Soil Profile (Leaving Cert Geography): Flashcards
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Practise the cards
13 cards from this deck
Soil profile
Soil profile
Vertical cross-section showing different soil layers/horizons
Horizons in soil
Horizons in soil
Individual layers within soil with unique characteristics
Five main soil horizons (top to bottom)
Five main soil horizons (top to bottom)
O, A, B, C, R
O horizon composition
O horizon composition
Organic material - plant debris, leaves, twigs
A horizon common name
A horizon common name
Topsoil
Topsoil key features
Topsoil key features
Rich in humus, dark colour, most fertile & biologically active
Leaching
Leaching
Nutrients washed away by heavy rainfall from A horizon
B horizon common name
B horizon common name
Subsoil
Zone of accumulation
Zone of accumulation
Area where minerals & nutrients collect from layers above
Hardpan
Hardpan
Dense, impermeable layer formed by mineral accumulation in B horizon
C horizon composition
C horizon composition
Parent material being broken down by weathering
R horizon
R horizon
Bedrock - solid rock at base of soil profile
Soil profile formation time
Soil profile formation time
Hundreds and thousands of years