how soils form
DESCRIPTION
How Soils Form. Image: T. Loynachan. Soils-2-1. Physical weathering breaks rocks into small mineral particles that accumulate on the Earth’s surface. Images: Martin Miller, NRCS. Soils-2-2. Chemical weathering dissolves and changes minerals that have accumulated on the Earth’s surface. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
How Soils How Soils FormForm
Soils-2-1
Image: T. Loynachan
Physical weathering breaks Physical weathering breaks rocks into small mineral rocks into small mineral
particles that accumulate on particles that accumulate on the Earth’s surface.the Earth’s surface.
Soils-2-2
Images: Martin Miller, NRCS
Chemical weathering Chemical weathering dissolves and changes dissolves and changes
minerals that have minerals that have accumulated on the Earth’s accumulated on the Earth’s
surface.surface.
Soils-2-3
Images: National Cooperative Soil Survey, University of Nebraska
Decomposing organic material Decomposing organic material from plants and animals mixes from plants and animals mixes
with accumulated soil with accumulated soil minerals.minerals.
Soils-2-4Images: NRCS, Soil Classifiers of Michigan
Accumulated soil Accumulated soil materials contain voids materials contain voids filled with air or water.filled with air or water.
Soils-2-5Image: T. Loynachan
Continued physical and chemical Continued physical and chemical changes over hundreds to changes over hundreds to
thousands of years produce thousands of years produce layers called soil horizons.layers called soil horizons.
Soils-2-6
Image: National Cooperative Soil Survey
The Formation of The Formation of SoilsSoils
Image: T. Loynachan