Identification should include
- horizons of an undisturbed soil profile
- depth and texture of topsoil and subsoil
- water-retention capacity and moisture conditions of soil horizons
- nutrients (e.g., leaching, availability)
- soil pH
- organisms in the soil
- erosion.
Teacher Resources:
Process/Skill Questions:
- How do soil conditions affect species diversity and establishment within a forest?
- How do soils contribute to nutrient and biological cycles within a forest ecosystem?
- How do biological factors within the soil influence forest conditions and species diversity?