Soil

Soil 

Soil is a complex mixture of minerals, water, oxygen, organic matter, and other substances. It is a vital component of life on earth and a valuable natural resource.

Role of Soil

• It provides space for plants to grow and supplies them with water and nutrients
• It serves as a habitat for a variety of organisms
• It is necessary for agriculture, which gives everyone food, clothing, and shelter

Soil Formation:

Soil is made up of rocks that have been broken down by the wind, water, and climate. Weathering is the term for this process

The sort of vegetation that grows in any soil is determined by the rocks from which it was formed and the type of flora that grows in it

Wind, rain, temperature, light, and humidity have an impact on soil. These are some of the most significant climatic conditions that influence the soil profile and cause changes in soil structure

Soil Profile:

Soil is made up of different layers. The soil profile is a vertical slice of soil that spans many strata. Each layer has a different feel (texture), color, depth, and chemical composition. These levels are referred to as Horizons

• The topsoil, also known as the A-horizon, is the highest horizon
• It has a dark color because it is high in humus and minerals. Humus is the decomposing dead matter in the soil that makes the soil fruitful
• It is usually soft and porous, and it can hold more water
• It is home to a variety of living species, including worms, rats, moles, and beetles
• Small plants’ roots are completely encased in this stratum
• The next layer is called the B-horizon or the middle layer
• It has a lower humus content but higher minerals
• This layer is often denser and denser
• The C-horizon is the third layer, which is made up of small rock lumps with fractures and crevices
• The bedrock lies beneath this layer, which is hard and difficult to excavate with a shovel

Soil types 

Small particles of diverse minerals, such as sand and clay, are produced by the weathering of rocks. The soil is characterized as sandy, clayey, or loamy based on the number of particles of various sizes. Here are the different types of soil:

Sandy Soil:

•  It is composed of huge particles, as well as large gaps between them
•  Since these gaps are filled with air, the sand is well aerated
•  The gaps between the sand particles allow water to drain swiftly
•  Sandy soils are often light, well-aerated, and dry

Clayey Soil:

• It has a higher percentage of fine particles in it
• Particles clump together tightly, leaving little room for air
• Since clayey soils can hold water in the microscopic crevices between the particles, there is less trapped air in them
• They are heavier than sandy soils because they hold more water

Loamy Soil:

• The amount of large and fine particles is equal
• It’s made up of sand, clay, and silt, which is a sort of soil particle. Silt is found in riverbeds as a deposit. The silt particles are between the sizes of sand and clay
•  Humus is present in the loamy soil
• It has the optimum amount of water holding capacity for plant growth

Soil and Crops 

Diverse soil types are utilized to grow different types of crops. The type of plants and crops that can thrive in any place are determined by soil components as well as climatic conditions

• Clayey and loamy soils both retain water well and are ideal for growing grains such as wheat and gram
• Loamy soils are suitable for growing lentils (masoor) and other pulses because they drain well
• Sandy loam or loam soils drain well and keep lots of air, making them ideal for Cotton.
• Fine clay soils are high in humus and ideal for growing crops like wheat
• Clay and organic matter-rich soils with a high water-holding capacity are appropriate for paddy

Moisture Of Soil:

• The water which is present in soil is called Soil Moisture
• Moisture is generally present like a thin film around the Soil Particles
• This is the moisture that the roots of plants absorb and the Moisture is very important for the growth of plants

Water Absorption:

Thus Soil contains a lot of water but still it can absorb a lot of water. Different types of water can absorb different extent some absorb less water as well as others absorb more water

Absorption Percentage:

• The amount of water that soil can absorb is called its Absorption Percentage
• It can be calculated by Amount of water absorbed/Amount of Soil*100

Water Retention:

• The ability of soil to hold water is called water retention. The ability of soil to hold 
• Water depends on to the particle size. Water Molecule hold hold more tightly in 
• Clay Soil than Coarser Particle of a Sandy Soil, so clay generally retains more water than any other type of soil

Soil Erosion:

• The removal of soil by wind water or any other means is known as soil erosion
• The topsoil is one of the most important layers of soil and without it crops cannot grow
• In absence of plant soil become loose as the roots bind the soil and can easily be eroded

Conclusion

Soil Erosion is mainly caused by deforestation. It is more severe in areas with very less vegetation or no vegetation, like desert areas. Therefore deforestation must be stopped otherwise by deforestation we are causing desertification.