Earth Science Stack Exchange
Earth Science Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [soil]

For questions about the outermost layer of the surface of the Earth. The soil is saturated with organic remains and rock particles.

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Why is a layer of the subsoil so dark on this construction site?

I have this construction site right outside my house, which I would like to give you some geographical background about before asking my question. Have a picture first though There used to be industrial buildings of red clay bricks like the piece…
Spraygun
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Is the colour of soil determined by the 'proteins' present in soil?

According to wikipedia, the colour of soli is determined by proteins present in the soil! Soil color is influenced by the amount of proteins present in the soil. Yellow or red soil indicates the presence of iron oxides. Dark brown or black color…
Tyto alba
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does silt form from sand ; does clay form from silt

I believe that sand, silt, clay are defined by size. But are they also generated by different processes and from different materials? Alternatively do sand particles ultimately weather to make silt, and do silt particles ultimately weather to make…
peebix
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Soil metals acids and bases

I have read in environmental science textbooks that aluminum can acidify soil, whereas metals such as sodium, calcium, magnesium, and potassium can alkalinize soils. I understand that Al3+ can hydrolyze water to form 3H+ and lower pH. Why are…
lamplamp
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Peaty soil vs laterite soil

The weather conditions of both peaty soil and laterite soil are the same, i.e. high rainfall & temperature. But the former turns out to become 'excessive organic' whereas the latter becomes 'excessive decayed' soil. What is the reason of this, that…
Vandana
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Calcareous deposits in arid soil?

I read this line in my textbook: Lower Horizons of arid soil are occupied by calcareous deposits called kankar because of the increasing calcium content downwards. My question is that why only in arid soil? Increase of calcium content will led to…
Vandana
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Can I use building gypsum as a soil additive?

So, I am mixing up a substrate from peat and perlite,50%/50%, and I am adding some dolomite lime and gypsum as additives, as vermaculite is too expensive to substitute for the perlite. As I am unable to find granular gypsum, my question is if I can…
aaa
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Reading a Soil Size Distribution Diagram

I have the Soil Size Distribution Diagram shown below from a source that does not specify the meaning of the labels A1=60, A2=50, and A3=50. I understand that it is data for three different samples, but what do the numbers (60, 50, 50)…
John
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Reisdual soil and the atmosphere influence

My text books says that the residual soil shows a similarity in its chemical composition to the original rock beneath it, and that the degree of similarity differs by differing the influence type of atmosphere I don't get the part of "differing the…
Asmaa
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What method do I use to derive the organic material content (as a percentage) per layer in SoilGrids

I am doing soil related calculations for moisture content and the soil characteristics I need (among others) is the content of the soil as a percentage for: sand clay organic matter I am thinking I take the the sand content (in g) divide by 1000…
Eric Laukonen
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Is it normal for clay soil to solidify into a very hard, but not brittle, material in air, and if not what might this soil be?

One part of my garden has a heavy, dark clay soil. It is now waterlogged with a lot of surface water that does not shift at all even after a day of waiting. When pressed into a 4mm thick ribbon, it breaks under its own weight after about 10 or 15cm.…
Frank
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How is soil thickness related to altitude, angle and moisture?

I'm trying to generate a landscape and I want to include soil thickness for realism. Data I have is altitude, angle of a given point and moisture of a given point.
Marko Taht
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Where are Africa's 600 million hectares of arable land located?

According to Africas Ministers pledge to commercialise regions agricultural sector Speaking during a ministerial roundtable meeting at the AGRF in Kigali, Rwanda, the leaders noted that the economic health of the continent lies in the ability to…
Pablo
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