1 Answer. The major components of the Earth are water, air/gases, minerals, organic and biological components, microorganisms and gases.

Soil is often considered an abiotic factor since it is mostly made up of small particles of rock (sand and clay) mixed with decomposed plants and animals. Plants use their roots to get water and nutrients from the soil. Biotic factors are all of the living things in an ecosystem, such as plants and animals.

Basic Soil Components

• Mineral. The largest component of soil is the mineral portion, which makes up approximately 45% to 49% of the volume.
• Water. Water is the second basic component of soil.
• Organic matter. Organic matter is the next basic component that is found in soils at levels of approximately 1% to 5%.
• Gases.
• Microorganisms.

There are five soil horizons: O, A, E, B, and C. (R is used to denote bedrock.) There is no set order for these horizons within a soil. Some soil profiles have an A-C combination, some have an O-E-B, an O-A-B, or just an O.

Topsoil is the upper, outermost layer of soil, usually the top 5–10 inches (13–25 cm). It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms and is where most of the Earth’s biological soil activity occurs.

Soil horizons are recognized in the field according to soil morphological features, such as color, texture, consistence, structure, ped coatings, nodules or concretions, root and pore distribution, rock fragment, cementation, pH, carbonate content, salinity, and boundary characteristics (Soil Survey Staff, 1993).

Dig down deep into any soil, and you’ll see that it is made of layers, or horizons (O, A, E, B, C, R). Put the horizons together, and they form a soil profile. Like a biography, each profile tells a story about the life of a soil. Most soils have three major horizons (A, B, C) and some have an organic horizon (O).

The A, B, and C horizons are known as master horizons. They are part of a system for naming soil horizons in which each layer is identified by a code: O, A, E, B, C, and R. These horizons are described as follows. The E horizon, the zone of greatest eluviation, is very leached of clay, chemicals, and organic matter.

The 5 master horizons are represented by the letters: O, A, E, B, and C.

…and B horizons is the C horizon, a zone of little or no humus accumulation or soil structure development. The C horizon often is composed of unconsolidated parent material from which the A and B horizons have formed.

Answer. Chickweed grows in fertile soil. Chickweed plant prefers soils with extraordinary fertility and thrives in nitrogen-rich moist soils. Conventional chickweed represents as an important nitrogen searcher.

Soils feed the plants which in turn feed the animals that feed us. Including soil in this important chain will help guarantee its success. Soil provides the support or foundation for plants and most of the nutrients. Soil is accumulated decomposing plant and animal matter with aging parent material.

It provides moisture and nutrients for tree growth, serves as a medium for root growth, and physically supports the equipment used in harvesting, yarding and other operations. Maintaining soil productivity is critical to sustainable forest management.