Key terms and Concepts

• Soil as a natural body
• Key factors controlling soil formation
• Soil profile and horizon
• Soil properties
• Regolith, pedogenesis, cryoturbation, permafrost, podzolization
• Soil structure, aggregate, texture, particle size distribution, bulk density, fertility, moisture, and infiltration

Main Objectives

• A general understanding of broad ecological functions of soils
• Forming an initial idea about soil formation and genesis
• Generally comprehend the connection between a soil profile and its landscape environment
• Know the general composition of soils
• Learn terms and concepts for characterizing soil properties