Know Soil, Know Life Terms

Deposited in lakes.

One of the eight classes of land in the land capability classification of the usda-nrcs, distinguished according to the risk of land damage or the difficulty of land use.

The solid, outermost surface of the earth (the rocks).

The process of removal (loss) of dissolved soil materials (that are in solution in water filling soil pores), such as nutrients, out of the soil into the parent material and/or groundwater below it.

Material transported and deposited by wind and consisting of predominantly silt-sized particles.

The process of removal of soil materials by various pathways; i.e., leaching, erosion.

Ability of plants to absorb nutrients at levels above that needed for optimum plant growth and yield.

Essential elements (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) nutrient found in plants in the highest amounts.

Organism larger than 2 millimeters.

Wetland vegetation that may grow above the water surface (emergent), remain below the water surface (submergent), or float on top of the water.

Large pores responsible for preferential flow and rapid, far-reaching transport.

(i) a delineation identified by the same name in a soil survey that represent similar soil and landscape areas; (ii) a loose synonym for a delineation.

A structureless soil condition where there are no aggregates and appears cohesive. No discernible planes of weakness exist in massive material.

A structureless soil condition where the material has retained its rock fabric but has been weathered to the point where it can be easily excavated. Material often breaks apart along planes of weakness related to the original rock fabric .

The dominant color of the horizon, or layer.