Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics. It is composed of particles of broken rock that have been altered by chemical and environmental processes that include weathering and, usually the top 2 inches (5.1 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm). It has the highest concentration of organic matter Organic matter is matter that has come from a once-living organism; is capable of decay, or the product of decay; or is composed of organic compounds. The definition of organic matter varies upon the subject it is being used for and microorganisms A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is microscopic (usually too small to be seen by the naked human eye). The study of microorganisms is called microbiology, a subject that began with Anton van Leeuwenhoek's discovery of microorganisms in 1675, using a microscope of his own design and is where most of the Earth Earth is the third planet from the Sun, and the fifth-largest of the eight planets in the Solar System. It is also the largest, most massive, and densest of the Solar System's four terrestrial (or rocky) planets. It is sometimes referred to as the World, the Blue Planet,[note 3] or Terra.[note 4]'s biological Biology is the natural science concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, origin, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy. The term biology in its modern sense appears to have been introduced independently by Karl Friedrich Burdach (1800), Gottfried Reinhold Treviranus (Biologie oder soil activity occurs. Plants Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. They include familiar organisms such as trees, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The scientific study of plants, known as botany, has identified about 350,000 extant species of plants, defined as seed plants, bryophytes, ferns and fern allies. As of 2004, generally concentrate their roots In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating (growing up above the ground or especially above water). Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either (see rhizome). So, it is in and obtain most of their nutrients A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. Nutrients are the substances that enrich the body. They build and repair tissues, give heat and energy, and regulate body processes. Methods for nutrient intake vary, with animals and from this layer. The actual depth of the topsoil layer can be measured as the depth from the surface to the first densely packed soil layer known as subsoil Subsoil is the layer of soil under the topsoil on the surface of the ground. The subsoil may include substances such as clay and has only been partially broken down by air, sunlight, water etc., to produce true soil. Below the subsoil is the substratum, which can be residual bedrock, sediments, or aeolian deposits, largely unaffected by soil-.
In soil classification systems, topsoil is known as the "A Horizon," therefore, it is the very top layer.[1] Topsoil is used in gardens and fields all around the world. A variety of soil mixtures are sold commercially Commerce is a division of trade or production which deals with the exchange of goods and services from producer to final consumer. It comprises the trading of something of economic value such as goods, services, information, or money between two or more entities. Commerce functions as the central mechanism which drives capitalism and certain other as topsoil, usually for use in improving gardens A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form is known as a residential garden. Western gardens are almost universally based around plants. Zoos, which display wild animals and lawns A lawn is an area of recreational or amenity land planted with grass, and sometimes clover and other plants, which are maintained at a low, even height, or for ideal growing conditions in container gardens, by using potting soil, for example.
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Erosion
A major environmental concern known as topsoil erosion Erosion is a gravity driven process that moves solids in the natural environment or their source and deposits them elsewhere. It usually occurs due to transport by wind, water, or ice; by down-slope creep of soil and other material under the force of gravity; or by living organisms, such as burrowing animals, in the case of bioerosion occurs when the topsoil layer is blown or washed away. Without topsoil, little plant life is possible. It takes approximately 100 years for 1 inch (2.5 cm) of topsoil to be deposited, if there is the correct ratio of organic material, inorganic material, and moisture. This can be improved by using the terra preta Terra preta refers to expanses of very dark, fertile anthropogenic soils found in the Amazon Basin. Terra preta owes its name to its very high charcoal content, and was indeed made by adding a mixture of charcoal, bone, and manure to the otherwise relatively infertile Amazonian soil over many years. It is also known as “Amazonian dark earth” system. However, there are 25 billion tons of topsoil lost each year.
See also
- Erosion control Erosion control is the practice of preventing or controlling wind or water erosion in agriculture, land development and construction. This sometimes involves the creation of a physical barrier, such as vegetation or rock, to absorb some of the energy of the wind or water that is causing the erosion. Effective erosion controls are important
- Nonpoint source pollution Nonpoint source pollution is water pollution affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source pollution can be contrasted with point source pollution, where discharges occur to a body of water at a single location, such as
- Water pollution Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies
References
- ^ U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Soil Survey Division Staff (1993). "Soil Survey Manual." USDA Handbook 18. Chapter 3.
- The lowdown on topsoil: It's disappearing
- Mann, C (2008). "Our Good Earth". National Geographic Magazine The National Geographic Magazine, later shortened to National Geographic, is the official journal of the National Geographic Society. It published its first issue in 1888, just nine months after the Society itself was founded. It is immediately identifiable by the characteristic yellow frame that surrounds its front cover 214 (3): 80-107. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/mann-text.
External links
- USDA Electronic Field Office Technical Guide - Detailed soil conservation guides tailored to individual states/counties
Categories: Soil Categories: Granular materials | Natural materials | Natural resources | Agriculture | Lawn care | Horticulture and gardening Horticulture and gardening involves cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants in a public or domestic garden. It is a sub-set of agriculture | Types of soil
Tha BossMack TopSoil
Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:10:00 GM
BossMezzy This is another classic episode, I promise these shows will continue to get better and better. Click here or on tha pic to experience this now.
Q. Outside my house i have a trench about 1 meter deep,i am going to plant some shrubs,i was planning on putting sand and stones in the bottom,then buying some topsoil,i am not a gardiner,how deep do i need the topsoil.
Asked by smiler - Mon Dec 4 19:55:37 2006 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments
A. Trees require a minimum of 2 feet and a maximum of 3 feet of soil for proper root development. Large shrubs should be provided with a similiar depth. Small and medium shrubs should be able to get by with 1.5 to 2 feet of soil. I don't recommend putting sand and stones in the bottom, it won't help with drainage problems. If you simply want to get rid of the stuff, then go ahead and bury it.
Answered by MAK - Mon Dec 4 22:19:27 2006
