Soil science

Soil science

That science dealing with soils as a natural resource on the surface of the earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils per se; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.

Industry: Earth science

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Soil science

Lithosols

Earth science; Soil science

A great soil group of azonal soils characterised by an incomplete solum or no clearly expressed soil morphology and consisting of freshly and imperfectly weathered rock or rock fragments.

Electron acceptor

Earth science; Soil science

A compound which accepts electrons during biotic or abiotic chemical reactions and is thereby reduced.

Shrub-coppice dune

Earth science; Soil science

A small, streamlined dune that forms around desert, brush-and-clump vegetation.

Decalcification

Earth science; Soil science

The removal of calcium carbonate or calcium ions from the soil by leaching.

Ground-water laterite soil

Earth science; Soil science

A great soil group of the intrazonal order and hydromorphic suborder, consisting of soils characterised by hardpans or concretional horizons rich in iron and aluminium (and sometimes manganese) that ...

Xeric

Earth science; Soil science

A soil moisture regime common to Mediterranean climates that have moist cool winters and warm dry summers. A limited amount of water is present but does not occur at optimum periods for plant ...

Ion selectivity

Earth science; Soil science

(i) The relative adsorption of an ion by the solid phase in relation to the adsorption of other ions. (ii) The relative absorption of an ion by a root in relation to absorption of other ions.