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Chapter 4

Chapter 4. SOIL PROPERTIES. General Objective. Describe soil properties that influence beneficial uses of waste. Specific Objectives. Identify the four roles of soil. Identify and explain the collective features of soil.

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Chapter 4

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  1. Chapter 4 SOIL PROPERTIES

  2. General Objective • Describe soil properties that influence beneficial uses of waste

  3. Specific Objectives • Identify the four roles of soil. • Identify and explain the collective features of soil. • Explain the important soil behavioral properties important for land application wastes. • Explain why crop management is important. • Describe the importance of soil testing.

  4. Specific Objectives • Identify the effects nutrients have on crops. • Understand why conservation practices are necessary. • Understand crop and soil management guidelines.

  5. ISN’T IT JUST DIRT • NO, NO, NO! • YOUR EITHER TRYING TO HELP IT……OR ARE USING IT TO HELP YOU • EITHER WAY IT IS CRUCIAL TO YOUR OPERATION • IF IT IS WRONG….OR YOU MESS IT UP, YOUR OPERATION WILL BE IMPACTED

  6. WHAT DOES SOIL DO? Provides a medium for plant growth Provides nutrients and water for plant growth Immobilization of metals and other chemicals Biological activity to treat unstable material

  7. HOW? Aerobic conditions are necessary for soil microbes to function properly and for plant growth. Soil texture and structure effect aerobic conditions in the soil. An ideal soil has about 50% solids and 50% pore space. In Kentucky, roughly 48% mineral matter/2% organic matter, 25% water & 25% pore space

  8. COLLECTIVE FEATURES • Texture • Structure • Color Mottling Horizons Depth

  9. TEXTURE • Very important component of a soil • Contributes heavily to a soils CEC or Cation Exchange Capacity due to their large surface area and generally negative charge

  10. TEXTURE A soils particle size distribution Broken into 3 groups Sand – gritty and visible Silt – smooth feeling of flour or cornstarch Clay – sticky when wet and can be molded

  11. TEXTURE • The percentage of each component makes up the determination of a soil and impacts the size and shape of soil pores which in turn impact water and air movement, root growth and microbial activity

  12. TEXTURE • Specifically texture impacts • Porosity - Organic matter • Water movement - Plant nutrition • Aeration - Metal adsorption • Water retention

  13. STRUCTURE Soil structure is the aggregation of the individual particles of sand, silt and clay into a large unit called a ped. Different structures occur and are formed by plant roots, organic matter and clay particles.

  14. STRUCTURE • The texture of a soil cannot be effectively changed but structure can. • Attempts to modify structure by reduced tillage, addition of organic matter, etc. are valuable to create larger pores for air and water and improve the root zone.

  15. COLOR Soil color is an important clue about the nature of a soil. Dark Browns – favorable organic matter Yellows/Reds – favorable air and water Gray – poor aeration and wetness

  16. MOTTLES Mottles are spots of one color mixed with another color. It is typically caused by a fluctuating water table.

  17. HORIZONS A soil horizon is a layer of soil horizontal to the surface. Several horizons together called the soil profile are distinguished by different characteristics such as texture, structure, color and parent material.

  18. Restrictive Layers • CLAYPANS • Caused by very high clay content • FRAGIPANS • Typically very silty and dense *Both restrict root growth and can create perched water tables

  19. DEPTH The depth of soil is measured from the surface to bedrock. Important indicator of the soils ability to provide an adequate root zone for crops and zone to receive and decompose/treat applied materials.

  20. BEHAVIORAL PROPERTIES Several behavioral aspects of soil that are important to land application are: Permeability Shrink-Swell Infiltration Trafficability Internal Drainage pH AWHC Nutrient Availability Leaching Potential Heavy Metal Imobilization

  21. PERMEABILITY • The rate at which water moves through a soil • A highly permeable soil combined with extremely high rainfall will promote leaching of soil nutrients

  22. INFILTRATION • Rate at which water enters a soil through the surface • Runoff potential is affected by surface infiltration, slope, temperature of the soil (frozen), and the amount of vegetative cover • Soils with restrictive layers will have increased potential for water runoff due to the restrictive downward movement of water

  23. INTERNAL DRAINAGE The ability of free water to move through a soil and is not the same a permeability.

  24. Available Water Holding Capacity AWHC – the amount of water that a soil can store for plant use.

  25. LEACHING POTENTIAL The downward movement of material in solution by water passing through the soil.

  26. TRAFFICABILITY The soils ability to support weight without significant compaction or structural deterioration.

  27. SHRINK SWELL POTENTIAL Shrink-swell is the expanding and contracting of a high content clay soil. Typically is related to the type of clay present.

  28. pH A measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a soil. Measured from 0 to 14.

  29. NUTRIENT AVAILABILITY Closely associated with CEC of a soil which in turn is related to clay and organic matter content.

  30. METAL IMMOBILIZATION A soils ability to immobilize metals is related to clay content, CEC, organic matter and pH

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