9

Soil
Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge to be gained: •Weathering •Layers of soil •Types of soil •Properties of soil

•Soil erosion •Soil pollution
Skills to be developed: •Identi cation of the types of soil based on their characteristics •Methods
of prevention of soil pollution
Attitude to be inculcated: •Proper utilisation of soil and protection against erosion.

SOIL our food and much of our clothing is derived

Soil is one of the most important natural
resources present on the Earth. All living things
depend directly or indirectly on soil. It is
formed by the breakdown of rocks over
thousands of years by a process called
weathering. It is found everywhere.
Soil is the mixture of rock debris and organic
materials which develop on the Earth’s surface.
Soil is the life-supporting upper surface of the
Earth made up of ne particles containing
minerals and gravel (from weathering of
rocks), organic matter (humus), micro-
organisms, nutrients, water and air.
Soil is the basis of all agriculture. e bulk of
122 Exploring Science-7
from land-based crops that grow in the soil.
e study of soil is called pedology. It is derived
from the Greek words ‘pedon’ meaning ‘soil’ and
‘logos’ meaning ‘study’.
FORMATION OF SOIL
When our Earth was formed billions of years
ago, it consisted of large rocks and no soil. Over
millions of years, these rocks got partially
changed into soil. is slow breaking down of
big rocks by the continuous action of the Sun’s
heat, wind, rain, owing of rivers, root of
plants, etc., to form tiny rock particles is
called weathering.
SOIL PROFILE
Soil is made up of different layers, which are
O-Horizon
called horizons. A vertical section of soil
A-Horizon
showing its different layers is known as soil
Humus
pro le. Each layer in a soil pro le has its B-Horizon Topsoil
characteristics and serves speci c functions
(Fig.1).
C-Horizon
Subsoil
Let us now study about the different layers of
soil. Bedrock
Sub-stratum
Surface Layer or O-Horizon Fig.1 Layers of soil
Bedrock
e extreme top surface of the soil consists of
humus, insects living in the soil, worms, micro- Subsoil or B-Horizon
organisms and other organic matters. Humus B-horizon lies just below the topsoil. It has a
is the organic matter forme d by the very small population of living organisms, and
decomposition of dead plants and animals by is less fertile as compared to the A-horizon.
various microorganisms. Humus is high on u It contains comparatively less amount of
nutrients which are required by the plants for humus but has more minerals.
their growth. e O-layer consists of only the u It is generally harder and more compact than
partly decomposed organic matter. the topsoil.
Topsoil or A-Horizon u It is lighter in colour because of the presence
of less amount of humus.
e topmost layer of the soil is called the
A-horizon. It is the most useful part of the soil. Sub-stratum or C-Horizon
u It is rich in humus. e presence of humus Below the subsoil is the sub-stratum or
gives it a dark colour. C-horizon, which consists of small pieces of
u It is rich in minerals needed by plants for rocks with cracks and crevices. It is made up of
small lumps of broken rocks formed by the
their growth.
partial weathering of bedrock. In this layer, the
u It is so and porous. rocks are still breaking down to form ner
u It can retain more water. particles.
e above factors make the topsoil fertile and t Bedrock
for cultivation. Below the C-horizon is the bedrock. Bedrock
A-horizon is the home of many living is also called the parent rock. is parent rock
organisms like insects and worms. e roots of produces soil over a long period of time. e
plants grow in this layer of soil. bedrock is very hard.

Soil 123
COMPONENTS OF SOIL
When we talk of soil, we generally talk about the
topsoil. Soil is made up of different-sized rock
particles along with humus, air, water and
living organisms. ese different-sized
particles in uence the properties of the soil.
Depending on their size, the rock particles are
divided into four groups. ese four groups are:
u Clay: It has the smallest size of particles. In
fact, you cannot see a single clay particle.
Clay feels smooth to touch because of its
small particle size.
u Silt : It has particles larger than clay
(diameter between 0.002 mm and 0.2 mm).
erefore, it is not so smooth. It is generally
present in a river bed.
u Sand: It has the largest-sized particles,
which can be seen easily (diameter greater
than 0.2 mm). ey are coarse to the touch.
u Gravel: It consists of the largest-sized rock
particles.
10x
Sand
10x
Silt
100x
Clay
Fig.2 Structure of sand, silt and clay
124 Exploring Science-7
Apart from the different sized rock particles, the
soil consists of other components too, like
humus, living organisms, water and air.
u Humus: Humus is important because it
makes the soil naturally fertile as it contains
all the nutrients required by the plants for
their proper growth. It also improves the
water-holding capacity of the soil. It also
provides food to earthworms, beetles,
millipedes, etc.
u Living organisms: Many bacteria, insects
and worms live in the soil.
u Water: Water is also present in the space
between soil particles. Plants rely on this
water for their growth.
u Air: e gaps between the soil particles are
lled with air. Soil organisms use this air for
respiration. Let us perform a simple activity
to show that air is present in soil.
Activity-1
Take some dry soil in a beaker. Pour some
water over it. Observe carefully. Do you see
some air bubbles in the water coming out of
the soil?
When we pour water over the dry soil, the
water moves into the spaces between the soil
particles and expels the air present in between.
is air can be seen in the form of bubbles
coming out of the soil.
Water
Air bubbles
Soil
Fig.3 Air bubbles coming out of soil
 Checkpoint-1
Write True or False
1. Soil is found everywhere.
2. Soil is formed by a process called weathering.
3. e different layers of soil are called horizons.
4. e dead and rotting remains of plants and animals form humus.
5. Clay consists of the largest rock particles.
Knowledge Booster
Earthworms are called friends of farmers because
they help in improving the fer lity of the soil.
When an earthworm moves, it turns the soil over
and mixes the soil layers. This allows air into the
soil. Earthworms also drag the leaves down into
their burrows, which on ro ng, add humus to the
soil. Their excreta (wastes) and eventually, their
dead remains also increase soil fer lity.
TYPES OF SOIL
Soil differs according to the climate, rainfall and
geological structure of the area. It is constantly
being formed and removed by natural and
human activity. Based on the proportion of
various particles present in the soil, it can be
broadly classi ed into—sandy soil, clayey soil
and loamy soil.
Sandy Soil
Sandy soil consists mainly of sand and very
little silt and clay. e sand particles are
relatively large. ey cannot t closely together.
Hence, there are large spaces between them.
erefore, in this type of soil, water drainage is
very high as the water passes quickly through
these spaces. is soil is light, well-aerated and
dry. Sandy soil contains very little humus, and is
therefore less fertile.
Soil
______________
______________
______________
______________
______________
Clayey Soil
Clayey soil mainly contains very ne clay
particles. Sand and silt are present in traces. e
characteristics of clayey soil are:
u Since the particle size is quite small, the
particles are compactly arranged. Because of
this, very little air can be trapped in clayey
soil. is is a disadvantage of clayey soil.
u Clayey soil can hold a high amount of water.
Water drains out very slowly through clayey
soil. This can however lead to water logging
which can damage the crops. Clayey soil
tends to be heavy and holds more water than
sandy soil.
u Clayey soil is difficult to plough.
u Clayey soil is rich in minerals and nutrients.
u Clayey soil contains very little humus, but is
more fertile than sandy soil.
Loamy Soil
Loamy soil is the perfect mixture of sand, soil
and silt. Silt particles are present between the
particles of sand and clay. It also contains
humus, and is, therefore, considered the best for
the growth of plants. It has the right water-
holding capacity for plant growth and has the
right amount of space between the soil particles
to trap the air required by the roots of the plants.
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Fig.4 Sandy soil Fig.5 Clayey soil Fig.6 Loamy soil

Differences among sandy, clayey and loamy soils

Property Sandy soil Clayey soil Loamy soil
Smaller-sized clay Clay, sand and silt present
Main constituents Large-sized sand particles
particles in right proportions
Space between particles Quite large Quite less Sufficient
Presence of air Well-aerated Can hold sufficient air Can hold sufficient air

Water holding capacity Cannot hold water Can hold too much water Right water holding
capacity
Nutrients Cannot hold nutrients Can hold nutrients Can hold nutrients
Ploughing Easy to plough Difficult to plough Easy to plough

Some crops and the types of soil they grow in

Crop Soil Reason
Cotton Loamy and sandy soils ese soils hold more air and water.
Paddy Clayey soil is soil has good water-retention capacity.
Wheat and gram Clayey and loamy soils ese soils have better water-retention capacity.
Lentils and other pulses Loamy soil is soil can drain water easily.

Soils develop under a variety of conditions;
hence, the soil in one location can be very
different from the soil in another location. In
order to better understand soil, and how one
soil differs from another, scientists study the
following properties of soil.
PROPERTIES OF SOIL
Percolation Rate of Water
Percolation is the property of soil which
allows water to pass through it. If the
126
percolation rate of the soil is high, it means
water passes down through the layers of the soil
very easily; and if the percolation rate is low, it
means water gets held over the soil for a long
time.
Sandy soil has a very high percolation rate,
whereas clayey soil has a very low percolation
rate.
e rate of percolation means the volume of
water which passes down the soil per minute.
Exploring Science-7
 Volume of water percolated (ml)
Percolation rate =
Time taken for percolation
u Rainwater that percolates through the soil
collects over the bedrock and forms the
water table.
u Soil with a low percolation rate is preferred
for growing paddy crops which require
water to remain in the elds.
Absorption of Water by the Soil
As water percolates through the soil, some
amount of water is absorbed by the soil. Soil
absorbs water because it is porous.
u Sandy soil absorbs less water, and allows
most of the water to percolate.
u Clayey soil absorbs more water, and allows
less water to percolate.
Soil Contains Air
Air is present in spaces between soil particles.
Since sandy soil contains relatively large particles,
it has large open spaces and provides much more
air to the plant roots. Clayey soil provides less air
Checkpoint-2
Fill in the blanks
1. ____________ soil contains clay, sand and silt in right proportions.
2. e larger the soil particles, the ____________ time it takes for the water to pass.
3. Paddy is grown in ____________ soil.
4. Lentils and other pulses grow in ____________ soil.
SOIL EROSION
As discussed earlier, the topsoil is very fertile.
Strong winds, river water or heavy rains may
carry away the topsoil. e removal of topsoil
either by strong winds, owing river water or
Soil
to the plant roots which grow in it.
Soil Colour
e colour of soil can tell scientists a lot about it.
ere are over 170 different soil colours. Most of
these are shades of black, brown, red, grey and
white. Generally, the darker the soil is, the more
nutrient-rich it is. e darker colour oen
indicates an increased amount of humus.
Grey soils oen indicate poor drainage, while
red colour indicates very poor quality of soil.
ese general rules about soil colours can,
however, be misleading. Under certain
conditions, very poor soil can appear as dark
black, while rich healthy soil can appear as red.
Soil Texture
Another easily experienced property of soil is
texture. Pick up a pinch of soil between your
ngers and rub it back and forth. You will
quickly notice that the soil is made up of many
different-sized particles. ese particles give the
soil its texture. We know that clayey soil is very
smooth, and sandy soil is very coarse.
rain is called soil erosion.
Soil erosion is more common in areas which are
not covered by trees or grass and are barren. In
the absence of any vegetation, the topsoil
becomes loose and gets easily carried away.
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Fig.7 Soil erosion by wind Fig.8 Soil erosion by owing water Fig.9 Deforestation

Soil does not get eroded if it is covered by
vegetation. e roots of the plants bind together
the tops oil par ticles and pre vent s oil
erosion. Soil erosion is caused mainly by
deforestation, i.e., the excessive cutting down
of trees and other plants.
Causes of Soil Erosion
absorption capacity) is lost, water gets
accumulated, and runs freely at great speed,
causing more damage.
u Soil carried away from erosion by rivers
and streams gets deposited in the river
beds. is leads to a larger spilling of water
from rivers, and leads to further ooding.

u Deforestation (the excessive cutting down u Soil erosion can lead to famines and also
of trees and plants) makes the soil loose and cause landslides in hilly areas.
vulnerable to the actions of natural agents Need to Conserve Soil
like wind and water. We need to conserve soil because life on the
u Strong winds blow away the topsoil easily. land depends on soil. It takes millions of years
Heavy storms can even uproot small plants for soil to get formed, and we cannot replace it
and weak trees. in our lifetime. Farmers add fertilisers to the
plants so that they can grow properly. But, if
u Rivers and streams flowing at high speed
excess fertilisers are used over a long period of
wash away the soils at the banks.
time, they may damage the soil.
u Overgrazing and excessive ploughing of
elds make the soil structure loose and
vulnerable to wind and owing water.
Effects of Soil Erosion
Soil erosion can harm the environment in the
following ways:
u Soil erosion eats away the topsoil (which is
fertile) and in effect turns lush green
pastures into dry deserts.
u Soil erosion can lead to oods. Once the
topsoil (which has the highest water Fig.10 A farmer adding fertiliser to his crops
128 Exploring Science-7
SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is when there are harmful
changes in soil due to adding or dumping of
unwanted, harmful pollutants, such as trash and
toxic chemicals. is causes soil to lose its
fertility and also affects all life forms directly or
indirectly dependent on soil. e persistent
build-up of toxic compounds in the soil is
de ned as soil pollution (Fig.11).
e main reason behind the contamination of
soil is the presence of man-made waste. e
waste produced by nature, such as dead plants,
carcasses of animals and rotten fruits and
vegetables, only adds to the fertility of the soil.
But, man-made waste products are full of
chemicals and lead to soil pollution.
Fig.11 Soil pollution
Causes of Soil Pollution
u Industrial activities: Industrial wastes
linger in the soil for a long time and make it
unsuitable for use.
u Ag r i c u l tu r a l a c t i v i t i e s : Mo d e r n
pesticides and fertilisers that are full of
chemicals cause soil pollution.
u Accidental oil spills : e chemicals
present in the fuel deteriorate the quality of
soil and make it unsuitable for cultivation.
Soil
ese chemicals enter into the groundwater
through the soil and also make the water
contaminated.
u Acid rain : Acid rain is caused when
pollutants present in the air mix up with the
rain and fall back on the ground. e
polluted water can dissolve away some of the
important nutrients found in the soil and
change the composition of the soil, causing
soil pollution.
Prevention of Soil Pollution
To prevent soil pollution, its causes must be
controlled.
u Plastics and polythene bags destroy the
fertility of the soil. Hence, they should be
disposed of properly and if possible, their
use should be avoided.
u Some waste products from industries and
homes pollute the soil. ese pollutants
should be treated chemically to make them
harmless before they are disposed of.
u Other pollutants in soil include pesticides
and insecticides. erefore, excessive use of
these substances should be avoided.
Effects of Soil Pollution
e major effects of soil pollution include:
u Effects on growth of plants: It leads to
decreased soil fertility.
u Effects on human health: Crops and
plants grown on polluted soil absorb much of
the pollutants, and then pass them to us.
u Toxic dust: e emission of toxic dust and
foul gases from land lls pollute the
environment and cause serious effects on
the health of people. ey also change the
soil composition.
129
Keywords
Weathering : The process of soil formation by the breakdown of rocks over thousands of years.
Humus : An organic matter formed by the dead and rotting remains of plants and animals.
Porous : Having small holes.
Percolate : Seeping of water through the soil.
Soil erosion : The removal of topsoil by either strong winds or owing river water.

Points to Remember
u Soil is formed by the weathering of rocks.
u A vertical section of soil shows its pro le. Its main layers are: surface layer, topsoil, subsoil,
sub-stratum and bedrock.
u e dead and rotting remains of plants and animals form humus.
u e different sizes of rock particles present in topsoil are: gravel (largest particles), sand, silt
and clay (smallest particles).
u Apart from rocks, soil also contains—humus, living organisms, water and air.
u Based on the proportion of various particles present in the soil, the soil can be broadly
classi ed into sandy soil, clayey soil and loamy soil.
u e rate at which water seeps through the soil is known as the percolation rate.
u e percolation rate of water is different in different types of soil. It is highest in sandy soil and
lowest in clayey soil.
u e removal of topsoil either by strong winds, owing river water or rain is called soil erosion.
u e persistent build up of toxic compounds in the soil causes soil pollution.

Exercise
A. Tick (3) the Correct Option
1. Soil is formed by a process called ____________.
(a) erosion (b) pedology
(c) weathering (d) percolation
2. e topmost layer of the soil is called the____________.
(a) A-horizon (b) B-horizon
(c) C-horizon (d) D-horizon
130 Exploring Science-7
 3. C-horizon is also called the ____________.
(a) sub-stratum (b) parent rock
(c) grand rock (d) organic layer
4. e removal of topsoil by either strong winds, owing river water or rain is called:
(a) soil erosion (b) soil conservation
(c) soil pollution (d) soil puri cation
5. Which of these soil particles contains the smallest rock particles?
(a) Silt (b) Gravel
(c) Sand (d) Clay
B. Fill in the Blanks with Suitable Words
1. e study of soil is called ____________.
2. e dead and rotting remains of plants and animals form ____________.
3. ____________ horizon lies just below the topsoil.
4. ____________ soil can hold the most amount of water.
5. ____________ is the addition of harmful substances in the soil.
C. Very-Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. De ne soil.
2. De ne weathering.
3. What is soil pro le?
4. What is C-horizon soil made up of?
5. Subsoil contains more minerals than topsoil. True or false?
6. Clay particles are ner than sand particles. True or false?
7. Which soil can hold the most amount of water and the least amount of air?
8. e percolation rate of sandy soil is less than that of clayey soil. True or false?
9. What is soil erosion?
10. What is soil pollution?
D. Short-Answer-Type Questions
1. What is humus? Why is it important?
2. Which factors make the topsoil t for cultivation?
3. What does soil consist of?
4. Why is water drainage very high in sandy soil?

Soil 131
 5. Why is loamy soil considered the best for the growth of plants?
6. De ne percolation and explain the percolation rate of water.
7. Mention the causes of soil erosion.
8. Why do farmers use fertilisers? What is the long-term effect of its excess use on the soil?
9. How does acid rain affect the soil?
10. Write down any three steps to prevent soil pollution.
E. Long-Answer-Type Questions
1. What is meant by soil pro le? Explain the various layers of soil.
2. Describe the components other than rock particles that make the soil.
3. Distinguish among gravel, sand, silt and clay.
4. Write the differences among sandy soil, clayey soil, and loamy soil.
5. Based on the colour of a soil sample, what can we predict about the nature of the soil?
6. Describe the causes and effects of soil erosion and soil pollution.
HOTS
1. Soil is constantly formed by the weathering of rocks. en, why are we so concerned about
soil erosion?
2. Preeti conducted an experiment in the eld related to the rate of percolation. She observed
that it took 60 min for 300 ml of water to percolate through the soil sample. Calculate the
rate of percolation.

Activity Zone
1 3
W W
A. Solve the following crossword puzzle: 2
E
Across Ë
2. Plantation prevents it.
5. Causes soil pollution.
4 5
6. Type of soil used for making pottery. S P U T
7. Living organism in the soil.
Down
Ë

6
1. In desert, soil erosion occurs through. C
3. Clay and loam are suitable for cereals like.
4. is type of soil can hold very little water.
7
5. Collective name for layers of soil. E

132 Exploring Science-7

Project Work
B. e rivers of north India, which ow from the Himalayas, bring a variety of materials
including gravel, sand, clay and silt. ese rivers broaden in the plains of North India and
deposit their materials. e soil thus formed is very fertile and supports half the population
of India. Find out what this soil is called and why it is so fertile. Make a detailed presentation
on this soil.

Memory Map
Topsoil

Subsoil
Soil
contains Soil Soil
Sub-stratum Percolation Absorption air colour texture
Bed rock
Pro le Properties

SOIL

Types Composition
Clay
Silt
Sandy Clayey Loamy Sand
Humus
Living Organisms
Water
Air

e-Resources
Please visit the link given below or scan the QR code for more resources on
this chapter:
https://www.megamindpublication.com/s-3-science/b-3-exploring-science-7/c-35/soil.html

Soil 133