SOIL PROFILE
A soil profile is a vertical cross-section of the soil, revealing distinct layers
called horizons. These horizons form over time due to interactions between climate,
organisms, parent material, topography, and time. Studying the profile helps scientists
understand soil formation, fertility, drainage, and suitability for various uses.
Here's a breakdown of a typical soil profile and its horizons (from top to bottom):
1. O Horizon (Organic Layer):
o Composition: Fresh or partially decomposed organic matter (leaves,
twigs, dead organisms).
o Location: Topmost layer.
o Key Feature: Rich in organic carbon, dark color. May be absent in
agricultural or eroded soils.
2. A Horizon (Topsoil):
o Composition: Mineral material mixed with decomposed organic matter
(humus).
o Location: Just below the O horizon (or surface if O is absent).
o Key Feature: Darker color due to humus. Highest biological activity
(roots, microbes, insects). Crucial zone for plant growth, water
infiltration, and nutrient cycling. Often lost to erosion.
3. E Horizon (Eluviation Layer):
o Composition: Mineral material (sand, silt).
o Location: Below the A horizon (not always present).
o Key Feature: Light-colored due to leaching (eluviation) of clay, iron,
aluminum, and organic matter down to lower horizons. Often coarse-
textured (sandy/silty).
4. B Horizon (Subsoil):
o Composition: Mineral material enriched with clay, iron oxides,
aluminum oxides, or organic matter leached down from above.
o Location: Below the A or E horizon.
o Key Feature: Zone of accumulation (illuviation). Often has stronger
structure (blocky, prismatic) and brighter colors (red, yellow, brown) due
to iron oxides. Can be dense and restrict root/water movement.
5. C Horizon (Parent Material):
o Composition: Partially weathered or unweathered bedrock or
sediment.
o Location: Below the B horizon.
o Key Feature: Least affected by soil-forming processes. Lacks
significant biological activity or organic matter. Represents the geologic
material from which the soil above developed.
6. R Horizon (Bedrock):
o Composition: Continuous, hard bedrock.
o Location: Bottom layer.
o Key Feature: Not considered soil. Roots cannot penetrate unless
fractured.
Why Soil Profiles are Important:
1. Soil Classification: Essential for identifying and classifying soil types (e.g.,
using systems like USDA Soil Taxonomy).
2. Land Use Planning: Reveals suitability for agriculture, forestry, construction
(e.g., depth to bedrock, drainage, compaction potential).
3. Agriculture & Gardening: Shows depth of topsoil, nutrient status, water-
holding capacity, and potential restrictions for root growth.
4. Environmental Science: Indicates potential for groundwater contamination
(e.g., permeability of layers), carbon storage capacity, and past environmental
changes.
5. Hydrology: Influences water infiltration, runoff, and groundwater recharge
patterns.
6. Understanding Soil Formation: Provides a record of the pedogenic (soil-
forming) processes that have occurred over time.
Key Points:
• Not all horizons are present in every soil profile.
• The thickness, sequence, and properties of horizons vary greatly depending on
the factors of soil formation.
• Studying a soil profile involves digging a soil pit or using a soil auger to expose
the vertical sequence.
By examining a soil profile, you gain a deep understanding of the soil's history, current
state, and potential for future use or management.
