Lesson 3: Soil Characteristics
Completion requirements
Unit 2 - The Forest Ecosystem
Lesson 3: Soil Characteristics
Soil is the natural occurring material that serves as a medium for plant and tree growth; forest soil plays an important role in forest ecology.
"The thin soil layer that covers Earth’s land surface is a life-support system that connects the atmosphere, vegetation and water in all ecosystems. Soils are critical for the production of food, fibre (including the wood fibre vital to the forest industry) and, more recently, fuel made from biomass. Clean lakes and rivers, rich biodiversity, spiritual values tied to the land—all of these benefits and more are grounded, literally and figuratively, in soil."
(Natural Resources Canada)
"The thin soil layer that covers Earth’s land surface is a life-support system that connects the atmosphere, vegetation and water in all ecosystems. Soils are critical for the production of food, fibre (including the wood fibre vital to the forest industry) and, more recently, fuel made from biomass. Clean lakes and rivers, rich biodiversity, spiritual values tied to the land—all of these benefits and more are grounded, literally and figuratively, in soil."
(Natural Resources Canada)
Species of trees and other plants are affected by soil characteristics. Factors such as the depth of the soil, its pH, its water-holding capability, and the availability of mineral nutrients are important in determining the distribution and population
size of trees and plants.
For example, lodgepole pine and aspen are trees that are commonly found in dry, sandy, or gravelly soil, whereas black spruce trees prefer swampy areas.
Other trees, such as maple and elm, thrive in regions where the soil is deep, moist, well-drained, and fertile.
No matter the location or type of tree, healthy soils are an important component of a healthy forest ecosystem.