SOIL

Soil is the mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and the mass of organisms that together support plant life.

Soil is a major component of the Earth's ecosystem.

1. Soil acts as an engineering medium, a habitat for soil organisms, a recycling system for nutrients and organic wastes, a regulator of water quality, a modifier of atmospheric composition, and a medium for plant growth.

2. Soils can effectively remove impurities, kill disease agents, and degrade contaminants.

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL

How are soil formed?

Soil formation is the combined effect of physical, chemical, biological and anthropogenic (human activities) processes working on soil parent material.

Processes involved:1.Weathering of rocks2.Erosion of sediments or particles

Agents of Erosion1. water2. wind3. gravity4. animals loosen soil5. human activities

O) Top Soil Organic matter: organic deposit with litter layer of plant residues in relatively non-decomposed form. B) Subsoil: Subsurface layer reflecting chemical or physical alteration of parent material. This layer accumulates iron, clay, aluminum and organic compounds, a process referred to as illuviation.C) Parent rock: The parent material in sedimentary deposits. Layer of large unbroken rocks. This layer may accumulate the more soluble compounds .R) bedrock: The parent material in bedrock landscapes. This layer denotes the layer of partially weathered bedrock at the base of the soil profile.

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

1.Planting grass or small plants on the sides to prevent blowing away of topsoil

2. terracing

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

3.Contour plowing- flowing furrows across the slope

4. Strip farming- plant grasses between crops

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

5. Crop rotation

6. reforestation

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

6.Fertilization using natural fertilizers

7.Passing lawsto stop pollution

Compost

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

8. Education

Information-sharing of best practices

Information dissemination of new technology

Ways to Prevent Soil Erosion

9. Individual Efforts

Doing our share to stop pollution by segregating waste, not littering and being “masinop”