Why Is Soil Important?
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Basic Soil Science W
Basic Soil Science W. Lee Daniels See http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-350/430-350_pdf.pdf for more information on basic soils! [email protected]; 540-231-7175 http://www.cses.vt.edu/revegetation/ Well weathered A Horizon -- Topsoil (red, clayey) soil from the Piedmont of Virginia. This soil has formed from B Horizon - Subsoil long term weathering of granite into soil like materials. C Horizon (deeper) Native Forest Soil Leaf litter and roots (> 5 T/Ac/year are “bio- processed” to form humus, which is the dark black material seen in this topsoil layer. In the process, nutrients and energy are released to plant uptake and the higher food chain. These are the “natural soil cycles” that we attempt to manage today. Soil Profiles Soil profiles are two-dimensional slices or exposures of soils like we can view from a road cut or a soil pit. Soil profiles reveal soil horizons, which are fundamental genetic layers, weathered into underlying parent materials, in response to leaching and organic matter decomposition. Fig. 1.12 -- Soils develop horizons due to the combined process of (1) organic matter deposition and decomposition and (2) illuviation of clays, oxides and other mobile compounds downward with the wetting front. In moist environments (e.g. Virginia) free salts (Cl and SO4 ) are leached completely out of the profile, but they accumulate in desert soils. Master Horizons O A • O horizon E • A horizon • E horizon B • B horizon • C horizon C • R horizon R Master Horizons • O horizon o predominantly organic matter (litter and humus) • A horizon o organic carbon accumulation, some removal of clay • E horizon o zone of maximum removal (loss of OC, Fe, Mn, Al, clay…) • B horizon o forms below O, A, and E horizons o zone of maximum accumulation (clay, Fe, Al, CaC03, salts…) o most developed part of subsoil (structure, texture, color) o < 50% rock structure or thin bedding from water deposition Master Horizons • C horizon o little or no pedogenic alteration o unconsolidated parent material or soft bedrock o < 50% soil structure • R horizon o hard, continuous bedrock A vs. -
Soil Acidification the Unseen Threat to Soil Health and Productivity
Soil Acidification The unseen threat to soil health and productivity www.ces.vic.gov.au February 2009 Fact Sheet No. 7 This fact sheet is one of a series, developed from material presented in Victoria’s first comprehensive State of the Environment Report. The Report is a major undertaking of the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability and covers a broad range of environmental issues affecting the State. Its purpose is to improve community understanding of Victoria’s environment, and through the use of recommendations, to ensure its protection for present and future generations. The report was released in December 2008 and is available at www.ces.vic.gov.au Key findings Acidification is also linked to erosion, salinity, and loss of soil biodiversity. Bacteria, earthworms and other soil organisms are • The cost of lost productivity to Victoria due to soil generally sensitive to soil pH and tend to decline as soils become acidification is estimated at $470 million per year. more acidic. • Soil acidification is accelerated by some land management practices and the area of acid soil is increasing. Victoria has up to 8.6 million ha of acidic soils including • Naturally acidic soils can’t be distinguished from soils 4–5 million ha of strongly acidic soils, which mostly occur acidified by agriculture. naturally and are indistinguishable from those with accelerated • The use of acidifying fertiliser, to support more intensive acidification. agriculture, is increasing in Victoria. • Only 5.5% of the area requiring treatment with lime to restore Coastal acid sulfate soils are a different category of acid soils and critical soil pH levels is sufficiently treated. -
Port Silt Loam Oklahoma State Soil
PORT SILT LOAM Oklahoma State Soil SOIL SCIENCE SOCIETY OF AMERICA Introduction Many states have a designated state bird, flower, fish, tree, rock, etc. And, many states also have a state soil – one that has significance or is important to the state. The Port Silt Loam is the official state soil of Oklahoma. Let’s explore how the Port Silt Loam is important to Oklahoma. History Soils are often named after an early pioneer, town, county, community or stream in the vicinity where they are first found. The name “Port” comes from the small com- munity of Port located in Washita County, Oklahoma. The name “silt loam” is the texture of the topsoil. This texture consists mostly of silt size particles (.05 to .002 mm), and when the moist soil is rubbed between the thumb and forefinger, it is loamy to the feel, thus the term silt loam. In 1987, recognizing the importance of soil as a resource, the Governor and Oklahoma Legislature selected Port Silt Loam as the of- ficial State Soil of Oklahoma. What is Port Silt Loam Soil? Every soil can be separated into three separate size fractions called sand, silt, and clay, which makes up the soil texture. They are present in all soils in different propor- tions and say a lot about the character of the soil. Port Silt Loam has a silt loam tex- ture and is usually reddish in color, varying from dark brown to dark reddish brown. The color is derived from upland soil materials weathered from reddish sandstones, siltstones, and shales of the Permian Geologic Era. -
Soil Physics and Agricultural Production
Conference reports Soil physics and agricultural production by K. Reichardt* Agricultural production depends very much on the behaviour of field soils in relation to crop production, physical properties of the soil, and mainly on those and to develop effective management practices that related to the soil's water holding and transmission improve and conserve the quality and quantity of capacities. These properties affect the availability of agricultural lands. Emphasis is being given to field- water to crops and may, therefore, be responsible for measured soil-water properties that characterize the crop yields. The knowledge of the physical properties water economy of a field, as well as to those that bear of soil is essential in defining and/or improving soil on the quality of the soil solution within the profile water management practices to achieve optimal and that water which leaches below the reach of plant productivity for each soil/climatic condition. In many roots and eventually into ground and surface waters. The parts of the world, crop production is also severely fundamental principles and processes that govern limited by the high salt content of soils and water. the reactions of water and its solutes within soil profiles •Such soils, classified either as saline or sodic/saline are generally well understood. On the other hand, depending on their alkalinity, are capable of supporting the technology to monitor the behaviour of field soils very little vegetative growth. remains poorly defined primarily because of the heterogeneous nature of the landscape. Note was According to statistics released by the Food and taken of the concept of representative elementary soil Agriculture Organization (FAO), the world population volume in defining soil properties, in making soil physical is expected to double by the year 2000 at its current measurements, and in using physical theory in soil-water rate of growth. -
Advanced Crop and Soil Science. a Blacksburg. Agricultural
DOCUMENT RESUME ED 098 289 CB 002 33$ AUTHOR Miller, Larry E. TITLE What Is Soil? Advanced Crop and Soil Science. A Course of Study. INSTITUTION Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg. Agricultural Education Program.; Virginia State Dept. of Education, Richmond. Agricultural Education Service. PUB DATE 74 NOTE 42p.; For related courses of study, see CE 002 333-337 and CE 003 222 EDRS PRICE MF-$0.75 HC-$1.85 PLUS POSTAGE DESCRIPTORS *Agricultural Education; *Agronomy; Behavioral Objectives; Conservation (Environment); Course Content; Course Descriptions; *Curriculum Guides; Ecological Factors; Environmental Education; *Instructional Materials; Lesson Plans; Natural Resources; Post Sc-tondary Education; Secondary Education; *Soil Science IDENTIFIERS Virginia ABSTRACT The course of study represents the first of six modules in advanced crop and soil science and introduces the griculture student to the topic of soil management. Upon completing the two day lesson, the student vill be able to define "soil", list the soil forming agencies, define and use soil terminology, and discuss soil formation and what makes up the soil complex. Information and directions necessary to make soil profiles are included for the instructor's use. The course outline suggests teaching procedures, behavioral objectives, teaching aids and references, problems, a summary, and evaluation. Following the lesson plans, pages are coded for use as handouts and overhead transparencies. A materials source list for the complete soil module is included. (MW) Agdex 506 BEST COPY AVAILABLE LJ US DEPARTMENT OFmrAITM E nufAT ION t WE 1. F ARE MAT IONAI. ItiST ifuf I OF EDuCATiCiN :),t; tnArh, t 1.t PI-1, t+ h 4t t wt 44t F.,.."11 4. -
Drummer Illinois State Soil
Drummer Illinois State Soil Soil Science Society of America Introduction Many states have designated state symbols such as bird, flower, fish, tree, rock, and more. Many states also have a state soil – one that has significance or is important to the state. As there are many types of birds, flowers, and trees, there are hundreds of soil types in our state but Drummer is the official state soil of Illinois. How important is the Drummer soil to Illinois? History Drummer was first established as a type of soil in Ford County in 1929. It was named after Drummer Creek in Drummer Township. 1n 1987, Drummer was selected as the state soil by the Illinois Soil Classifiers Association over other soils such as Cisne, Flanagan, Hoyleton, Ipava, Sable, and Saybrook. Since then, Drummer has been repeatedly chosen by other as- sociations who work with soil. In 1992, the Illinois Association of Vocational Agriculture Teachers sponsored a state soil election in their classrooms and Drummer won by a margin of 2 to 1. In 1993, the statewide 4H Youth Conference also selected Drummer out of 6 nomi- nees. Also in 1993 at the FFA state convention, Drummer and Ipava were tied in the contest. Finally, in 2001, after many attempts, it was finally passed by the Illinois Legislature and signed into law by Governor George Ryan. What is Drummer Soil? It is the most common among the dark colored soils or “black dirt” of Illinois. The dark color is due to the high amount of organic matter inherited from the decomposition of the prairie vegetation that is growing on the soil. -
Dynamics of Carbon 14 in Soils: a Review C
Radioprotection, Suppl. 1, vol. 40 (2005) S465-S470 © EDP Sciences, 2005 DOI: 10.1051/radiopro:2005s1-068 Dynamics of Carbon 14 in soils: A review C. Tamponnet Institute of Radioprotection and Nuclear Safety, DEI/SECRE, CADARACHE, BP. 1, 13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance Cedex, France, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract. In terrestrial ecosystems, soil is the main interface between atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere. Its interactions with carbon cycle are primordial. Information about carbon 14 dynamics in soils is quite dispersed and an up-to-date status is therefore presented in this paper. Carbon 14 dynamics in soils are governed by physical processes (soil structure, soil aggregation, soil erosion) chemical processes (sequestration by soil components either mineral or organic), and soil biological processes (soil microbes, soil fauna, soil biochemistry). The relative importance of such processes varied remarkably among the various biomes (tropical forest, temperate forest, boreal forest, tropical savannah, temperate pastures, deserts, tundra, marshlands, agro ecosystems) encountered in the terrestrial ecosphere. Moreover, application for a simplified modelling of carbon 14 dynamics in soils is proposed. 1. INTRODUCTION The importance of carbon 14 of anthropic origin in the environment has been quite early a matter of concern for the authorities [1]. When the behaviour of carbon 14 in the environment is to be modelled, it is an absolute necessity to understand the biogeochemical cycles of carbon. One can distinguish indeed, a global cycle of carbon from different local cycles. As far as the biosphere is concerned, pedosphere is considered as a primordial exchange zone. Pedosphere, which will be named from now on as soils, is mainly located at the interface between atmosphere and lithosphere. -
Soil Carbon Science for Policy and Practice Soil-Based Initiatives to Mitigate Climate Change and Restore Soil Fertility Both Rely on Rebuilding Soil Organic Carbon
comment Soil carbon science for policy and practice Soil-based initiatives to mitigate climate change and restore soil fertility both rely on rebuilding soil organic carbon. Controversy about the role soils might play in climate change mitigation is, consequently, undermining actions to restore soils for improved agricultural and environmental outcomes. Mark A. Bradford, Chelsea J. Carey, Lesley Atwood, Deborah Bossio, Eli P. Fenichel, Sasha Gennet, Joseph Fargione, Jonathan R. B. Fisher, Emma Fuller, Daniel A. Kane, Johannes Lehmann, Emily E. Oldfeld, Elsa M. Ordway, Joseph Rudek, Jonathan Sanderman and Stephen A. Wood e argue there is scientific forestry, soil carbon losses via erosion and carbon, vary markedly within a field. Even consensus on the need to decomposition have generally exceeded within seemingly homogenous fields, a Wrebuild soil organic carbon formation rates of soil carbon from plant high spatial density of soil observations is (hereafter, ‘soil carbon’) for sustainable land inputs. Losses associated with these land therefore required to detect the incremental stewardship. Soil carbon concentrations and uses are substantive globally, with a mean ‘signal’ of management effects on soil carbon stocks have been reduced in agricultural estimate to 2-m depth of 133 Pg carbon8, from the local ‘noise’11. Given the time soils following long-term use of practices equivalent to ~63 ppm atmospheric CO2. and expense of acquiring a high density of such as intensive tillage and overgrazing. Losses vary spatially by type and duration observations, most current soil sampling is Adoption of practices such as cover crops of land use, as well as biophysical conditions too limited to reliably quantify management and silvopasture can protect and rebuild such as soil texture, mineralogy, plant effects at field scales9,10. -
Agricultural Soil Carbon Credits: Making Sense of Protocols for Carbon Sequestration and Net Greenhouse Gas Removals
Agricultural Soil Carbon Credits: Making sense of protocols for carbon sequestration and net greenhouse gas removals NATURAL CLIMATE SOLUTIONS About this report This synthesis is for federal and state We contacted each carbon registry and policymakers looking to shape public marketplace to ensure that details investments in climate mitigation presented in this report and through agricultural soil carbon credits, accompanying appendix are accurate. protocol developers, project developers This report does not address carbon and aggregators, buyers of credits and accounting outside of published others interested in learning about the protocols meant to generate verified landscape of soil carbon and net carbon credits. greenhouse gas measurement, reporting While not a focus of the report, we and verification protocols. We use the remain concerned that any end-use of term MRV broadly to encompass the carbon credits as an offset, without range of quantification activities, robust local pollution regulations, will structural considerations and perpetuate the historic and ongoing requirements intended to ensure the negative impacts of carbon trading on integrity of quantified credits. disadvantaged communities and Black, This report is based on careful review Indigenous and other communities of and synthesis of publicly available soil color. Carbon markets have enormous organic carbon MRV protocols published potential to incentivize and reward by nonprofit carbon registries and by climate progress, but markets must be private carbon crediting marketplaces. paired with a strong regulatory backing. Acknowledgements This report was supported through a gift Conservation Cropping Protocol; Miguel to Environmental Defense Fund from the Taboada who provided feedback on the High Meadows Foundation for post- FAO GSOC protocol; Radhika Moolgavkar doctoral fellowships and through the at Nori; Robin Rather, Jim Blackburn, Bezos Earth Fund. -
Pore Pressure Response During Failure in Soils
Pore pressure response during failure in soils EDWIN L. HARP U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, M.S. 998, Menlo Park, California 94025 WADE G. WELLS II U.S. Forest Service, Forest Fire Laboratory, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507 JOHN G. SARMIENTO Wahler Associates, P.O. Box 10023, Palo Alto, California 94303 111 45' ABSTRACT Three experiments were performed on natural slopes to investi- gate variations of soil pore-water pressure during induced slope fail- ure. Two sites in the Wasatch Range, Utah, and one site in the San Dimas Experimental Forest of southern California were forced to fail by artificial subsurface irrigation. The sites were instrumented with electronic piezometers and displacement meters to record induced pore pressures and movements of the slopes during failure. Piezome- ter records show a consistent trend of increasing pressure during the early stages of infiltration and abrupt decreases in pressure from 5 to 50 minutes before failure. Displacement meters failed to register the amount of movement, due to location and ineffectual coupling of meter pins to soil. Observations during the experiments indicate that fractures and macropores controlled the flow of water through the slope and that both water-flow paths and permeability within the slopes were not constant in space or time but changed continually during the course of the experiments. INTRODUCTION The mechanism most generally ascribed (for example, Campbell, 1975, p. 18-20) to account for rainfall-induced failure in soils indicates that an increase in the pore-water pressure within the soil mantle results in a reduction of the normal effective stresses within the material. -
Summer: Environmental Pedology
A SOIL AND VOLUME 13 WATER SCIENCE NUMBER 2 DEPARTMENT PUBLICATION Myakka SUMMER 2013 Environmental Pedology: Science and Applications contents Pedological Overview of Florida 2 Soils Pedological Research and 3 Environmental Applications Histosols – Organic Soils of Florida 3 Spodosols - Dominant Soil Order of 4 Florida Hydric Soils 5 Pedometrics – Quantitative 6 Environmental Soil Sciences Soils in the Earth’s Critical Zone 7 Subaqueous Soils abd Coastal 7 Ecosystems Faculty, Staff, and Students 8 From the Chair... Pedology is the study of soils as they occur on the landscape. A central goal of pedological research is improve holistic understanding of soils as real systems within agronomic, ecological and environmental contexts. Attaining such understanding requires integrating all aspects of soil science. Soil genesis, classification, and survey are traditional pedological topics. These topics require astute field assessment of soil http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu morphology and composition. However, remote sensing technology, digitally-linked geographic data, and powerful computer-driven geographic information systems (GIS) have been exploited in recent years to extend pedological applications beyond EDITORS: traditional field-based reconnaissance. These tools have led to landscape modeling and development of digital soil mapping techniques. Susan Curry [email protected] Florida State soil is “Myakka” fine sand, a flatwood soil, classified as Spodosols. Myakka is pronounced ‘My-yak-ah’ - a Native American word for Big Waters. Reflecting Dr. Vimala Nair our department’s mission, we named our newsletter as “Myakka”. For details about [email protected] Myakka fine sand see: http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/docs/pdf/Myakka-Fl-State-Soil.pdf Michael Sisk [email protected] This newsletter highlights Florida pedological activities of the Soil and Water Science Department (SWSD) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). -
Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing a Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems
Sustaining the Pedosphere: Establishing A Framework for Management, Utilzation and Restoration of Soils in Cultured Systems Eugene F. Kelly Colorado State University Outline •Introduction - Its our Problems – Life in the Fastlane - Ecological Nexus of Food-Water-Energy - Defining the Pedosphere •Framework for Management, Utilization & Restoration - Pedology and Critical Zone Science - Pedology Research Establishing the Range & Variability in Soils - Models for assessing human dimensions in ecosystems •Studies of Regional Importance Systems Approach - System Models for Agricultural Research - Soil Water - The Master Variable - Water Quality, Soil Management and Conservation Strategies •Concluding Remarks and Questions Living in a Sustainable Age or Life in the Fast Lane What do we know ? • There are key drivers across the planet that are forcing us to think and live differently. • The drivers are influencing our supplies of food, energy and water. • Science has helped us identify these drivers and our challenge is to come up with solutions Change has been most rapid over the last 50 years ! • In last 50 years we doubled population • World economy saw 7x increase • Food consumption increased 3x • Water consumption increased 3x • Fuel utilization increased 4x • More change over this period then all human history combined – we are at the inflection point in human history. • Planetary scale resources going away What are the major changes that we might be able to adjust ? • Land Use Change - the world is smaller • Food footprint is larger (40% of land used for Agriculture) • Water Use – 70% for food • Running out of atmosphere – used as as disposal for fossil fuels and other contaminants The Perfect Storm Increased Demand 50% by 2030 Energy Climate Change Demand up Demand up 50% by 2030 30% by 2030 Food Water 2D View of Pedosphere Hierarchal scales involving soil solid-phase components that combine to form horizons, profiles, local and regional landscapes, and the global pedosphere.