A naturally occurring body of variably thick horizons of mineral and/or organic material that differs from parent material in physical, biological, and morphological properties.

Used to indicate how soil was created and what it is made up of.

The relation of color to red, yellow, green, blue and purple. Found in the upper right hand corner of the Munsell Color Chart.

The lightness or darkness of color. Found on the left edge of the Munsell Color Chart.

The strength or depth of color. Found on the bottom of the Munsell Color Chart.

Breakdown of rocks in situ on the Earth's surface by mechanical, chemical or biological processes.

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away.

The actual breaking up or physical weakening of rock by things such as frost action, shrinking/swelling, and/or root action.

The breaking down of rocks from chemical means like acid rain.

Rock fragments that form a soil and have accumulated in place through weathering.

Parent material moved by a glacier or glacial outwash.

Parent material moved by streams or floods.

Parent material moved by gravity; generally found in mountains.

Parent material moved by wind; generally found in deserts.

Particles that are bigger than 2 millimeters but smaller than600 millimeters; includes boulders, stones, cobbles and gravels.

Particles that range in size from less than .02 millimeters to 0.5 millimeters; includes sand, silt and clay.

Top layer of soil; contains organics.

Second layer of soil; topsoil

Third layer of soil; Sandy

Fourth layer of soil; contains silt and clay

Fifth layer of soil; contains weathered rock

Sixth and bottom layer of soil; bedrock

A layer of soil

Dead plant and/or animal material.

A measurement of the amount of empty space in a material.

The ability of a porous material to allow fluids to pass through them.

175 colors based on Chroma+Value+ Hue that are used to determine soil color.

The most important grain size; holds nutrients for plants.

Perfect Soil