Covers information on soil formation, soil characteristics, soil food webs, globals soil maps, and ESTAR satellite data and a link to NCRS GIS soil database

1. WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE
OF SOIL?

2. The Big Three
Anchorage

Essential Minerals for

Plants
Pore Space for Water

and Air

3. WHAT IS THE
COMPOSITION OF SOIL?

4. Composition of Soil
Mineral Particles

Organic Matter

Water

Air


5. Organic Composition of Soil
Leaf Litter

Remains of Plants

Droppings and Animal

Remains
Fungi

Microorganisms


6. WHAT TYPES OF SOILS EXIST
AROUND THE GLOBE?

7. 12 Soil Types
http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/orders.htm

8. World Soils

9. U.S. Soil Orders

10. HOW ARE SOILS FORMED?

11. From Parent Material to Soil
Decomposition

Erosion

Weathering

Infiltration


12. Soil Production Through Decomposition

13. Soil Production through Wind Erosion

14. Soil Production Through Weathering

15. Soil Production through Infiltration

16. Soil Formation Facts
To form 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) of topsoil, may

require between 200 and 1000 years.
The thickness of the soil varies from a thin film on

very young lands, near the poles and on the tops of
mountains, to more than 3 meters (10 feet) on very
old lands, such as certain forests.

17. WHAT ROLE DO ORGANISMS
PLAY IN SOIL FORMATION?

20. Life Processes in Soil Formation
Millions of soil organism may inhabit just one teaspoon of

fertile agricultural soil.
The roots, insects, earthworms and microorganisms, interact

with the geological materials to form soil with a loose
texture.
Respiration of the organisms releases carbon dioxide, which

makes the upper soil acidic and helps dissolve rocks.
These organisms help to cycle nitrogen and phosphorus.


21. WHAT IS A SOIL PROFILE?

22. Layers

23. WHAT ROLE DOES SOIL TEXTURE
PLAY IN PLANT GROWTH?

24. Soil Textures

25. ESTAR
Satellite Detection of Soil Types

26. Soil Particle Size
Sand 0.05 to 2 mm

Silt 0.002 mm to 0.05 mm

Clay <0.002 mm


27. Provides Area for Chemical Reactions
Oxygen - required by soil organisms for respiration

Nitrogen - used by nitrogen-fixing soil organisms

Carbon Dioxide - involved in soil weathering


28. WHAT CAUSES SOIL
EROSION?

29. Types of Erosion
Gully

Rill

Sheet


30. Agents of Soil Erosion
Flowing Water

Wind

Human Activity


32. Soil Compaction from Deforestation

33. Soil Erosion from Overgrazing in Kenya

34. Water-borne Coastal Soil Erosion

35. Severe Soil Erosion in a Wheat Field

36. Soil Erosion in Rice Terracing

37. Harmful Affects of Soil Erosion
Loss of soil fertility through depletion of plant

nutrients
Sediments in rivers can pollute water, kill fish and

shell fish, and clog irrigation ditches, boat channels,
reservoirs and lakes

38. HOW SERIOUS IS GLOBAL
SOIL EROSION?

39. Global Statistics
38% of the world’s croplands have serious topsoil

erosion
Food production has been reduced by 16%


40. Global Soil Erosion

41. WHAT IS DESERTIFICATION,
AND HOW SERIOUS IS IT?

42. Desertification Vulnerability

43. Causes and Consequences of Desertification

44. Global Statistics
70% of the world’s dry lands are suffering

Loss of topsoil is affecting the lives of 250 million

people in 110 countries (70 in Africa)

45. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
SOILS:

46. NRCS Soil Website
http://soils.usda.gov/

47. GIS Soil Data View
http://soildataviewer.nrcs.usda.gov/

48. ESTAR Soil Moisture Data
http://daac.gsfc.nasa.gov/fieldexp/SGP97/estar.html