Soils | Massachusetts Envirothon

Soils are defined as the unconsolidated organic and mineral matter on the surface of the earth that is capable of supporting plants. The upper limit of the soil is air or shallow water, the lower limit is either bedrock or the limit of biological activity. Most of us recognize the importance of soils within the context of food production. However, the use of soils is as varied as the use of land. Webster's Dictionary describes land as, "ground or soil of a specific situation, nature or quality."
The soil can be thought of as the land itself and because soils are highly variable, the relative suitability for land use and ability to support plant communities and wildlife can differ greatly. The object of the soils section is to provide the students with an understanding of the concepts of soil variability, suitability, limitations, and behavior as an integral part of ecosystems and the ability to apply this knowledge toward economically sound land management.

Topics covered in the soil section of the Envirothon Guide include (but not limited to):
soil formation, parent material movement of soils from place to place, soils in Massachusetts, climate, horizons, profile development, texture, field methods, soil types, color charts and drainage.


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Soils Soils are defined as the unconsolidated organic and mineral matter on the surface of the earth that is capable of supporting plants. The upper limit of the soil is air or shallow water, the lower limit is either bedrock or the limit of biological activity. Most of us recognize the importance of soils within the context of food production. However, the use of soils is as varied as the use of land. Webster's Dictionary describes land as, "ground or soil of a specific situation, nature or quality." The soil can be thought of as the land itself and because soils are highly variable, the relative suitability for land use and ability to support plant communities and wildlife can differ greatly. The object of the soils section is to provide the students with an understanding of the concepts of soil variability, suitability, limitations, and behavior as an integral part of ecosystems and the ability to apply this knowledge toward economically sound land management. Topics covered in the soil section of the Envirothon Guide include (but not limited to): soil formation, parent material movement of soils from place to place, soils in Massachusetts, climate, horizons, profile development, texture, field methods, soil types, color charts and drainage. USEFUL RESOURCES Soils Training Powerpoint Presentations Soils Overview Part 1 Soils Overview Part 2 Soils Overview Part 3 Redox Reactions Hydric Soils UMass Soils Handout (2008) Hydric Soils of New England R.W. Tiner Jr., and P.L.M. Veneman. 1987 University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension Amherst, MA Deliniating Bordering Vegetated Wetlands Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Wetlands and Waterways. 1995 Written by Scott Jackson. University of Massachusetts, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management Soil Survey Manual By Soil Survey Staff, Chapter 4 Examination and Description of Soils in the Field 1981 U.S. Department of Agriculture USEFUL LINKS USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service soils.usda.gov/ Website maintained by Jim Turenne, a Certified Professional Soil Scientist www.nesoil.com