Final answer:
Parent material refers to the organic and inorganic substances from which soils form, influencing soil characteristics including nutrient content and drainage. In Michigan, typical parent materials for sod production include glacial deposits, river sands, or bedrock. Rhizobia and saprophytes also impact soil quality, relevant for the sod industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The parent material in Michigan's Sod Industry refers to the organic and inorganic material from which soil develops. In Michigan, this could include materials such as glacial deposits, river sands, or bedrock. The type of parent material heavily influences soil characteristics, including nutrient content and drainage capabilities, which are crucial for the sod industry. Younger soils closely resemble their parent materials, whereas older soils may not due to extensive weathering and biological processes.
Sediments from fast-moving rivers typically have larger particles like rocks and sand, which are less fertile but offer better drainage. On the other hand, slow-moving rivers tend to deposit fine-textured materials like clay, which offer more nutrients but may impede drainage. Both these types of sediments play a role in the soil composition utilized in Michigan's sod production.
Rhizobia and saprophyte are examples of organisms that interact with soil and affect its quality and fertility, thus also playing a part in the sod industry based on their presence in the soil associated with Michigan's parent material.