Soil is the mixture of rock debris and organic materials which develop on the earth’s surface. However, whole of the soil is not same and differs in its constituents. In this article, we will discuss about the soil profile and soil horizon, which is an important topic for UPSC IAS exam.
Horizon | Features |
O horizon | It is made up of organic materials or humus. It is the topmost zone of the soil. It is the layer of soil with humus at the surface and decomposed vegetation at the base It is most prominent in forested areas where there is the accumulation of debris fallen from trees. |
A horizon | Soil horizon A is the layer that is made up of minerals. This horizon is predominantly the surface layer of many soils in grasslands and agricultural lands. |
E horizon | It is a subsurface horizon that has been heavily leached. Anything that can’t be leached out of the soil is left behind and makes up this layer. E horizon if the soil is often found in forests and areas with old soil that hasn’t been disturbed in a long time. This layer is often lighter in color than other layers as much of it has leached into lower layers. |
B horizon | B soil horizon is a site of deposition. All of the materials, such as minerals that are leached from the soil horizon A and E, make up this layer in the soil profile. Bulldozers and landscaping can result in erosion that exposes it.
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C horizon | Soil Horizon C is the parent material layer. The Earth’s surface deposits created this layer. It could have been produced by glaciers moving across the earth, lake sediment, or the exposure of bedrock. It is the least weathered horizon. |
R horizon | Soil horizon R is made up of bedrock. The rocks found in this layer include limestone, quartzite, sandstone, basalt, and granite. This horizon is technically not soil and is usually found under soil horizon C. |
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