Soils structure and composition

A typical soil profile developed under moorland vegetation (for scale the knife is about 25 em long). 

Schematic diagram of a soil profile showing the O, A, B, C and R horizons. 

---

In this chapter, soil structure and composition are introduced. A survey (not exhaustive by any means) of the most relevant characterization methods is given here. The main nonbiological components—namely, aluminosilicate and oxide minerals—and organic matter are analyzed and their characterization and ion binding behavior discussed in Chapters 8 throngh 10. 

---