ABSTRACT
A key feature of soil is the variation with depth in soil properties. Soil is formed as a result of the influences of climate, plants and time acting on geologic parent material in different landscape positions. Soils are uniquely different from geologic parent material such as loess, glacial till or sedimentary rock because soils develop horizonation, in which each horizon has a distinct set of characteristic and diagnostic soil properties. Horizons may differ in organic matter content, color, structure, texture, pH, base saturation, cation exchange capacity, bulk density and water holding capacity, as well as many other soil physical and chemical properties.
