Soil Horizon
/SOYL huh-RY-zun/🪨 Soil Types●●● Advanced
Also known as: soil layer, soil profile layer
A layer in a soil profile that differs from adjacent layers in color, texture, structure, or composition. Major horizons include O (organic surface), A (topsoil), B (subsoil), and C (parent material). Understanding soil horizons helps determine drainage, root penetration depth, and suitability for planting.
Etymology
Latin solum (soil) + Greek horizon (boundary, limit)
Example
“The A horizon (topsoil) is the dark, nutrient-rich layer where most root activity and biological processes occur.”