typical set-up: A sample of some

organisms extracted
using a Berlese
funnel:
 pH Salinity
 pH measures how much  Salinity affects osmosis
acid or base is in a soil. and water balance in
A high acid content plants and animals.
means a low pH.  Pure water has 0 ppm of
 Most plants tolerate pH salinity and sea water
from 3 to 10 with 5 to 9 has about 30,000 ppm.
being preferred values.  Plants tolerate a wide
 Very low or very high range of salinity, but
pH can “burn” plants. anything over 3,000
ppm causes problems.