Unit 6 vocabulary

2. Large soil particles that feel gritty. Sand doesn’t hold much water.
3. 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. Medium-sized particles that feel soft, like flour. Silt holds some water.
10. Dark, rich part of soil made from decomposed plants and animals. It adds nutrients to the soil.
13. How much of the food (nutrients) plants need is in the soil. Healthy soil has a lot.
14. How good the soil is at helping plants grow. Fertile soil has nutrients and water.

1. Parts of soil that were never alive, like sand, clay, or minerals.
4. Things in the soil that once were alive, like dead leaves or roots. They help plants grow.
7. The top layer of soil. It’s where most plant roots grow and is full of nutrients.
8. How soil feels based on the size of its particles. Some soil feels rough, others smooth.
9. The layer under topsoil. It has fewer nutrients and more clay.
11. The outer layer of the Earth that includes rocks and soil. It’s where we live and grow food.
12. The process of breaking down dead plants and animals into nutrients. Worms and bacteria help with this.