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The Soil Profile

In understanding the soil, we
must not stop at looking at the
soil surface, we should also
look at the soil profile to
understand further the
processes occurring in the soil.

SOIL PEDON

Horizons

A
O O1
O2
A1
Undecomposed litter
Partly decomposed litter
Zone of humus accumulation
Zone of
Solum eluviation
(true
A A2
A3
Zone of strongest leaching
Transition to B horizon
Soil) Zone of B1 Transition to A horizon

Soil

Solum
B

illuviation
B B2
B3
Zone of maximum illuviation
Transition to C horizon
Regolith

C
C
(weathered Parent
C Unconsolidated rock
Material) material

Soil Profile
Bedrock
R R Consolidated rock

Fig. 4. Soil pedon, soil profile and major soil horizons.

The Soil Profile Tells Soils and horizon

differentiation form
the Story of Soil through the forces of
Formation weathering (the five
factors).

1
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Try to imagine a bare Large rocks brake

rock surface into smaller pieces
Weathering Weathering Weathering Weathering

CR

R R

Large rocks brake Further weathering

into smaller pieces forms the clays.
Weathering Weathering Weathering Plants Grow Weathering

Plant Litter

CR A Horizon
C Horizon
R
R

ILLUVIATION creates That’s how we get

the B horizon. the different horizons
Weathering Weathering
Weathering Plants Grow Weathering

Plant Litter
O Horizon
A Horizon illuviation
B Horizon B Horizon
C Horizon C Horizon

2
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PARENT MATERIAL

Disintegration or Physical Breakdown Weathering

Decomposition or Chemical Breakdown

ROCKS

Fig. 5. Transformation of rocks and parent material to soil