Know Soil, Know Life Terms

A nonliving condition or parameter (soil, sunlight, climate, landscape, geology, aspect, latitude, water) that influences or affects an ecosystem and the organisms in it.

The process of soil becoming more acid as basic cations leach from the soil, leaving acidic cations behind. This is a natural process, but can be accelerated by human activities.

Thread-like bacteria that give soil its “earthy” odor.

The process of depositing new components/materials into the soil materials, either from above, or moved in with groundwater.

Attachment of ions to mineral and organic matter surfaces in soil.

In the presence of oxygen (O2); requiring oxygen.

Any type of multiple cropping land use that entails complementary relations between tree and agricultural crops and produces some combination of food, fruit, fodder, fuel, wood, mulches, or other products.

Moderately leached soils often found in temperate forests—generally east of the Mississippi.

Sediments deposited by running water of streams and rivers. It may occur on terraces well above present streams, on the present flood plains or deltas, or as a fan at the base of a slope.

Growing vegetable, grain and/or forage crops between rows of trees.

Form of nitrogen (NH3) that converts in water to form plant-available ammonium (NH4+).

The conversion of organic nitrogen to ammonium (NH4+) by the action of decomposers (bacteria).

In the absence of molecular oxygen (O2); not requiring oxygen.

Soils formed in volcanic ash—Pacific Northwest, Japan.

Negatively charged ions (NO3−, Cl−, SO4−2).