onstedsummer2011
Silty clay loam
Silty Clay Loam is a medium textured soil which means that it is right in the middle in terms of being tillable, holding moisture or letting moisture through. This soil retains necessary nutrients for plants well, while holding sufficient water for the roots. It allows for some drainage through tiny air pockets.
There is a lot of greenery in this area, grasses, weeds/wild flowers, skunk cabbage etc. This soil was collect closer to the creek, which means there are also some more hydrophilic plants closer to the water, but not in this precise location. These vegetative species use water and nutrients from the soil to grow and survive. They can spread their roots throughout the soil to have greater structural stability and more access to those necessary nutrients and hydration. The root structures of plants help to prevent soils from eroding. Also, these plants may attract specific types of animals, whose excrement can actually help a soil become more loamy. When plants loose their leaves or die, the organic matter that they decompose into can also help to make loamier soil.
This soil is not likely to be eroded. There are many, many plant species covering the ground due to the soil’s positive growing attributes and their root systems prevent the soil from being washed or blown away. However, if there were an open spot like in the photograph above, rain could wash away bits of the topsoil and create rills. The rills would carry the sediment to the downhill creek and it would be deposited either in the creekbed or on the banks.
It is important for ecologists to consider soil texture, because a lot of information can be deducted/discovered by knowing the type of soil in an area. We can determine what types of plants may/can grow, consumers of the plants… basically tracing the food web outward to discover the organisms of the ecosystem. This information can also be extremely valuable when considering conservation/preservation and rehabilitation of habitats. If a specific area doesn’t have the soil to support the growth of the ideal plant species for a habitat and the ecologist doesn’t investigate to find out, a lot of money and resources can be wasted on a new preservation site that won’t be as successful as somewhere with the ideal soil type.
Silty clay loam
Silty Clay Loam is a medium textured soil which means that it is right in the middle in terms of being tillable, holding moisture or letting moisture through. This soil retains necessary nutrients for plants well, while holding sufficient water for the roots. It allows for some drainage through tiny air pockets.
There is a lot of greenery in this area, grasses, weeds/wild flowers, skunk cabbage etc. This soil was collect closer to the creek, which means there are also some more hydrophilic plants closer to the water, but not in this precise location. These vegetative species use water and nutrients from the soil to grow and survive. They can spread their roots throughout the soil to have greater structural stability and more access to those necessary nutrients and hydration. The root structures of plants help to prevent soils from eroding. Also, these plants may attract specific types of animals, whose excrement can actually help a soil become more loamy. When plants loose their leaves or die, the organic matter that they decompose into can also help to make loamier soil.
This soil is not likely to be eroded. There are many, many plant species covering the ground due to the soil’s positive growing attributes and their root systems prevent the soil from being washed or blown away. However, if there were an open spot like in the photograph above, rain could wash away bits of the topsoil and create rills. The rills would carry the sediment to the downhill creek and it would be deposited either in the creekbed or on the banks.
It is important for ecologists to consider soil texture, because a lot of information can be deducted/discovered by knowing the type of soil in an area. We can determine what types of plants may/can grow, consumers of the plants… basically tracing the food web outward to discover the organisms of the ecosystem. This information can also be extremely valuable when considering conservation/preservation and rehabilitation of habitats. If a specific area doesn’t have the soil to support the growth of the ideal plant species for a habitat and the ecologist doesn’t investigate to find out, a lot of money and resources can be wasted on a new preservation site that won’t be as successful as somewhere with the ideal soil type.