the soil resource: foundation of terrestrial ecosystems

The Soil Resource: Foundation of Terrestrial

Ecosystems

The Soil Resource is:1. A dynamic natural body composed of mineral

matter, organic matter, gases and living organisms in which plants grow.

2. The collection of natural bodies occupying the Earth’s surface that support plants and have properties due to the integrated effects of climate and living organisms acting upon mineral material, as conditioned by relief, over periods of time.

Factors Influencing Soil Formation

1. Climate - Temperature & precipitation

2. Living Organisms - Animals (humans too), Plants, & Microorganisms

3. Parent Material - Physical & chemical properties of geologic materials

4. Topography - Landform, slope & aspect

5. Time - Duration over which climate and living organisms have influenced parent material

Old Growth Douglas-firOld Growth Douglas-firCoast Range in Western OregonCoast Range in Western Oregon

VegetationVegetation

SoilSoil

VegetationVegetation SoilSoil

Desert GrasslandDesert GrasslandGreat Basin, New MexicoGreat Basin, New Mexico

Pinyon-Juniper WoodlandPinyon-Juniper WoodlandNorthern New MexicoNorthern New Mexico

VegetationVegetation

SoilSoil

Alpine MeadowAlpine MeadowContinental Divide, ColoradoContinental Divide, Colorado

VegetationVegetation SoilSoil

Lodgepole Pine ForestLodgepole Pine ForestFront Range, ColoradoFront Range, Colorado

VegetationVegetation

SoilSoil

Shortgrass SteppeShortgrass SteppeCentral ColoradoCentral Colorado

VegetationVegetation

SoilSoil

Tallgrass PrairieTallgrass PrairieEastern KansasEastern Kansas

VegetationVegetation

SoilSoil

Oak SavannaOak SavannaNorthcentral WisconsinNorthcentral Wisconsin

VegetationVegetationSoilSoil

Northern Hardwood ForestNorthern Hardwood ForestNorthern Lake States & New EnglandNorthern Lake States & New England

VegetationVegetationSoilSoil

What Controls the Geographic What Controls the Geographic Distribution of Soil and Vegetation?Distribution of Soil and Vegetation?

Geological History: The Key to Geological History: The Key to Understanding the Occurrence of Understanding the Occurrence of

Vegetation and SoilVegetation and Soil

Geological History: The Key to Geological History: The Key to Understanding the Occurrence of Understanding the Occurrence of

Vegetation and SoilVegetation and Soil