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Topsoil is composed of mineral particles and organic matter and usually extends to a depth of 5-10 inches (13–25 cm). Together these make a substrate capable of holding water and air which encourages biological activity.
Dark soil color imparted by organic matter in Illinois, US. Dark brown or black colors typically indicate that the soil has a high organic matter content. [4] Organic matter coats mineral soil particles, which masks or darkens the natural mineral colors. [1] Sodium content also influences the depth of organic matter and therefore the soil color.
Chernozem (/ ˈ tʃ ɜːr n ə z ɛ m / CHUR-nə-zem), [a] also called black soil, regur soil or black cotton soil, is a black-colored soil containing a high percentage of humus [3] (4% to 16%) and high percentages of phosphorus and ammonia compounds. [4] Chernozem is very fertile soil and can produce high agricultural yields with its high ...
The soil is very light, so windbreaks are necessary to protect these fields in dry weather. It also can catch fire and burn underground for months. Oxidation also removes a portion of the soil each year, making it progressively shallower.
Water is a critical agent in soil development due to its involvement in the dissolution, precipitation, erosion, transport, and deposition of the materials of which a soil is composed. [39] The mixture of water and dissolved or suspended materials that occupy the soil pore space is called the soil solution. Since soil water is never pure water ...
Soil bulk density, when determined at standardized moisture conditions, is an estimate of soil compaction. [3] Soil porosity consists of the void part of the soil volume and is occupied by gases or water. Soil consistency is the ability of soil materials to stick together. Soil temperature and colour are self-defining.
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Soil organic matter (SOM) is the organic matter component of soil, consisting of plant and animal detritus at various stages of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil microbes, and substances that soil microbes synthesize.