which of the following is not a major component of soil?

Question

water/air/calsite/humus

Water air Calcite Humus

Answer 1

The answer will be CALCITE (calcium carbonate).

Water and air often make up as much as 25% of a soil's volume, depending on the soil and the depth. Humus is the organic material within a soil that has reached a point of stability and may remain that way for centuries.

Calcite is present in very few soils (known as Calcids, a suborder of Andisols) in a significant amount because it is soluble by water, and especially soluble by water that has carbonic acid in it from soil gases (air). Calcite will not remain in a soil in a humid climate, and may only be found in soils in very arid settings.

See:
for a basic grade school level illustration:
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/c2facts1.html
for an advanced college level understanding of soil taxonomy see this site:
http://soils.ag.uidaho.edu/soilorders/orders.htm
Definition of humus:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humus

Answer 2

The answer is calcite. Water and air ARE parts of the soil.

Answer 3

I assume calcite is the intended answer. However, I don't consider water and air "components" of soil. They are non-soil entities that must be present IN soil, for plants to grow.

Answer 4

the components of soil....

http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/gpe/case2/c2facts1.html

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=152


calcite:
"--one of the most widely distributed minerals on the earth's surface
it is a common constituent of sedimentary rocks, limestone in particular
it is also the primary mineral in metamorphic marble
it also occurs as a vein mineral in deposits from hot springs, and also occurs in caverns as stalactites and stalagmites
calcite is often the primary constituent of the shells of marine organisms, e.g., plankton"
.wikipedia.


beautiful calcite....
http://www.davesdowntoearthrockshop.com/calcite.htm
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/nov/papr/geo_calcite.html

Answer 5

The air is not an importan component of the soil.

Answer 6

they are all major components of soil. (even calcite because it is a mineral. that is actually responsible for forming petrified wood)

Answer 7

Water

Water is just in most soils and can be removed without major alteration of the soil.

Answer 8

water

Answer 9

water

Answer 10

are you just trying to entice someones attention when you bend over and put your finger in the dirt???