Soils

Refer to page 383 to 393 in Text Book

What is soil and how is it formed?
• Soil is a mixture of organic and inorganic materials
• The organic matter comes from decomposing plants and animals and
the inorganic materials consist of minerals from large rocks.

• Weathering – this is the breaking down of larger rocks until they

become soil.
• There are 3 main processes:
• Physical Weathering
• Chemical Weathering
• Biological Action
Physical Weathering
• This is also known as mechanical weathering and it is the breaking up of
rocks physically. The rocks are broken down with no change in composition.
• Rocks can be broken down by water, ice, wind and temperature.

• Chemical Weathering – this is when rocks undergo chemical reactions with

other substances in the environment. This includes oxidation, dissolving,
and carbon dioxide.

• Biological Weathering – this is the movement of plant roots and animals

between rocks in which they breakdown large rocks into smaller pieces.
Components in the Soil
• A sedimentation test is used to identified the components in the soil.
• This involves placing a sample of the soil in a jar with water and the
shaking it, afterwards leaving the mixture to settle.
• Refer to page 384
Components in the soil
• The organic matter in the soil known as humus floats on the surface of the
water in the sedimentation test
• Humus is formed from decaying animal and plant material including faeces.
• The decay is brought about by the physical action of animals eating it such
as worms and termites and also chemically by fungi and bacteria.
• All these organism are known as decomposers.
• When the decomposers breakdown materials nutrients are released such
as nitrates, phosphates, and ammonium salts which goes back into the soil.
These nutrients are soluble and dissolve in the soil water thus making it
easier for plants to take up the nutrients through their roots.
• Humus improves the texture of the soil by binding the particles of the soil
together in clumps which is known as soil crumbs.
• The clumps of soil improve aeration and drainage in heavy wet soils.
• The soil is also aerated by movement of animals such as earthworms
through the soil.
Soil Fertility
• This is the ability of the soil to sustain plant growth.
• Soil fertility depends on the presence of water, air, and nutrients and the
right amount of acidity for the crop.
• Without water the plant cannot take up the essential nutrients needed
through their roots thus cannot photosynthesize.
• The decomposers cannot function efficiently in the soil without water and
air.
• Without oxygen the roots in the plant cannot grow and humus cannot be
broken down into the essential nutrients needed for plant growth.
• The pH of the soil that is its acidity must be maintained in that crops grows
best within a range of 6.5 to 7.
Soil Fertility
• To much water is also as bad as less water since it excludes the oxygen from
the plant roots.
• Too much air is also bad since it results in large air pockets of air preventing
the roots from coming into contact with the moisture carrying their food.
• Too high concentration of nutrients interferes with osmosis which
transport materials within the plants.
• Mineral particles in the soil also contains soluble salts that dissolve in the
soil which are required for plant growth and development.
• Some salt also affects the pH of soil that is the acidity or alkalinity of the
soil which could affect the ability of the plants and animals that live in the
soil.
Nitrogen Cycle
• The majority of atmosphere is made up of nitrogen.
• Plants need nitrogen in the form of nitrates for healthy growth.
• Some bacteria can convert atmospheric nitrogen directly into nitrites or nitrates
by a process called nitrogen fixation.
• These are known as nitrogen fixing bacteria.
• Some of these bacteria are found in the soil and others live in the roots of
leguminous plants.
• Nitrates made by the bacteria can then be absorbed by the plants.
• Most nitrogen used by plants is in the form of nitrates that are released when
dead plants and animals and waste products are decayed by decomposers.
• Nitrates are also formed during thunderstorms via lightning.
• In water logged soil where there is not enough oxygen in the soil there are
bacteria that change nitrates back to nitrogen. These bacteria are called
denitrifying bacteria.
• It is therefore important to keep the soil well aerated to prevent the nitrates
from being lost.
Nitrogen Cycle
Different Soils and their Properties
• Different rocks contain different types of minerals hence when they
breakdown they generate different soil types.
• Some type of soils are:
• Sandy
• Silt
• Clay
• Loam
• Different soils contain different amounts of these components which
affect the properties of the soil such as:
• The amount of water it can hold or allow to pass through it
• The nutrients found in the soil
• How fertile the soil is
• Possible use for the soil
Soil Erosion
• Erosion is the process in which the topsoil is removed by water and wind.
• This occurs when vegetation is removed as plants reduces erosion by heavy
rainfalls occur since the water reached the ground gradually and it seeps
slowly into the ground without causing soil movement. Also the roots from
plants help hold the soil together to minimize erosion.
• Hence when there is a lot of vegetation the rate of removal of soil is very
slow.
• Therefore the removal of vegetation such as deforestation, overgrazing and
mining speeds up the rate of soil erosion since the soil gets expose to the
wind and rainfalls.
Soil Erosion
• Due to soil erosion this could affect the fertility of the soil by washing
away all the nutrients that the soil needs in order for plants to grow.
• Therefore the soil becomes degraded and also increases flooding.
• Due to the soil fertility being affected by soil erosion this would have
an impact on food production since farmers would encounter
problems to grow there produce and will have to incur more
expensive to purchase fertilizers to treat the soil.
Methods to Prevent Soil Erosion
• There are several methods of prevention that could be taken to
prevent or minimize soil erosion which are:
• Contour Farming
• Terracing
• Crop rotation
• Wind Breaks
• Crop cover
Method to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Contour Farming or contour ploughing is the farming practice of
plowing or planting across a slope following its elevation contour
lines.
• Contour farming mitigates the impacts of floods, storms and
landslides on the crops by reducing soil erosion, controlling runoff
water, increasing moisture infiltration and retention and thus
enhancing soil quality and composition.
Method to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Terracing is a piece of sloped plane that has been cut into a series of
successively receding flat surfaces or platforms, which resemble
steps, for the purposes of more effective farming.
• Terraces reduce both the amount and velocity of water moving across
the soil surface, which greatly reduces soil erosion.
 Method to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Crop rotation is the practice of planting different crops sequentially
on the same plot of land to improve soil health, optimize nutrients in
the soil, and combat pest and weed pressure.
• Crop rotation can help to manage your soil and fertility, reduce
erosion, improve your soil's health, and increase nutrients available
for crops.
• Crop rotation can improve soil structure and fertility by alternating
deep-rooted and shallow-rooted plants. In turn this can reduce
erosion and increase infiltration capacity, thereby reducing
downstream flood risk.
Method to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Windbreak is a planting usually made up of one or more rows of trees
or shrubs planted in such a manner as to provide shelter from the
wind and to protect soil from erosion.
• They are commonly planted in hedgerows around the edges of fields
on farms.
Method to Prevent Soil Erosion
• Crop Cover is a method in where plants are planted to cover the soil
rather than for the purpose of being harvested. Cover crops manage
soil erosion, soil fertility, soil quality and water.
• They are often grown for the sole purpose of preventing soil erosion.
• Crop Covers reduce soil loss by improving soil structure and increasing
infiltration, protecting the soil surface, scattering raindrop energy, and
reducing the velocity of the movement of water over the soil surface.
Videos on Soil
• [Link]
• [Link]