soil profile

A soil horizon is a specific layer in the soil which parallels the land surface and possesses physical characteristics which differ from the layers above and beneath. Horizon formation is a function of a range of geological, chemical, and biological processes and occurs over long time periods. Identification and description of the horizons present at a given site is the first step in classifying a soil at higher levels, through the use of systems such as the USDA soil taxonomy or the Australian Soil Classification.
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Noun
1. a vertical section of soil from the ground surface to the parent rock
(hypernym) profile

A vertical strip of soil stretching from the surface down to the bedrock and including all of the successive soil horizons.