Soil and its

9 Conservation
Expected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge to be gained : • Soil •Forma on of soil •Composi on of soil •Uses of Soil
• Soil Erosion •Soil conserva on
Skill to be developed : • Methods of conserving soil.
A tude to be inculcated : • We should not pollute the soil.

SOIL
Soil is one of the most valuable natural resources. Soil forms the uppermost layer of the
Earth's crust and is made up of inorganic and organic matter. e inorganic components are
weathered rocks, air, water and minerals. e organic components consists of the
decomposing (rotting or decaying) fragments of plants and animals. e spaces between
the small particles that make up the soil are lled with air or water.
Importance of Soil to Living ings
ere are many living organisms present in the soil. Most plants grow on soil. All animals
depend directly or indirectly on plants for their food. us, soil is important for the
continuation of life on the earth.
Small plants such as algae and lichen, and animals such as earthworms, moles and termites,
live in the soil. ey improve aeration and drainage. Some organisms, such as bacteria, play
an important role in converting plant foods or nutrients. For example, some bacteria convert
nitrogen into a form that a plant can use for its growth.

Cycle of Plant Nutrients in Soil

As plants and animals die and decompose, humus is formed from their remains. Humus
enriches the soil as it contains nutrients and improves the soil's ability to hold water and air.
us, nutrients in the soil are used by plants and animals and are returned to the soil when
they die and begin to rot. In this way, the soil plays an important role in the recycling of
nutrients. Some important plant nutrients are as follows:
Nitrogen : It helps leaves and stems to grow.
Phosphate : It helps roots and fruits to develop.
Potassium : It stimulates overall plant health.
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 FORMATION OF SOIL
e process of formation of soil is called weathering. Soil is formed when rocks break down
into tiny pieces due to the repeated heating and cooling by the sun, rain and wind. When it
rains, water gets into the cracks in rocks and remains there. In cold weather it freezes, exerts
pressure and breaks the rocks. is repeated weathering over thousands of years breaks the
rocks into small pieces. is results in the formation of soil. It is a continuous process.

The rocky surface of The rain cools the Repeated heating and The flowing water,
the Earth gets heated rocky surface cooling cracks roots of plants and
by the Sun the surface frozen water breaks
the rocks into pieces

COMPOSITION OF SOIL
Pour some water in a glass and add a handful
Humus
of soil to it and stir. Now leave it undisturbed
Water
for some time. We observe layers of soil - — ---- - ---- -
---- ---- ---- -
---- ---- ----
-- ---- ---- ---- --- Clay
particles of different sizes in the glass. Soil is ---- -
---- -- --------
- ---- - ----
— - – ----
---- ---- --------
---- ---- ---- --------
---- ---- -------
---- - ---- --- — ---- -------- ---- ---- - Sand
----
made up of gravel, sand, clay, moisture ----
- ---- — ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- -
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---
---- Gravel
(water) and humus. Soil also contains air, (rock particles)
minerals, bacteria and fungi. Soil forms layers as shown, when mixed in water

e Soil Pro le (Layers of Soil)

As soil is formed, it develops layers or horizons which make up the soil pro le. ere are
generally three horizons in soil:
Ÿ Topsoil: e upper layer, about 100-120 mm
deep is the layer from where the plants get
their nutrients so that they are able to grow. Plant li er
(Humus)
Topsoil is often darker than the other layers Topsoil
as it is rich in humus. In addition to providing
Subsoil
nutrients for plants, humus improves the
crumbly nature of the soil. When soil is
crumbly, it allows air to move through it. Parent rock
Humus also soaks up water, reduces runoff Bedrock
and erosion, and promotes plant growth. For
topsoil to remain productive, humus must be
constantly added to soil. Layers of soil
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Ÿ Subsoil: e layer below the topsoil is the subsoil. Generally more clay-like, this layer
acts as a reservoir (water storage) for plants growing in the topsoil. When the subsoil is
exposed, it erodes fairly easily.
Ÿ Bedrock and parent rock: ese are the underlying layers from which the rst two
horizons are formed. ey contain no organic matter. ey are made up of stones and rocks.
USES OF SOIL
Soil ful ls our basic needs such as food, clothes and
shelter. Large amount of metals and minerals are
present in the soil. Forests which grow in the soil, help
in bringing rain and support various plants, trees and
animal activities. Microorganisms present in the soil
make it fertile and help in maintaining the ecosystem.
Soil is used for making objects like pots, porcelain,
bricks, etc. It also stores underground water. is water
is used for drinking and other purposes. Also plants get
nutrients from the soil.
Uses of soil
SOIL EROSION
Natural forces like wind and rain help in soil formation but they can harm the soil as well.
e topmost layer of soil can be carried away by wind, rain and oods.
In nature, soil from the hills gets washed away due to rains. You can see muddy water owing
down the hills. e water is muddy because of the soil which is being washed away. Soil is
also blown away from the plains and the hills by the force of wind.
e wearing away of the soil by water or wind is called soil erosion. It takes thousands of
years for rocks to turn into soil but soil erosion takes place in a very short period of time. e
topsoil is carried away during soil erosion. e topsoil contains moisture and nutrients
which are necessary for the growth of plants. erefore, soil erosion leads to loss of fertility,
due to which the plants become weak and die. e land becomes barren. us, there is
shortage of food. It also affects the climate.

Soil is eroded by wind, flowing water and deforestation

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 Factors Causing Soil Erosion
Ÿ Wind: Wind blows away the top layer of dry soil. It is worse where there are very few or
no plants. is is because roots help to hold the soil in its proper place. Winds also blow
sand across deserts and into nearby areas. Dust storms and sand storms are examples of
soil erosion by wind.
Ÿ Deforestation: e main cause of soil erosion is the removal of vegetation or plants
from the surface of the soil. It is called deforestation. It exposes the soil to wind and
water, which carry away the soil. Roots of trees and plants hold the soil together. When
trees are cut down, the soil becomes loose and is easily carried away.
Ÿ Water: Heavy rains and owing water remove the topsoil. Sometimes minerals present
in the soil dissolve in water and seep through the layers of soil. e soil, thus, loses its
fertility.
Ÿ Overgrazing: Overgrazing by the cattle on hill slopes also make the soil loose and
causes soil erosion.
Ÿ e Sun: e heat of the Sun evaporates the moisture of exposed soil and dries it up. Dry
soil breaks up easily and turns into small particles. ese are easily blown away by wind,
resulting in soil erosion.

CHECK YOURSELF
Tick (3) the correct option:
1. Plants and trees hold the soil by their:
(a) roots (b) stems (c) leaves
2. The process of wearing away of soil is called:
(a) afforestation (b) soil erosion (c) soil conservation
3. This helps roots to develop:
(a) nitrogen (b) phosphate (c) potassium

SOIL CONSERVATION
ousands of tons of soil is carried away by wind or water due to deforestation. Man is
damaging the soil over the last several years. e desert land is spreading rapidly.
We cannot control soil erosion by wind and rains, but we can take some steps to slow down
this process. e protection of soil from erosion is called soil conservation. Process of soil
conservation can be practised in the following ways:
Ÿ Planting More Trees: Plants lessen soil erosion. ey prevent water and wind from
blowing away the soil. So, planting trees is an effective way to reduce soil erosion.
Afforestation work equally well, both in plains and in the hilly areas.
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Ÿ Avoid leaving the Soil Bare: Winds blow the soil from bare elds. Fields should not
be left bare. Between the cropping seasons, they can be covered with grass. e roots of
these grass would hold the soil particles together and prevent the soil from being blown
away.
Ÿ Terrace Farming: Terrace farming is done in the hills and mountains. e slope is cut
into steps. is reduces the speed of owing water. e amount of soil lost is also less, as
the soil eroded from one step is deposited on the next step. So, terrace farming helps in
reducing soil erosion.
Ÿ By Avoiding Overgrazing: e grazing animals like cows, sheep, goats, horses, etc.,
eat grass. When these animals graze on the same piece of land continuously for a long
time, the grass cover gets removed. As a result, the top layer of the soil gets exposed and
can be blown or washed away by wind or water.
Ÿ By Making Bunds: In plains, high boundaries of mud in the form of bunds can be
built around the elds. Big farms can be divided into small elds with intermediate
boundaries.
Ÿ By Making Embankments: e heavy rains make the rivers over ow and this
causes the situation of oods in the elds. ese oods wash away the topsoil and cause
soil erosion. Embankments should be built along the riverbanks.

Plan ng of trees Terrace farming Embankment

LAND AND SOIL POLLUTION

Humans produce different types of wastes,
from homes, mines and factories. Most of the
wastes are buried in the land. is causes
serious soil pollution. It makes our land and
soil not only poisonous but also a dead place
where no plants can grow. e disturbance in
the quality of soil is called soil pollution.
Soil Pollu on
e careless use of pesticides, insecticides and fertilisers and plastic bags also lead to
soil pollution. Non-biodegradable wastes like plastic bags are not broken down by
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 bacteria or any other living thing. ese bags cover the earth, not letting the air and
water pass through it. With the result, the plants and tiny animals that live in the soil
cannot survive. ey die and create a patch of dead land. Soil pollution causes
infertility of soil and contamination of water and air.

CHECK YOURSELF
Write T for True and F for False.
1. We can control soil erosion by wind and rains.
2. Terrace farming is done in plain areas.
3. Embankments should be built along the riverbanks.
4. Soil pollution causes infertility of soil.

New words
Erosion : the process of eroding or being eroded
Humus : an organic component of soil
Conserva on : preserva on or restora on of natural environment and wildlife

SUMMARY
v Soil is the most valuable natural resource. It fulfills our basic needs, such as food, clothes
and shelter.
v Soil is important for the continuation of life on Earth.
v Soil is made up of gravel, sand, clay, moisture and humus.
v The process of formation of soil is called weathering.
v Heavy rains and flowing water can remove the topsoil, causing soil erosion.
v The protection of soil from erosion is called soil conservation.
v The disturbance in the quality of soil is called soil pollution.

Exercise
A. Write one word for each of the following:
1. Rocks and stones weathered over many years become this. ____________
2. It is the most fertile layer of the soil. ____________
3. Living things which often help in converting plant food. ____________
4. The removal of topsoil from the surface of the Earth. ____________
5. Small wild plants which grow easily to help in soil conservation. ____________
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B. Select the best alternative for each of the following:
1. e removal of topsoil by water and wind is called:
(i) soil erosion (ii) terrace farming
(iii) silting (iv) soil conservation
2. Soil erosion can be controlled by:
(i) constructing bunds only (ii) growing grass only
(iii) terracing only (iv) all of these methods
C. Answer the following questions:
1. What is the importance of topsoil?
2. What is humus?
3. What is terrace farming?
D. Fill in the blanks:
1. Erosion of soil is caused by ________________ and ________________.
2. In hill slopes, soil erosion is prevented by ________________.
3. e protection of soil against erosion is called ________________.
4. ________________ are built to check soil erosion in elds near rivers.
5. Soil erosion reduces the ________________ of the soil.
E. True or False:
1. Soil formation is takes place within a few years. _________
2. Deforestation causes soil erosion. _________
3. We should cut trees to prevent soil erosion. _________
4. Wind and rain play a very important role in the formation of soil. _________
5. Wind does not cause soil erosion. _________
6. Soil erosion increases the fertility of the soil. _________
F. Answer the following questions in your own words:
1. How is soil formed?
2. List some of the important uses of soil.
3. How can you prove that soil plays an important role in the recycling of nutrients?
4. What is soil erosion? Name the agents of soil erosion.
5. What is soil conservation?
6. What steps should be taken to prevent soil erosion?

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 Activity Time
A. Prepare a project report on 'Ways to Reduce Land and Soil Pollution'.
B. In this activity, we will examine that soil contains air. You will need soil samples, a
beaker, tap water and a sprayer.
Collect some soil, moisten it with water and prepare a soil clod. Spray the soil clod with
water and wait for 2 minutes.
Now, drop the clod in a jar lled with water. What do you notice?
You can see water bubbles rising from the clod. is proves that there is air trapped
inside the soil clod. In fact, up to 50% of the soil is made up of air.

Let Us Visit
A pottery is a place where a potter makes beautiful
items with clay or other ceramic materials. Visit a
pottery with your friends and see how different items
are made with clay with bare hands. You will nd a big
wheel in the pottery called a potter’s wheel.
Ask the potter from where he gets the clay and the
steps involved in making a pot. You can also make a
small pot for yourself!

Subject Link : Social Studies

Match the crops with the types of soil. You can take the help of your teacher.
Column A Column B
1. Wheat
Loamy Soil
2. Coconut
3. Sugarcane Clayey Soil
4. Paddy
5. Barley Sandy Soil

6 Jute

FOOTNOTE
The objective of the lesson:
(a) Explain the integral role that soil plays in our lives.
(b) Alert children to the various human activities that harm the soil and bring about an awareness in them about soil
conservation.
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