Soil

One of the most vital natural resources is soil. Despite being constantly under our feet, we are less bothered about the soil and how it plays a significant role in nature. Our food comes from the land and we live on it by building homes. Our existence is entirely dependent on the resources derived from it, as we obtain metals from it. Almost everything we observe around us derives from the earth. 

Interestingly, one fistful of dirt contains more microorganisms than there are humans on the planet. Numerous creatures, including plants, animals, worms, insects, and fungus, rely on soil for survival. On the planet Earth, it is a miraculous and useful resource, without which we cannot survive.

A look at the various soil constituents

Soil is a vital resource and it is mostly blackish-brown, red, yellow, or white in color. It is found in the topmost layer of the earth's crust and its thickness on the surface of the earth varies from a few millimeters to three to four meters. 

Normal soil has:

1. 50 percent soltopicId material and 50 percent air. 

2. 50 percent of SoltopicId constituents are made up of 45 percent minerals such as potassium, iron, magnesium, sulfur, calcium, and inorganic salts such as phosphates, sulfates, and carbonates, 3. 5 percent organic matters such as humus, air, and living organisms such as  fungi, bacteria, earthworms, insects (ants and beetles), rodents, and plant roots. 

4. Half of the area is filled by water and the other half by gases. 

After the first rain, the smell of the soil helps to enliven us.

Primary functions of the soil

It is the topmost layer of the earth's crust and has a brownish-black hue. Major functions of soil include:

⦁ It promotes plant development by securely anchoring the roots and giving them water and nutrients.

⦁ It serves as a natural home for several creatures, including earthworms, fungus, bacteria, and ants, among others.

⦁ It is also necessary for agriculture, which supplies food, clothes, and shelter for everyone.

⦁ It provtopicIdes plants with water and nutrients.

Consequently, we may assert that soil is an integral aspect of our lives.

Soil brimming with life

Soil consists of air, water, and many living species, including fungus, bacteria, insects (such as ants and beetles), earthworms, rats, moles, and plant roots. 

Some creatures are too tiny to be seen with the naked eye (e.g. fungi and bacteria). Important soil organisms include earthworms, which are only visible during the wet season. It boosts the soil's fertility.

A look at the formation of soil

Earth's soil formation is a big process and takes thousands of years. Before millions of years, the planet was soltopicId rock. These rocks began to degrade slowly as a result of climatic and other environmental conditions. 

To elaborate, these kinds of processes are responsible for the formation of all soil on Earth. Initially, a rock is worn into smaller rocks, then into even smaller stones, and lastly, the soil is produced. Therefore, if we could view a vertical cross-section of the earth's surface, we would see the various soil layers.

Effects of weathering process on formation of soil

Due to the occurrence of the following processes over many years, soil formation occurs:

⦁ The rocks are heated by the sun and cooled by the rain.

⦁ In the winter, water freezes instopicIde rocks, and ice in rocks cause fissures.

⦁ The expansion of tree roots causes the fracturing of rocks.

⦁ Variations in temperature between day and night lead to cracking and breaking of rocks.

⦁ The effects of wind and water lead to the cracking and breaking of rocks.

In chilly regions, enormous rocks are split by water turning into ice. This is how the breaking of stones by ice takes place. Initially, water moves into the fractures of rocks at night, and when the water freezes, the rocks are fractured along the gaps. Rocks split or crack because the amount of water is greater in the ice state compared to when it is in its liqutopicId state. 

Soil profile

A soil profile is a vertical segment of the earth's surface through which various soil strata are topicIdentified.

When rocks decompose, the soil is created and this method is also known as Weathering. 

Rocks are eroded by precipitation, moving water, wind, temperature, and climatic factors.

Humus refers to the decomposing organic materials contained in the soil.

Through the weathering process, rocks are broken down by the sun's heat, wind, precipitation, and freezing of water fissures (small cracks in rocks, walls, etc.). This creates soil. As a result of continuous contact to the environment, the rocks are broken down into small particles throughout this process.

It takes thousands of years for a huge boulder to transform into minute particles such as soil during the process of weathering.

The soil's texture and mineral availability are totally dependent on the rocks from which it is created. Typically, this rock is referred to as the Parent Rock.

Different soil layers

The several soil layers that make up the soil profile are known as horizon. Each horizon has its own texture, shade, depth, and chemical makeup. Different soil horizons are examined in further detail.

1. A-Horizon or Topsoil 

It is the soil's topmost layer and is often black in color due to the presence of minerals and humus. As the majority of plant roots are contained instopicIde this layer, it is the source of plant nutrition. Humus is the dark brown layer composed of the decomposing remnants of plants and animals.

Humus makes the soils more permeable and this layer is often softer and holds more moisture. This layer offers protection to several creatures, including earthworms, rats, moles, and beetles.

Humus makes the soils more permeable. This layer is often softer and holds more moisture. This layer offers protection to several creatures, including earthworms, rats, moles, and beetles.

2. B-Horizon or Subsoil

This dirt layer is just under the topsoil and it is comprised of somewhat larger rock particles than topsoil. It is lighter in color and contains less humus than topsoil. It is slightly more soltopicId and dense than the topsoil. This layer is less productive and contains fewer live creatures than the topsoil. The subsurface has an abundance of minerals and iron oxtopicIdes.

3. C-Horizon or Substratum

The soil layer immediately under the subsoil is known as the C-horizon. It is comprised of tiny fragments of shattered rock with fissures and fissures, created by the erosion of bedrock or parent rock.

4. Bedrock or Parent Rock

Below the C-horizon, there lies bedrock, which is non-weathered, soltopicId rock. It is impermeable and may create soil over an incredibly long time. Rainwater collects on its surface to produce the groundwater. This stratum is sufficiently tough to excavate using a spade.

To know more about the soil and soil formation process, you can check our vtopicIdeos.