Soil
What is soil?
• Soil is a mixture of tiny particles of rock, dead plants and animals, air and
water.
• Soil is the loose upper layer of the Earth's surface where plants grow.
• Different soils have different properties depending on their composition.
Why is soil important?
At first you may think of soil as just dirt.
Something you want to get rid of.
However, soil plays a very important role in
supporting life on Earth.
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Plants - Many plants need soil to
grow. Plants use soil not only for nutrients, but also as a way to anchor
themselves into the ground using their roots.
Atmosphere - Soil impacts our atmosphere releasing gasses such as carbon
dioxide into the air.
Living organisms - Many animals, fungi, and bacteria rely on soil as a place to
live.
Nutrient cycles - Soil plays an important role in cycling nutrients including the
carbon and nitrogen cycles.
Water - The soil helps to filter and clean our water.
Types of Soil
What is Sandy Soil?
Sand or sandy soil is formed by the smallest or fine particles of weathering rocks.
This soil is known as the poorest type of soil for agriculture and growing plants as
they have very low nutritional value and poor water holding capacity.
What is Clay Soil?
Clay or clay soil is mainly composed of the smallest particles of soil, which are
densely packed with very little or no airspace and they effectively retain water. This
soil is not suitable for growing plants as it is harder for moisture and air to penetrate
into the soil.
What is Loamy Soil?
Loamy Soil is the mixture of clay, sand and silt soil which consists of additional
organic matter and is very fertile compared to other types of soil. It is well suited for
cultivation as the plant roots get a sufficient amount of water and nutrients for their
growth and development
Which soil is best for gardening?
Loam or Loamy soil is called the gardener’s best friend. Loamy soil is suitable and
the best soil for growing crops. The dark brown color shows that it contains a lot of
organic matter so has a lot of nutrients for the plants.
What can damage the soil?