Soil resources are regarded as the kind of environmental asset that gives a wide range of services to the ecosystem. The soil is important as it provides structural support to the plants that are utilised in agriculture and their source of nutrients and water. Soil is considered the most important resource on the earth because it is formed up of minerals, water and organic materials. Biotic and antibiotic soil resources are mentioned to be exhaustible in nature as judicial utilisation of these resources is thoroughly maintained for enhancing and representing longevity. Land, soil, water and natural vegetation and wildlife resources are the most significant antibiotic and biotic resources respectively. One of the most significant resources of the world is the “natural resources soil”.

Soil resources: overview

Soil resources are regarded as the most significant part of the environment, which gives the physical base to aid the cycling and productivity of biological resources. Soil resources give the nutrient source and water for forestry and agricultural systems and fulfil the complicated buffering role against the variability of the environment. The focus of accounting for “soil resources” is considering the different properties and elements of soil and the volume of soil. The “three-dimensional arrangement of soil properties and components” such as organic, mineral, gas or liquid represents the biological composition. Soil resources are calculated through multiple sets of inventory processes, which are recognised as the collective soil survey. Soil resources are differentiable from the land and concerned water areas since the land is demonstrated through space delineation. The most important feature of soil resources is that their delivery of supporting services includes the function of and formation of the soil itself, soil biodiversity and structural support of vegetation.

Concept of land, soil, water, natural vegetation and wildlife resources

Land, soil, water, natural vegetation and wildlife resources are demonstrated as the antibiotic and biotic resources, which are maintained for the enhancement of longevity. 

  • Land, soil and water come under antibiotic resources, which signify that all the non-biotic raw materials that are underived from different living organisms. Land, soil and water are mentioned as the most important resources because it gives habitation to a broad variety of fauna and flora. 
  • These resources are broadly utilised by human beings for multiple purposes like forestry, mining, agriculture, roads, setting up industries and building houses. Water helps the living organism to stay alive and develop with the flow. 
  • Natural vegetation and wildlife resources are utilised widely as plants give the “people with timber”, “provides shelter to animals”, “provides fruits, latex, medicinal plants and paper” and “controls soil erosion”. Wildlife as a resource includes birds, animals, aquatic life and insects that give the individual meat, hides, wool and milk.

Importance of soil as a natural resource

Soil is mentioned as one type of important resource, which provides significant benefits to the primary function of the ecosystem. Soil filters the water and gives essential nutrients to the crops and forests. Natural resources soil assists in regulating the temperature of the Earth along with many essential greenhouse gases. Soil is created of organic materials, minerals, water and air, which is one of the finest natural resources on earth. Soil as a natural resource underpins the production system of human food and aids the vegetation cultivation for fuel, fibre and feed. Natural resources soil is highly significant because it is utilised to satisfy the needs and helps the livelihood of living organisms. 

  • It supports the root system
  • It gives the roots minerals and nutrients
  • It helps in the exchange of gases and oxygen and protect from erosion
  • It filters different properties of soil, holds water and decomposes the organic materials  

Conclusion

Soil is demonstrated as the most important resource on the earth, which is the primary foundation of sustainable vans productive agriculture. Soil resources help in managing health as it permits the producer to do the work with land, minimise erosion, and maximise the filtration of water. Most life on the earth relies on soil resources as an indirect or direct food source. Biotic and antibiotic resources are mentioned as important where land, soil and water belong to the antibiotic group and wildlife resources and natural vegetation belongs to the biotic group. Importance of soil resources reflects the support for forestry and agriculture.