Soil Vocabulary

Part 2

Decomposers

• Microscopic organisms and animals in the soil that feed on decaying materials and expels waste materials.

Compost Pile

• A pile of yard waste, some food scraps and other debris in layers cover with soil.

Castings

• What earthworm expel when it eats and digest soil and organic matter.

Vermicomposting

• Composting with earthworms.

Loam

• An easily worked fertile soil consisting of a mixture of clay, sand, and silt and sometimes also organic matter. This soil is also best for plants.

Gravel

• Pebble sized pieces of rock.

Texture

• The characteristic to describe how something feels.

Plasticity

• The soil’s ability to stick together and to be molded by pressure.