Soil Formation & Evaluation Worksheet

process of converting light energy to chemical energy and storing it in the bonds of sugar
process by which organisms oxidize sugars and derive energy in the form of ATP from the molecular bonds which are broken
exchange of soil and atmospheric air to maintain oxygen for plant roots
substance comprised of decomposed plant and animal residues, microorganisms and partially decayed plant material and microbes which provides structure, greater water holding capacity, diversity and greater nutrient availability to soil
rate at which water and air move into and through the soil is affected by the amount, size and arrangement of soil pores
void spaces in soil, known as pores, which can be filled with air or water
amount of water a soil can hold for plant use
groups of soil particles which bind to each other more strongly than adjacent particles
dry weight of soil per unit volume of soil; indicates the degree of structure or compaction present in the soil
measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil
quantity and availability of soluble salts in soil
measure of how well a solution accommodates the transport of an electric charge
measure of the quantity of cations which can be absorbed and held by a soil
ability of a solution to resist changes in pH
water which moves through soil due to the force of gravity and is found in macropores
water which is held in soil against the pull of gravity, yet can be removed by plant uptake or air drying
thin film of water which surrounds soil particles and is bound so tightly by forces of adhesion it cannot easily be removed by plant roots
maximum amount of water a soil can hold against the pull of gravity
soil moisture content at which plants can no longer obtain enough moisture to meet transpiration requirements, causing the plant to wilt and die
quantitative measure of how easily water flows through soil
process by which water is absorbed into the soil from the ground surface
movement of water through soil
level below which the ground is saturated with water
mechanical or chemical breaking down of rocks
quality of soil and its ability to sustain plant life and provide adequate nutrients
performance in total of a soil based on its physical, chemical and biological attributes