fact about loamy soil?
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Loamy Soils are "intermediate" between sands and clays. Composed of many different sized soil particles, they combine fertility and moisture-holding capacity with good drainage. Easier to work than clays and better consolidated than sands, loamy soils make an excellent medium for growing most plants. Many prairie plants do best in loam soils.\nhttp://www.wildflowerfarm.com/soil.htm\n\nA loamy soil is rich, dark and has lots of broken down organic matter in it (humus). Most top soil is loamy, but unfortunately builders strip new home sites of their top soil before building, so most of us have to add something to our soil to make it ideal for our plants.\nhttp://www.mainstreetmom.com/hearth_prep_soil.htm\n\nLoamy soil\n\n*The perfect soil\n*Good structure\n*Drains well\n*Retains moisture\n*Full of nutrients\n*Easy to cultivate\n*Warms up quickly in spring and doesn’t dry out in summer\n*Consider yourself very lucky if you have this soil\nhttp://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/htbg/module1/soil_types3.shtml
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They are called horizons.  The top inch or so is the top soil, the next 15 inches is the subsoil and then you come to the parent material.
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Soil is the material on the surface of a lithosphere subject to weathering, and especially the earthy portion of that material.\n\nSoil components\n\n    * Composition -- A typical surface soil is half solids and half voids or porosity. Water and air are thus integral components of soils. Water occupies the void space between soil particles and is held by surface tension on particle surfaces. Air occupies the remaining void space. Both water and air components of soils are important to plant growth and other life in the soil profile of a particular ecosystem\n    * Soil texture -- refers to soil grain size, sand = 2 to 0.02 or 0.05 mm; silt = 0.02 or 0.05 to 0.002 mm; clay = <0.002 mm. Soil texture influences available water capacity and movement, fertility, and workability or "tilth". "Loam" is a name for one of various mixtures of these three particle sizes. The ratio of these particles determines soil texture classification.\n    * Soil structure -- the arrangement of soil particles into aggregates, which may have various shapes, sizes and degrees of development or expression. Soil structure influences aeration, water movement, erosion resistance, and root penetration.\n    * Slope -- the inclination of the ground surface. Slope influences runoff of rainfall, soil erosion, stability, and machinery operation.\n    * Soil color -- Soil color often indicates soil moisture status and is used for determining hydric soils. Often described using general terms, such as dark brown, yellowish brown, etc., soil colors are also described more technically by using Munsell soil color charts, which separate color into components of hue (relation to red, yellow and blue), value (lightness or darkness) and chroma (paleness or strength).\n    * Soil chemistry -- A complex subject within soil science; the most important subjects are:\n\n        Soil pH -- The acidity or alkalinity of soils, which affects plant growth and soil fertility.\n        Cation Exchange Capacity -- The soil's ability to retain and exchange positively charged ions, which include major plant nutrients.\n        Reduction and oxidation (Redox) reactions are also important.\n\n    * The soil profile -- A vertical cut that exposes soil layering or soil horizons. Horizons are formed by combined biological, chemical and physical alterations. A, B, and C symbols are used to describe the topsoil, subsoil and substratum, respectively.\n    * Permeability -- The ability of a soil to transmit water or air. Faster or greater permeability often occurs in sandy or gravelly soils due to large pore spaces. Slower permeability typically occurs in finer textured clay soils, or compacted soils with little structure.\n    * Drainage -- The rate in which water is removed from a soil. Drainage influences most uses of soils, whether for agriculture, silviculture or urban. Classes of soil drainage are those found in soil survey reports, such as well drained, moderately well drained, somewhat poorly drained, poorly drained, and very poorly drained. Soil color patterns (such as mottle patterns or redoximorphic features) often indicate soil drainage class. The most productive agricultural soils are typically well drained or moderately well drained, as are the soils easiest to develop for urban use. By contrast, hydric soils are poorly or very poorly drained. A soil's natural drainage rate can be significantly increased by subsurface "tile" drainage.\n    * Soil biology -- Soils serve as habitats for soil organisms varying in size from microorganisms to small animals. The character of soils is intricately tied to bioturbation and the biochemical functions performed by soil organisms. The soil is home to a large proportion of the world's genetic diversity, which changes by soil type: desert soils (like aridisols) generally have more complex soil biotic communities and genetic diversity than tropical soils (like oxisols).\n    * Soil smell -- earthy odor
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there is a whole science that adresses exactly what you mention\nWATER HARVESTING\n,dig small dams every where to cath the rain water, and you can archieve that all of the rain water is absorbed by the land ,it will seep slowly into the ground to add to subteranean water suplies ,make sure that all the dams are interconnected by slow gradient ditches .just because you dont see water ,does not mean that it is not there .\nNormally a land repels water and with the rains it runs over ground into the rivers and awy.\nthink now that you want to make the land receptive or absorbent of all the water that falls on it.\n\nMULCH\ncut down the weeds before they produce seeds and leave them where they fall,they will cover the ground and put even more organic matter on top,you can use saw dust,leaves green or dry,and when you plant make a little space and plant in the mulch.this is the easiest quickest and by far most benificial way(for the quality of you soul)to prepare the land for planting\n\nto prevent weeds from coming all you have to do it turn out the lights,you can even use cardboard or black plastic(this is good for strawberries because they will rot if they touch humid ground,and the bugs can get to them).\n\nwhat you do is to cover the ground with mulch which is the same principal as compost but it includes the whole garden surface\nthe top part of the soil where the topsoil is being produced houses a world or microbiotic life.\n\nMulch is organic material green or dry that covers the ground,the thicker the better the composting process will turn it in to black topsoil\n\nthe humidity is preserved underneath and promotes the devellopment of worms(their exists no better compost than their excrements)and a variety of micro biotic life which together with the mulch produce more topsoil.\n\nthe mulch also keeps the ground temperature even and guards against the impact of the rain ,which would other wise brings salt to the surfave if on unprotected land\n\nMulch also prevents the soil from drying out because of the sun and, lay it open to wind erosian.\n\nand it turn out the lights for any weeds that want to come up\ndo not use chemicals because the water will wash them into the ground and if enough people did that, you would be guilty of helping to contaminate subteranean water suplies that other people could be pumping up to drink \n\nSUSTAINABLE FARMING\nthe best examples on this Earth of sustainable agriculture,\nare the chinampas of central Mexico ,the surviving ones(that have not been consumed by urban devellopment)have been going for more than 800 years ,that is sustainability.\nthe are built from the mud of the lakes and enriched with compost ,in the old days with the toilet contents of the outhouses that were on the bridges going into town,which the indians collected with a canoo.\n\nAnother example are the traced gardens of the Inca which have been going for more than a thousand years,there success is also because of the principle of using compost and their form which id a receptive concave absorb the rain waters and collect the dust from the wind (for hundreds of years and so increase in quality instead of the oposite.\nin the Ukraine are also examples of ancient agriculture due to no till farming and mulching(green organic matter that is added)\n\nin Mexico today are still examples from old Indian agricultural practises of diversity or companion planting.\nwhere by a series of 7 or 8 species of plants are put together or one folows the other.to create biodiversity ,and utilisation of space.\nCorn is planted for example ,wich is followed 4 weeks later by a bean that climbs it.\nand agavi and edible cactus is on the sides to protect these plants from foraging animals and add chemicals to the soil by their secretions.and others are in between to provide groundcover\n\nthere are many forms of sustainable farming in the past,and today those who follow the principles of permaculture,no till farming,organic or sustainable farmin
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Geography homework huh.\n\nBroadly.\n\n1) Improper removal of stubble or fallow cover leading to  erosion.\n\n2) Insufficient fallow time leading to decline in soil fertility.\n\n3) Over removal of tree cover leading to water table elevation and/or salinity.\n\n4) Over production of single crop types crops leading to nutrient depletion.\n\n5) Over-irrigation leading to turbidity and and slainity in irriagtion water sources.\n\n6) Failure to control tree growth within catchment leading to excess infiltration and loss of runoof. Irrigation water fails.\n\n7) Excess tillage of fragile soils leading to erosion.\n\n8) Tillage of soils in anticipation of  planting conditions that fail to transpire. Ground remains loose and without plant cover for extended periods and erodes.\n\n9) Overgrazing leading to desertification which encroaches on arable land.\n\nThat probably covers most of the practices that have caused land loss in the poast 6000 years.
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Assuming you don't need the salt, saturate it with water.  The salt will melt away, leaving the soil.
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Deforestation led to poor soil quality led to the formation of deserts. Don't be an idiot.
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wow.. tdhat is a BIG subject and I have studied soil conservation for many years and to put that answer down into a few words is DIFFICULT... just as difficult as conserving soil.\n\nCaring for our soil resources is becoming increasingly critical as the supply of dependable agricultural land decreases from competition by other uses, such as urban development. Healthy soils are key to producing good harvests of crops, and minimizes expenses such as fertilizer and pest control. If we let agricultural soils become degraded, there will be no new soil to take its place\n\nHere are just a few things to be considered:\n\nMinimize or eliminate summer fallow \nSeed directly into the previous year's stubble without pre-seeding tillage. No-till increases soil organic matter, enhances water infiltration, conserves moisture and reduces runoff and soil erosion due to wind, water and tillage. \nReduce tillage: replace one or more tillage operations with herbicide application to control weeds. Reduced tillage over successive years improves the physical and chemical properties of the soil, and at the same time helps restore organic matter – plant roots, microorganisms, insects and earthworms – which, when left undisturbed, work to stimulate and sustain plant growth. \nExtend crop rotations, particularly with the inclusion of legumes. The benefits include improved fertility, tilth, aggregate stability, moisture storage, and resistance to soil erosion and degradation, as well as reductions in insect, weed and disease problems. All of these factors contribute to increased productivity. \nAdopt permanent conservation practices such as grassed waterways, perennial grass barriers, and strip cropping. \nManage manure not as a waste, but as an important source of organic matter and plant nutrients. Organic matter, and the organisms that eat it, can improve water holding capacity, nutrient availability, and can help protect against erosion. However, applying manure in the fall or over-application can lead to water and air pollution. \nManage irrigation effectively, by reducing water losses from spray drift and over-application. \nCarefully manage fertilizer by applying according to the crops needs, during the time that the crop needs it and close to the root system so it can be utilized efficiently. Although fertilizer can increase the amount of organic matter in the soil, mis-management can also pollute air and water. \nManage pesticides carefully, by following label instructions. Try to minimize pesticide use by using an integrated approach, which incorporates other pest control practices such as a varied crop rotation and biological control options. \nMaintain healthy grass cover on pastures to prevent soil erosion, by using practices such as rotational grazing and rest periods. \nKeep crop residues on soil surface as much as possible. Crop residues include roots, chaff, stems and leaves which are left after a crop is harvested. These residues improve several soil properties, such as organic matter replenishment, water infiltration, water storage and particle aggregation. Crop residues also contain nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, sulphur and micronutrients. \nSeed forages to increase soil organic matter, reduce erosion and salinity, and recover nutrients that leached below the rooting depth of annual crops. Selection of forage species and management practices can be tailored to specific problems such as drought, excessive soil moisture, salinity, poor soil structure, low pH and other problems. \nProvide adequate wind barriers, such as shelterbelts, to reduce wind erosion. Shelterbelts have the added benefit of increasing crop yields by trapping more snow, particularly of less drought-tolerant crops such as canola and alfalfa. \nPlant cover crops late in summer to protect soil against late fall and early spring erosion. Cover crops store nutrients for the crops that follow them, keep weeds down, host beneficial insects a
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Try these links:\n\nhttp://www.fao.org/ag/agl/agll/wrb/wrbmaps/htm/soilres.htm\n\nhttp://soils.usda.gov/use/worldsoils/mapindex/
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Permafrost--\n\n\nIn geology, permafrost or permafrost soil is a thermal condition where ground material stays at or below 0°C for two or more years. The presence of ice is not necessary, as may be in the case of nonporous bedrock, but it frequently occurs and it may be in amounts excess of the potential hydraulic saturation of the ground material. Most permafrost is located in high latitudes (e.g. North and South poles), but alpine permafrost exists at high altitudes.\n\nThe extent of permafrost can vary as the climate changes. Today, approximately 20% of the Earth's land mass is covered by permafrost (including discontinuous permafrost) or glacial ice. Overlying permafrost is a the layer of ground called the active layer that seasonally thaws during the summer. Plant life can be supported only within the active layer because growth can occur only in soil that is fully thawed for some part of the year. Thickness of the active layer varies by year and location but is typically 0.6 - 4 m (2 to 12 feet) thick. In areas of continuous permafrost and harsh winters the depth of the permafrost can be very great: 440m (1330 feet) at Barrow, Alaska, (600m (1970 feet) at Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, up to 726m (2382 feet) in the Canadian Arctic islands and as much as 1493m (4510 feet) in the northern Lena and Yana River basins in Siberia.
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hm..try wikipedia seach that gives great detail on any word we try moreover agriculture etc will fetch u more than say 5 page long details\nand ya...good luck for the project!!
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Soil is the collection of natural bodies that form in earthy material on the land surface. The term is popularly applied to the material on the surface of the earth's moon and Mars, a usage acceptable within a portion of the scientific community.\n\nSoil consists of mineral and organic matter, as well as living organisms. Soil, comprising the pedosphere, is positioned at the interface of the lithosphere with the biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. Pedogenesis produces soil from geologic materials such as granite, limestone, glacial drift, loess and alluvium through a combination of climatic and biogeochemical processes.\n\nSoil is among our most important natural resources because of its position in the landscape and its dynamic, physical, chemical, and biologic functions. Indeed, engineers, agronomists, chemists, geologists, geographers, biologists, microbiologists, sylviculturists, sanitarians, archaeologists, and specialists in regional planning, all depend on, and contribute to, knowledge of soils. While the general concept of soil is well established, the definition of soil varies, according to the perspective of the discipline or occupation using soil as a resource.\n\nThe understanding of soil is incomplete. Despite the duration of mankind's dependence on and curiosity about soil, exploring the diversity and dynamic of this resource continues to yield fresh discoveries and insights. New avenues of soil research are compelled by our need to understand soil in the context of climate change , greenhouse gases , and carbon sequestration.  Our interest in maintaining the planet's biodiversity and in exploring past cultures has also stimulated renewed interest in achieving a more refined understanding of soil.\n\nclick here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil#Soil_classification\n\n\nif you mean Earth,click here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth
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I have harvested cress for years and I can tell you that mountain soil high in minerals is best for winter(bitter) cress and spring (sweet).
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Most need sandy soil that drains very well in order to grow
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http://natres.psu.ac.th/Link/SoilCongress/bdd/symp9/1375-t.pdf
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Where the glaciers have deposited their till, it will be full of soil and rocks. Plants still can grow, but the rocks get in the way, so raising grazing animals such as cattle is the preferred method of farming. In glacial eroded areas, the soil may have been totally scraped out, leaving rocks and minerals available for open mining. In some cases, there will be some soil deposited that is rich in nutrients, which is good for growing crops.
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alluvial soils - soil deposited by water: sediment deposited by flowing water, especially soil formed in river valleys and deltas from material washed down by the river.\n \n\nwadi - (1) mainly dry water course: a steep-sided watercourse in dry regions of North Africa and southern Asia through which water flows only after heavy rainfalls  (2) an oasis, especially in North Africa\n\n\noasis - (1) fertile land in desert: fertile ground in a desert where the level of underground water rises to or near ground level, and where plants grow and travelers can replenish water supplies.\n\n\ndelta - deposit of clastic** sediment where a stream enters a lake, river, or ocean.\n\n** clastic sediment is sediment consisting of fragments of minerals, rocks, and other material.)