Soil

Soil is the product of processes during and after the weathering of

rocks that covers most of the Earths land surface (Biswas &
Mukherjee, 1994; Gerrard, 2003). Weathering is an important aspect of
the soil forming process, called pedogenesis and several factors may
be involved in weathering, both physical and chemical. Factors such as
(a) stress resulting from the unloading of rocks (b) differential thermal
expansion and (c) rupture of rocks at crystalline boundaries as a result
of interstitial water freezing, which involve the breaking down of rocks
into smaller particles are heavily evoked in the processes mechanical
weathering that result to the formation of soil. On the other hand,
oxidation, hydration and hydrolysis of rocks as a result of complex
geological cycles heavily contribute to the chemical breakdown of
rocks (Mirsal, 2004; Gerrard, 2003). As such, soil is composed of
mineral and organic constituents, having definite chemical, physical,
mineralogical and biological properties. Structurally, partly weathered,
unweathered, and transformed products of rocks and its minerals,
along with organic matter make up soil. (Biswas & Mukherjee, 1994;
Brewer & Sleeman, 1988)

Soil is an integral part of any ecosystem. In fact, most plants will not
survive without it. Among its many functions in the environment are

the mechanical strength and support of land plants, repertoire of water

and nutrients necessary for the growth of plants, habitat for a variety
of flora and fauna (Biswas & Mukherjee, 1994; Parker, 2010). Land
productivity is heavily affected by the inherent properties of soil and
soil

dynamics.

As

such,

land

use

capability

or

sustainability

assessments are often based on the soil characteristics (Lal, 2006).

In spite of the many roles of soil in the environment, majority of plant

roots, microbes and soil fauna, along with the biochemical processes
that accompany these species are heavily concentrated in select soil
layers, called horizons. The topmost layer, Horizon A is mostly
composed of organic matter, whose uppermost portions are more
commonly known as topsoil. Directly below Horizon A is Horizon E, a
layer characterized by maximal leaching of silicate clays, and Fe and Al
oxides. Horizon B contains deeper-dwelling species as well as partially
weathered rock material. Unconsolidated mineral material above the
bedrock (Horizon D), is located in Horizon C (Coleman, et. al. 2004).
Physical and chemical properties distinctly differentiate one horizon
from the other. Of these, soil pH, organic matter content, mineral
assemblages, and metal concentrations are most significant (Mirsal,
2004).

References

Biswas, T., & Mukherjee, S. (1994). Textbook of Soil Science (2nd

Edition ed.). New Delhi, India: Tat MacGrwa-Hill.
Mirsal, I. (2004). Soil Pollution: Origin, Monitoring and Remediation (1st
Edition ed.). Dillenburg, Germany: Spinger-Verlag.
Brewer, R., & Sleeman, J. (1988). Soil Structure and Fabric. Melbourne,
Australia: SR Frankland Pty. Ltd.
Parker, R. (2010). Plant and Soil Science: Fundamentals and
Applications. New York City, New York, USA: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Coleman, D., Crossley, D. J., & Hendriz, P. (2004). Fundamentals of Soil
Ecology. Burlington, Massachusetts, USA: Elsevier, Inc.
Gerrard, J. (2003). Fundamentals of Soils. New York City, New York,
USA: Routledge.
Lal, R. (Ed.). (2006). Encyclopedia of Soil Science. New York City, New
York, USA: Taylor and Francis Group.