1. Dead plants, animal carcasses, compost.
2. You would find plenty of dead leaves and bones on the forest floor, while the desert floor would be very low in organic matter and would contain a higher majority of sand.
3. Organic matter is generally darker when referring to color. This is why the humus layer, or the final stage in the decomposition of organic waste, is black.
4. The soil texture triangle is used to help visualize and understand the meaning behind soil texture names. It tells us specifically what textures soils may be depending on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in each.
5. The numbers on the side of the triangle relate to the percentage of clay, silt, and sand in the soil.
6. Soil compaction can prevent water drainage, slow microorganism population growth, and suffocate and stunt plants. Air can be brought back to the soil by using an aeration tool, or by introducing burrowing animals and plants with heavy roots. Aeration tools reduce compaction in soil, while rooted plants and burrowing animals create pores that allow air and water to drain into it.
7. (I can't 100% answer this question because it is apart of the reading that I don't have access to but I'll give it a shot) A soil profile is the arrangement of soil horizons that make up the various layers in the soil. We observe and describe soil horizons and soil profiles to help classify and interpret the type and uses of soils.
