ABSTRACT
Soil is a key factor in farm production: to be able to grow at all; for the kind of crops that can be grown at different sites, for the methods of production and for the potential yields that can be expected. Furthermore, soils are essential for recycling of water, nutrients and organic matter. Because of these fundamental roles it is hardly possible to grasp matters of farming and the world of agriculture in general without at least some familiarity with soils. You will find that this chapter is more detailed and rich in facts than the previous ones in this book. You might even find some parts a little complicated, but at the same time you will be given the opportunity to get a glimpse of what more specific studies in agriculture may deal with. You will be introduced to a fascinating world beneath the surface, a world that can be seen as a kind of melting pot where air, water, minerals and living organisms meet and interact.
After this chapter you are expected to:
Be able to account for the main soil functions
Know the main parts of the soil ecosystem
Be familiar with the main soil formation factors and the movement of material, water and air within the soil
Be familiar with the terms soil texture and soil horizon
Have a fair idea of the main characteristics of sandy soils, loam and clays
Key words
Soil functions, soil ecosystems, mineral and organic matter, soil water, soil air, soil parent material, soil transformation, soil texture, soil horizon, soil colour, sand, silt, clay.
