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All 10 Flashcards — Soil profiles and horizons
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Question
What is a soil profile?
Answer
A vertical cross-section of soil showing all horizons from the surface down to bedrock.
💡 Hint
Vertical cross-section.
Question
What does the O horizon contain?
Answer
Leaf litter and decomposing organic matter.
💡 Hint
Organic layer.
Question
List the main soil horizons in order from top to bottom.
Answer
O (organic), A (topsoil), B (subsoil), C (parent material), R (bedrock).
💡 Hint
O-A-B-C-R.
Question
Which horizon tends to accumulate materials washed down from above?
Answer
The B horizon (subsoil) through illuviation.
💡 Hint
B = build-up.
Question
Which horizon is usually most important for plant growth and why?
Answer
The A horizon (topsoil) because it contains humus, roots, and most biological activity and nutrients.
💡 Hint
Topsoil = life + nutrients.
Question
What is the C horizon?
Answer
Weathered parent material with little organic matter.
💡 Hint
Broken rock fragments.
Question
What is leaching and what is one consequence in wet climates?
Answer
Leaching is nutrients being washed downward; it can make topsoil nutrient-poor and reduce fertility.
💡 Hint
Wet → nutrients move down.
Question
Define leaching.
Answer
Leaching is the washing of soluble nutrients downward through soil by water.
💡 Hint
Nutrients washed down.
Question
In tropical rainforests, where are most nutrients stored and why?
Answer
Mostly in the biomass because heavy rainfall causes rapid decomposition and strong leaching, leaving soils relatively nutrient-poor.
💡 Hint
Wet climate → leaching.
Question
What is a soil profile in one sentence?
Answer
A soil profile is the full set of horizons seen in a vertical section from surface to bedrock.
💡 Hint
One-sentence definition.
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Full study notes for Soil profiles and horizons
Topic 5.1 hub
Soil systems
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