Soil Horizons
Distinct layers in a soil profile, each with different physical and chemical properties.
Also: soil profile
Definition
Soil horizons are horizontal layers within a soil profile that differ in color, texture, structure, and composition, developed through the physical, chemical, and biological processes of soil formation (pedogenesis). The main horizons include the O (organic), A (topsoil), B (subsoil), and C (parent material) horizons. Understanding soil horizons is essential for agriculture, engineering, and environmental science.
Example
“A farmer digs a trench in their field and notices a dark, rich topsoil layer (A horizon) above a denser clay-rich subsoil (B horizon); they know to till carefully to preserve the fertile organic-rich layer where crops grow best.”
Synonyms
- soil layers
- soil profile
- pedogenic layers