26/02/2026
More info about your soil
🌱 Layers of Soil (Soil Horizons Explained) 🌍
This diagram beautifully shows the six main soil horizons—from surface litter to unweathered bedrock. Let’s break them down step by step:
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🌿 O Horizon (Organic Layer)
Loose and partly decayed organic matter (leaves, twigs, decomposing plants).
Dark in color, nutrient-rich.
Supports microorganisms and provides fresh nutrients to plants.
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🌱 A Horizon (Topsoil)
Mineral matter mixed with humus.
Dark brown to black in color.
Contains roots of most plants.
Most fertile layer, essential for farming and gardening.
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💧 E Horizon (Eluviation/Leaching Zone)
Light-colored, sandy layer.
Minerals like clay, iron, and aluminum are washed out (leached) from here.
Often seen in forest soils.
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🪨 B Horizon (Subsoil)
Zone of accumulation (clay, iron, aluminum from above).
Denser, more compact than topsoil.
Acts as a storage layer for nutrients.
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⛏️ C Horizon (Parent Material)
Made of partially altered parent rock.
Very little organic matter.
Source of minerals that weather upward into soil.
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🏔️ R Horizon (Bedrock)
Unweathered parent material.
Solid rock at the base.
Over time, it weathers into smaller particles to form soil.
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✅ In summary:
O & A Horizons → Rich in nutrients, best for plant growth 🌱
E Horizon → Leaching zone (nutrients pass through).
B Horizon → Collects minerals & nutrients washed down.
C & R Horizons → Rock material foundation of soil formation.
📌 Fun fact: Farmers and gardeners focus on the O & A horizons (topsoil) because that’s where life thrives!