7.1.7

Soil Profiles

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Soil Profiles

A soil profile is a cross-section of the layers of soil in an area. The layers of a soil profile are called ‘horizons’ and there are four main horizons.

Illustrative background for The O horizon Illustrative background for The O horizon  ?? "content

The O horizon

  • This is the organic layer. It is organic because it is made up of dead plant and animal parts.
  • The O horizon is thickest in forests where soil is undisturbed.
  • The thickest of the O horizon in forests depends on how quickly decomposition happens.
  • Some soils don’t have an O horizon at all.
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The A horizon

  • The A horizon is where the plant roots are.
  • It can also be called the topsoil.
  • You also find lots of microorganisms here- as they are decomposing material.
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The B horizon

  • The B horizon is also called the sub soil.
  • The B horizon contains lots of minerals that have leached (moved / been washed down) from the A horizon and built up here.
Illustrative background for The C horizon Illustrative background for The C horizon  ?? "content

The C horizon

  • This is the parent material. It is the parent material from the Earth’s surface that the soil has formed from.

Jump to other topics

1Geography Skills

2Geology of the UK

3Geography of the World

4Development

5Weather & Climate

6The World of Work

7Natural Resources

8Rivers

9Coasts

10Glaciers

11Tectonics

12Climate Change

13Global Population & Inequality

14Urbanisation

15Ecosystems

16Life in an Emerging Country

17Analysis of Africa

18Analysis of India

19Analysis of the Middle East

20Analysis of Bangladesh

21Analysis of Russia

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