Answer to Question #103357 in Physical Chemistry for Riya

Question

Differentiate between the following terms. Illustrate your answers. (5)
i) Soil profile and soil horizon
ii) Disintegration and decomposition in soil formation

Answer 1

i). A soil profile is a vertical section through different layers of soil. Each layer has different texture, colour and chemical composition. These layers are termed horizons. The soil consists of three horizons: Horizon A, Horizon B and Horizon C.

 

A soil horizon makes up a distinct layer of soil. The horizon runs roughly parallel to the soil surface and has different properties and characteristics than the adjacent layers above and below.

ii). Disintegration is breaking of a rock into very small pieces by the action of water, wind , heat ,frost and other natural factors which slowly give rise to soil formation

while decomposition is a natural process or cycle in which all organic things are decomposed and all the molecules are broken into simpler ones and eventually they become water and carbon dioxide and get mixed up to the soil