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Soil Horizon

There are commonly 5 soil horizons - O, A, B, C, and R. The O horizon contains organic matter like leaves, partially decomposed material, and humus. The A horizon is the topsoil with high organic matter content. The B horizon is the subsoil where clay and minerals accumulate. The C horizon contains partially weathered rock fragments. The R horizon is the unaltered bedrock layer. Soil is formed through additions, losses, transformations, and translocations of materials within the soil profile over time.

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M.H RIFAT Khan
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473 views2 pages

Soil Horizon

There are commonly 5 soil horizons - O, A, B, C, and R. The O horizon contains organic matter like leaves, partially decomposed material, and humus. The A horizon is the topsoil with high organic matter content. The B horizon is the subsoil where clay and minerals accumulate. The C horizon contains partially weathered rock fragments. The R horizon is the unaltered bedrock layer. Soil is formed through additions, losses, transformations, and translocations of materials within the soil profile over time.

Uploaded by

M.H RIFAT Khan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOIL HORIZON :

Horizon is a distinct layer of soil, approximately parallel with the land surface, whose properties develop
from the combined actions of living organisms and percolating water.
There are commonly 5 layers or horizons found in the soil. They are known as- O, A, B, C & R horizons.

All the horizons have their own characteristics according to it’s properties.
O Horizon Soil
It contains a huge amount of organic matters. Typically, there are 3 distinct organic layers in O
horizon-
1. Organic layer of leaves.
2. Underlain by a partially decomposed layer (Dark in color).
3. Layer of well decomposed humus.

Position
Generally O layer is found on the surface of a mineral soil. But it may also be found at any depth
below the surface if it is buried.
Matter of concern
Some horizons formed by the illuviation of organic material into a mineral subsoil may contain
organic matter. These horizons are not O Horizon.
A Horizon Soil
It is a leached mineral horizon (dark in color) with a high content of organic matter. This horizon
is also called ‘Topsoil’.
B Horizon Soil
This horizon is a zone of accumulation of fine materials and mineral Precipitates like as clay, iron,
carbonates, gypsum etc. This horizon is also called ‘Subsoil’.
C Horizon Soil
This horizon contains rock fragments of different sizes (partly weathered rocks).
R Horizon Soil
This layer is composed of hard bedrock (unaltered rock layer).

Four Soil Forming Processes

 Additions: Materials added to the soil, such as decomposing vegetation and organisms
(
organic matter
--OM), or new mineral materials deposited by wind or water.
 Losses: Through the movement of wind or water, or uptake by plants, soil particles
(sand, silt, clay, and OM) or chemical compounds can be eroded, leached, or harvested
from the soil, altering the chemical and physical makeup of the soil.
 Transformations: The chemical weathering of sand and formation of clay minerals,
transformation of coarse OM into decay resistant organic compounds (humus).
 Translocations: Movement of soil constituents (organic or mineral) within the profile
and/or between horizons. Over time, this process is one of the more visibly noticeable as
alterations in color, texture, and structure become apparent.

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