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1. Soil concept: Soil is a mixture of inorganic and organic solids, air and water.

2. General composition: Soil is a complex body composed of five major components

1. Mineral matter obtained by the distintergration and decomposition of rocks

2. Organic matter, obtained by the decay of plant residues and animal remains

3. Water, obtained from the atmosphere and the reactions in soil

4. Air or gases from the atmosphere.

5. Organisms, both big (worms, insects) and small (microbes)

3.  Macronutrients:  Substance required in relatively large amounts by living organisms, in particular. In relatively large amounts, the soil supplies nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur; these are often called the macronutrients.

4. Micronutrients: A chemical element or substance required in trace amounts for the normal growth and development of living organisms.There are 7 essential plant nutrient elements defined as micronutrients: (Boron (B), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Molybdenum (Mo), Chlorine (Cl)). They constitute in total less than 1% of the dry weight of most plants.

5. Properties of soil

1. Physical: Soil Texture, structure, consistence/strength, color, permeability, temperature.

2. Chemical:The ability of soil to provide the essential elements needed for plant growth includes:pother chemical properties
clay minerals present, humus content, cation exchange and soil reaction (pH).

3. Biological : Refers to the living organisms found in the soil
pincludes both the micro and macro plants and animals. Example; bacteria, fungi, Earthworm, insects, spiders, snails, rodents etc.

6. Soil pH level and factors that affect it, ideal pH range for agriculture. Soil pH is a measure of the acidity and alkalinity in soils. pH levels range from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral, below 7 acidic and above 7 alkaline. The optimal pH range for most plants is between 5.5 and 7.0; however, many plants have adapted to thrive at pH values outside this range.

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Andrés, Marifer, Carolina, Miguel
Physical properties: particles that make up soil are categorized in three groups; sand, silt and clay.

-          Texture

-          Structure

-          Soil depth

-          Soil water characteristics

-          Available soil wáter

-          Color

-          Consistency

-          Porosity

-          Density

-          Water Flows

Chemical Properties: interaction of various chemical constituents that takes place among soil particles and in the soil solution.

-          pH

-          Salinity

-          Cation Exchange capacity

-          Organic matter

-          C:N  ratio

Biological properties: concern to properties related to microbial and faunal activity in soil.

-          Mineralization

-          Nitrification

-          Nitrogen fixation

-          Denitrification

-          FAO.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-properties/en/

-          FAO.org. (n.d.). Retrieved November 16, 2016, from http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-properties/biological-properties/en/ nsi��T�&"�

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Soil concept and its general composition. Macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil

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Soil concept and its general composition. Macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil

# data[].attributes.headline
Soil concept and its general composition. Macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil

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Soil concept and its general composition. Macronutrients and micronutrients in the soil

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David, Dante, Humberto, Johan
Two concepts of soil:

1. Pedology - study of soil as a natural entity - origin, classification and description.

2. Edaphology - study of soil from the standpoint of plant growth.

Soil Composition:

Micronutrients

A shortage of micronutrients can limit plant growth and crop yields. Too great a shortage could even cause plant death, even with all other essential elements fully represented. Micronutrients include:

·Boron (B): Transports sugar to roots and tops

·Chloride (Cl): Aids in plant metabolism

·Copper (Cu): Activates enzymes, aides in chlorophyll production and is involved in protein synthesis

·Iron (Fe): Essential for formation of chlorophyll

·Manganese (Mn): Important for the production of chlorophyll

·Molybdenum (Mo): Reduces nitrates for protein synthesis

·Nickel (Ni): Essential for formation of chlorophyll

·Zinc (Zn): Activates enzymes

As plants develop, from seedling stage to harvest, their need for nutrition varies. During the seedling stage, the need for nutrients is low, but it gradually starts to increase. Nutrient demand quickly increases during the vegetative state. In the reproductive stage, demand lessens again: While plants still need nutrients, the demand is mostly met by a redistribution of elements held in the vegetative tissues.

Macronutrients

Nitrogen: Required by plants in the largest quantity mostly by the limiting factor in crop productivity.

Potassium: Helps mainly in crop production speed process.Large amounts of soil are absorbed from the root zone for production of agronomic crops.

Sulfur: Help plants to build organic molecules.

Magnesium:  in soil solution, is in equilibrium with the exchangeable magnesium and is available for plants.

Phosphorus: The most important of its main roles in living organisms is in the transfer of energy.

Calcium: Is responsible for holding together the cell walls of plants.

The Importance of Micronutrients in Soil. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from https://www.southernstates.com/articles/importance-of-micronutrients.aspx

Micronutrients. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/c_nutrients04.aspx

Macronutrients and Micronutrients. (n.d.). Retrieved November 15, 2016, from     http://soils.wisc.edu/facstaff/barak/soilscience326/macronut.htm

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•Nicole A, Pau M, Luisa M

•What is "pedogenesis"?:
�The science and study of the processes that lead to the formation of soil (progressive transformation of bedrock into soil)
•Steps:
1.Meteorization: From parent Rock the minerals decompose and with time the weather and vegetation mix the elements of it.
2. Inorganic Chemical Action: Acids form and start taking down compounds and releasing more minerals and chemicals.
3.Biologic action: Materials are broken down by animal life, plants and bacteria.
4. Actions and reactions performed by all organic and inorganic materials
•Factors:
Climate – Determines the volume of precipitations and the temperatures at which the chemical alterations take place.
The relief – Make it easier of difficult according to the inclination of the surface and the infiltration of water. This determines the level of erosion in the soil and orientation according to the sun.
The biological activity – This interfere in the chemical alteration of rocks through the humid acids, coming from the decomposition of organic remains.
The lithological composition - Determines what will be the alteration products caused from an alteration of rocks made by water, atmosphere and living beings. This influences the level of acidic of the resulting soil.