| A | B |
|---|
| Soil | The top layer of the earth’s surface composed of minerals, organic matter, water and air |
| Soil texture | Describes the size of mineral (non- living or abiotic) particles of soil |
| Soil structure | Describes how the soil material sticks together |
| Top soil | The layer of soil with the most organic material |
| Soil fertility | A measure of the nutrient content of the soil |
| Humus | Decomposed organic matter from dead and decaying plants and animals |
| Soil horizon | An identifiable soil layer that is different in color, structure, or texture |
| Root zone | The part of the soil that can be penetrated by plant roots |
| Parent material | The primary material from which the soil is formed |
| Soil pH | A measure of the acidity of the soil |
| Permeability | The quality of the soil that enables air and water to move downward through the soil |
| Chemical weathering | The process where the materials in rocks are chemically changed |
| Physical weathering | The process of breaking down rocks in to smaller pieces by wind, water and temperature changes |
| Bedrock | The solid rock that is beneath the soil |
| Organic matter | Plant and animal material in the soil in various stages of decomposition |
| Soil profile | A vertical section of the soil through all its horizons |
| Leaching | The movement of nutrients down through the soil by water |
| Nitrates | Nutrient essential in the formation of proteins and the basic building material of living things |
| Phosphate | Nutrient necessary for the formation of DNA, cell membranes, root development, and the use of energy in cells |
| Potassium | Important nutrient for cell growth and division and immunity to plant diseases |
