Soil Basics
Soil Basics
Soils come in many different colors, described by hue, value, and chroma (Munsell color system).
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Attachments
Color Clues Video
Using the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) online Web Soil Survey (WSS) to discover the types of soil around their home and to explore limitations of the soils.
Activities
Why Should I Care About My Soil
Attachments
Reduced Tillage Video
Most insects are beneficial but some can be pests. Agricultural pests include insects, weeds, and fungal diseases.
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Fighting Plant Disease
Soil has four primary components: minerals, water, and organic matter. Students will study how water can fill pore spaces.
Activities
Soil Water and Air Video
Science of Healthy Soil
Water Movement in Soil
Soil erosion by water, splash, and wind. And, the effects of slope and soil cover on erosion.
Activities
Soil Erosion Video
The importance of earthworms on soil formation and an introduction to the soil food web.
Activities
Soil Formation Video
Soil permeability, pore space, soil adhesion, and soil cohesion all effect a soil's water holding capacity and water movement in soil.
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Estimating Soil Moisture by Feel and Appearance
Soil Water Video
Capillary Rise Video
Soil Moisture and Dying Video
Tile Lines Video
Water Movement in Soil
Plants use nutrients from the air, water, and soil to make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. The essential elements are introduced.
Activities
Getting Handle on Mineralizable Nutrients in Soil Video
Healthy soil is full of life, containing millions of species and billions of organisms.
Activities
Attachments
Healthy Soils Are Full of Life
Soil Microbiology Video
Soil Macrobiology Video
Nightcrawlers and Water Flow Video
Beneficial Soil Video
Soil Microbes and OM Video
Soil look, feel, and productivity depends on soil parent material, climate, relief, age, and organisms that helped it form.
Activities
Soil Origins Video
Processes that form soil and how it affects soil profiles.
Activities
Soil Profiles Video
Soil Horizons Video
Soil erosion by water, splash, and wind. And, the effects of slope and soil cover on erosion.
Activities
Activities
More Information on Soil Texture
Soil Structures Video
Quick Links
Soil Health Basics
Additional Resources
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North central Sustainable Agriculture Research And Education
Educator resources were developed with a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2016-38640-2538 through the North Central Region SARE program under subaward number ENC16-152, PI: Natalie Carroll, Ph.D..
Dan DeSutter - Attica, Indiana
Dan DeSutter farms 4,500 acres in west central Indiana, using no-till, cover crops and manure to improve soil quality while maintaining high levels of crop production.
Jamie Scott - Pierceton, Indiana
Jamie Scott, of Pierceton, Ind., farms 2,000 acres as part of a family operation. All tillable acres are no-tilled or strip tilled and have had cover crops planted for the past seven years.
Purdue Extension
Purdue Extension is a service tailored to meet the needs of Indiana, needs we know firsthand. Our educators, specialists, and volunteers live and work in all 92 Indiana counties. Purdue Extension provides the link between Land Grant research and Indiana citizens.
North Central SARE
Some of the images found on this website were supplied from the SARE Photo Library and Educator resources were developed with a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2016-38640-2538 through the North Central Region SARE program under subaward number ENC16-152, PI: Natalie Carroll, Ph.D..