Knowra Soil profile Soil profile A vertical section of soil showing its distinct layers, or horizons, from the surface down to underlying material. Its horizons record differences in composition, structure, and formation.
Soil horizon : A layer in a soil profile distinguished by properties such as color, texture, structure, or composition. Profiles are described by the sequence of horizons they contain.
Soil formation : The physical, chemical, and biological processes through which soil develops from parent material. These processes generate the layered structure visible in a profile.
Soil classification : The systematic grouping of soils according to their properties, formation, and diagnostic features. Horizon sequences and properties help distinguish soil classes.
Soil : A natural body of mineral and organic material at Earth's surface that supports plants and undergoes biological, chemical, and physical change. A profile is a vertical view through a body of soil.
O horizon : The surface soil horizon dominated by accumulated organic material, such as leaf litter and decomposed remains. It forms the organic surface layer in profiles where such material accumulates.
Eluviation : The removal of dissolved or suspended materials from a soil layer by downward-moving water. It can deplete upper horizons and alter their color and composition.
Soil survey : The mapping and description of soil types and their properties across a landscape. Profile observations support the characterization and mapping of soil units.
Pedon : The smallest three-dimensional body of soil considered representative of a soil type. A profile is a vertical section commonly used to describe a pedon.
A horizon : A mineral soil horizon near the surface, commonly darkened by organic matter. It is often the uppermost mineral layer shown in a profile.
Illuviation : The accumulation in a soil layer of materials transported from above, including clay, iron, or organic compounds. It can enrich subsurface horizons beneath zones of eluviation.
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