Chapter 1: Introduction to Soil

Chapter 1: Introduction to Soil

Fundamental of soil and pollution control (EnEg3101)// By : Dr. Tsedekech G/mesekel// Year:2022/23 1
 Outline
• Concepts of soil
– Soil: in different point of view
– Definition of soil/soil science
– Scope of soil science

• Approaches in soil study

• Soil functions
• Soil components
2
 Learning outcomes
• At the end of this chapter, students will able to;

– Define basic terminologies in soil science

– Portray the major approaches of soil study

– Explain the importance of soil for human society

– Describe the various components of soil

3
 Concepts of Soil

Soil: in different point of view-

 On Pedological point of view-

 Soil is a weathered product of rocks and minerals.

Weathering
Rocks and Minerals Soil

4
 On Edaphological point of view or Agricultural
point of view -
 Soil is a natural medium for plant growth.
 On Composition point of view-
 Soil is a three-phase system consisting of solid,
liquid and gases.
 On Civel Engineering point of view-
 Soil is a foundation material for buildings and
roads.
 On General point of view-
 Soil is the loose surface of earth.
5
 To a soil scientist
– soil is a three-dimensional body which has
characteristics that distinguish it from other natural
materials
– soil is an unconsolidated material on the earth’s surface
that has evolved through complex pedogenic processes
by the natural amalgamation of mineral and organic
matter;
– has achieved distinct morphological, physical,
chemical, and biological characteristics; and
– has attained the capacity of supporting vegetation and
other life forms
6
 Definition of Soil
 Different scientists have defined soil in different ways. Some of
these definitions are given below to show the evolution of the
modern concepts of soil.

– Soil is a nutrient bin which supplies all the nutrients required

for plant growth
Whitney (1892)

– Soil is more or less a loose and friable material in which plants, by

means of their roots, find a foothold for nourishment as well as for
other conditions of growth
Hilgard (1892)
7
 Definition of Soil
– Soil is a natural body composed of mineral and organic
constituents, having a definite genesis and a distinct nature of its
own.

Dokuchaev (1900): Father of soil science

– Soil is a natural body of mineral and organic constituents, differentiated

into horizons, of variable depth, which differs from the material below
in morphology, physical makeup, chemical properties and
composition, and biological characteristics.
Joffe (1936)

8
 Definition of Soil

– Soil may be defined as a dynamic natural body on the

surface of earth in which plants growth, composed of:

» mineral

» organic material, and

» living forms
Buckman and Brandy (1969)

9
 Definition of Soil
 Soil Science Society of America (1970): provides two definitions of
soil:
» layman
» students in soil science

– Soil is defined as an unconsolidated mineral or material on the

immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for
the growth of land plants.
Form the layman's point of view

10
 Definition of Soil
– Soil is defined lengthily as the unconsolidated mineral or matter
on the surface of the earth that has been subjected to and shows the
effects of genetic and environmental factors:

» climate (including water and temperature effects),

» macro and microorganisms, conditioned by relief,

acting on parent material over a period of time.

Form the standpoint of soil science students

11
 Definition of Soil
– Soil is a natural body comprised of:
» solids (minerals and organic matter),
» liquid, and
» gases that occurs on the land surface, occupies space,
and is characterized by one or both of the following:
• horizons, or
• layers, that are distinguishable from the initial
material as a result:
- additions,
- losses,
- translocation, and
- transformations of energy and matter or
the ability to support rooted plants in a
natural environment.
USDA, NRCS (2003)
12
 Definition of Soil
– Soils is not only serve for agriculture and forestry, but also for:

» filtering, buffering and transformation activities

between the atmosphere and the ground water,

» protecting the food chain and drinking water against

pollution and biodiversity.
Dr. W.E.H. Blum

– As soil provides nutrients, water, air and, anchorage and

supports life on Earth, it can be called as Soul Of Infinite Life
(SOIL). 13
 What is soil science?
 Soil Science is the study of soil as a
natural resource on the surface of the
earth including:
» Pedology (soil formation,
classification and
mapping),
» physical,
» chemical,
» biological and
» fertility properties, and
these properties in relation to the use and
management of soil.
14
Scope of Soil Science

15
 Scope of Soil Science
• Soil Geology: The study of the geological materials from
which soil is derived and its process of formation.
• Soil Chemistry: Study of the chemical components of soil,
their interaction with one another.
• Soil Physics: Study the effects of physical laws on the
evolution of chemical and physical properties of soil.
• Soil Biology: Study the effects of plants, animals and soil
microorganisms on the evolution of soils.
• Soil fertility: study of nutrient supplying properties of soil
16
 Scope of Soil Science
 Soil conservation:
» dealing with protection of soil against physical loss
by erosion or against chemical deterioration i.e
excessive loss of nutrients either natural or
artificial means
 Soil pedology:
» dealing with the genesis, survey and classification
» study of the geological materials from which soil is
derived, its process of formation and its
classification
17
Approaches of soil study

18
 Approaches of soil study

 Pedology (from Greek word: pedon, "soil"; and logos, "study"):

– is the study of soil as a natural body and does not focus on

the soil’s immediate practical use.

– A pedologist studies, examines and classifies soil as they

occur in their natural environment.
– Pedology deals with: - soil pedogenesis,
- soil morphology and
- soil classification

19
The soil body concept

20
 The soil body concept
• Pedon: A three-dimensional body of soil with lateral
dimensions large enough to represent and study of the
characteristic horizons. (1 to 10 m2)

21
 The soil body concept
• Group of similar pedons form a polypedon of a
sufficient size to be recognized as a landscape
component.
– Polypedon is a soil individual.

• Soil profile: A vertical section combining all soil

horizons.

• Solum: soil profile that has been altered by the

soil-forming factors, above the parent material.

22
 Approaches of soil study

 Edaphology (from Greek word: edaphos, "soil"; and logos,

"study")
 Edaphology includes the study of how soil influences
humankind's use of land for plant growth as well as man's
overall use of the land.

– Edaphologists consider the various properties of soil

primarily in relation to plant production

– they are practical and have the production of food and fiber
as their ultimate goal.
23
 Approaches of soil study
– they must determine the reasons for variation in the
productivity of soils and find means for improvement.

 General subfields within edaphology are:

– agricultural soil science (agrology)

– environmental soil science

24
 Approaches of soil study

 Agricultural soil science:

– is the application of soil chemistry, physics, and biology
dealing with the production of crops.

25
 Approaches of soil study
 Environmental soil science:
– studies our interaction with the pedosphere on beyond
crop production.
– primarily concerned with the broader environmental and
ecological aspects of soils.
– It examines how soil properties affect ecosystems, water
quality, and land use planning.

 While agricultural soil science (agrology) is primarily

focused on optimizing soils for crop production and
agricultural purposes, environmental soil science takes a
broader view, considering the natural environment and
ecosystem health.
26
 Why we study soil?
• To obtain a general concept as to
what they are and how they can
and should be used.
• Soil perform several vital
functions

27
Soil Functions

28
 Why soil functions?

• Many great ancient civilizations developed and failed

related to soil (soil functions)
• Choosing land to settle, proper / improper care
• (Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greek empire, Ephesus….)

29
 Why soil functions?
Global Soil Challenges
• Food Security 2050:
– Population 9bn
– Dietary shift
– Food demand up 100% by 2050?
– Land grabbing?
• Sustainability:
– GHG emissions / C-sequestration
– Water footprint / sustainability
– Biodiversity
30
31
 Soil Functions
1. Biomass production, including in agriculture and forestry;
2. Storing, filtering and transforming nutrients, substances and
water;
3. Biodiversity pool, such as habitats, species and genes;
4. Physical and cultural environment for humans and human
activities;
5. Source of raw materials;
6. Acting as carbon pool;
7. Archive of geological and archeological heritage.

32
Six major global issues, each of which relates to one or more of the SDGs: (i) food security; (ii)
human health; (iii) land management, including land restoration; (iv) water security; (v) climate
change; and (vi) biodiversity preservation 33
Healthy soils, a prerequisite to achieve the SDGs

• SDG1: No poverty
• SDG2: Zero hunger
• SDG3: Good health and well-
being
• SDG6: Clean water and sanitation
• SDG7: Affordable & clean energy
• SDG8: Descent work &
economic growth
• SDG9: Industry, innovation and
infrastructure
• SDG11: Sustainable cities &
communities
• SDG13: Climate action
• SDG15: Life on land

34
• SDG4: Quality education
• SDG14: Life below water

35
Primary production: medium for
plant growth

36
37
38
 Storing, filtering water

• Storing, filtering and transforming nutrients, substances and water

39
Habitat for soil organisms, gene pool

40
41
Acting as carbon pool

42
43
Principal Global Carbon Pools

44
45
Physical and cultural environment for
humans and human activities

46
A source of raw materials

47
Archive of geological and archeological
heritage

48
 Soil Components
 Soil essentially consists variable proportion of four major
compositions in three forms or state: solid, liquid and gas
state.

49
Soil Components

50
51
 Soil Solid Phase: Mineral
 Silicates:
» Quartz (SiO2)
» Feldspar, amphibole, mica (K-Al silicates)
» Clay minerals: Kaolinite, illite, smectite, vermiculite
 Sesquioxides (oxides and hydroxides of Fe, Mn, Al):
» Goethite (FeO(OH)); hematite (Fe2O3)
 Carbonates:
» Calcite (CaCO3)
 Sulphates:
» Gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O)
52
Soil Solid Phase: Mineral

53
Soil Solid Phase: Mineral

Goethite (FeO(OH)); hematite (Fe2O3)

54
Soil Solid Phase: Mineral

55
Soil Solid Phase: Mineral

56
Soil Solid Phase: Mineral

57
Soil Solid Phase: Organic matter

58
 Soil Liquid Phase
 Dissolved minerals
– Cations
» Na+, K+, Ca2+ , Mg2+
– Anions
» NO3−, SO4 2−, Cl−, HCO3 −
– Inorganic complexes
 Dissolved organic matter (DOM)
 Colloidal matter
 Suspended matter
59
Soil Gas Phase

60