Unit 6 Vocabulary Part 1

6. The layer under topsoil. It has fewer nutrients and more clay.
7. The top layer of soil. It’s where most plant roots grow and is full of nutrients.
9. The outer layer of the Earth that includes rocks and soil. It’s where we live and grow food.
10. Medium-sized particles that feel soft, like flour. Silt holds some water.
11. How much of the food (nutrients) plants need is in the soil. Healthy soil has a lot.

1. Dark, rich part of soil made from decomposed plants and animals. It adds nutrients to the soil.
2. material Parts of soil that were never alive, like sand, clay, or minerals.
3. The process of breaking down dead plants and animals into nutrients. Worms and bacteria help with this.
4. The best mix of sand, silt, clay, and humus. It’s great for growing plants.
5. Very tiny particles that feel sticky. Clay holds a lot of water but drains slowly.
6. How good the soil is at material: Things in the soil that once were alive, like dead leaves or roots. They help plants grow.
8. texture How soil feels based on the size of its particles. Some soil feels rough, others smooth.
10. Large soil particles that feel gritty. Sand doesn’t hold much water.
12. Things in the soil that once were alive, like dead leaves or roots. They help plants grow.