i need an essay on soil.
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The term ‘Soil’ has been derived from Latin word ‘Solum’ which means earthy material necessary for the growth of plants. Soil may be defined as a mixture of organic as well as weathered rocK materials present in the uppermost part of earth soil crust.
The soil is formed through a number of physical, chemical and biological processes occurring slowly for long periods of time. It is an important abiotic factor in which the root grows, anchors the plant and supplies necessary water and nutrients to the plant. Thus soil is a store house of minerals, a reservoir of water, a conserver of soil fertility, a producer of vegetable crops, a home of wild life and live stocks.
The science that deals with the study of soil is called Soil Science or Pedology (pedos means earth) or Edaphology (Edaphos means soil).
(A) Classification of Soil:
Basing upon the shape and size of soil particles, soil is classified into six types as per “International System of Particle Differentiation.”
Basing upon the differential combination (%) of slit and clay, U.S. Department of Agriculture has classified the soil into six textural classes:
(a) Sandy soil (chiefly sand).
(b) Clay sand (chiefly clay and sand).
(c) Loam soil (sand, slit and clay in almost equal percentage).
(d) Sandy loam soil (sand and slit).
(e) Slit loam soil (chiefly slit).
(f) Clay loam soil (chiefly clay).
Besides shape, size and texture, the soils can be classified in terms of their ability to influence growth of the plant. The soils can influence at the level of the passage of air and water, availability of nutrients, workability in chemical reactions, etc.
The different types of soils are:
(a) Sand;
(b) Slit;
(c) Clay.
(a) Sand:
This fraction of soil contains coarse, textured, loose and friable particles which can be seen by naked eye. These particles constitute the framework of soil. Due to larger particle size, empty spaces remain in between sand particles and through these empty spaces, air and water can easily pass through the soil. Sand is not suitable for the growth of the plant.
(b) Slit:
It consists of medium textured soil particles of size intermediate in between sand and clay. In dry condition it is flour like but in wet condition, it is like plastic. It contains sufficient quantity of nutrients and also it has a greater water holding capacity. Hence it is fertile.
(c) Clay:
It is fine textured soil of particle size ranging in colloidal dimension (10-1000 A). It actively participates in physio- chemical reactions of the soil. It has highest water holding capacity and also it stores the nutrients. Hence it is known as storehouse of water and nutrients for plants. In addition to the above classification, soils are also classified on the basis of their physical, chemical and biological properties.
The major types of soil are:
(i) Podzol:
It is an acidic (pH 4.0 to 4.5) grayish soil seen near the south of Tundra’s. Its fertility is comparatively lesser.
(ii) Chernozem:
It is a blackish soil seen in the grassland areas. The soil is highly fertile and productive.
(iii) Latosol:
It is nutrient poor soil seen in heavy rainfall areas (near equator). From this soil, the mineral substances are leached into the deeper part of the soil.
(iv) Desert Soil:
It is a grayish or greenish soil found in the desert areas of the world. It is highly alkaline and less fertile.
(B) Soil Profile:
A vertical section of the matured soil shows several layers, with distinct characteristic physical and chemical properties, which are known as horizons or soil horizons. These layers or horizons from top to bottom together constitute soil profile. Each horizon has a specific thickness, structure, colour, texture, porocity, etc.
The soil profile can be broadly divided into five horizons. From the surface downwards, these may be named as O-horizon, A-horizon, B-horizon, C-horizon and R-horizon. The A and B zones together form the true soil or solum.
1. O-Horizon:
(a) O1 horizon:
(b) O2 horizon:
2. A-Horizon:
(a) A1 Layer:
(b) A2 Layer:
(c) A3 Layer:
3. B-Horizon:
(a) B1 Layer:
(b) B2 Layer:
(c) B3 Layer:
4. C-Horizon:
5. R-Horizon:
(C) Composition of Soil:
The chief components of soil are:
1. Inorganic matter 40% (approx.)
2. Organic matter 10% (approx.)
3. Soil water 25% (approx.)
4. Soil air 25% (approx)
(D) Uses of Soil:
The uses of are as under:
1. It provides habit for terrestrial plants, animals and microbes.
2. Its quality determines the distribution of plants and animals.
3. It provides nutrients and water to the plants for their growth and metabolism.
4. It is used as building material.
5. It acts as a buffer for changes of temperature, for the flow of water and solute between the atmosphere, ground and surface waters.
The soil is formed through a number of physical, chemical and biological processes occurring slowly for long periods of time. It is an important abiotic factor in which the root grows, anchors the plant and supplies necessary water and nutrients to the plant. Thus soil is a store house of minerals, a reservoir of water, a conserver of soil fertility, a producer of vegetable crops, a home of wild life and live stocks.
The science that deals with the study of soil is called Soil Science or Pedology (pedos means earth) or Edaphology (Edaphos means soil).
(A) Classification of Soil:
Basing upon the shape and size of soil particles, soil is classified into six types as per “International System of Particle Differentiation.”
Basing upon the differential combination (%) of slit and clay, U.S. Department of Agriculture has classified the soil into six textural classes:
(a) Sandy soil (chiefly sand).
(b) Clay sand (chiefly clay and sand).
(c) Loam soil (sand, slit and clay in almost equal percentage).
(d) Sandy loam soil (sand and slit).
(e) Slit loam soil (chiefly slit).
(f) Clay loam soil (chiefly clay).
Besides shape, size and texture, the soils can be classified in terms of their ability to influence growth of the plant. The soils can influence at the level of the passage of air and water, availability of nutrients, workability in chemical reactions, etc.
The different types of soils are:
(a) Sand;
(b) Slit;
(c) Clay.
(a) Sand:
This fraction of soil contains coarse, textured, loose and friable particles which can be seen by naked eye. These particles constitute the framework of soil. Due to larger particle size, empty spaces remain in between sand particles and through these empty spaces, air and water can easily pass through the soil. Sand is not suitable for the growth of the plant.
(b) Slit:
It consists of medium textured soil particles of size intermediate in between sand and clay. In dry condition it is flour like but in wet condition, it is like plastic. It contains sufficient quantity of nutrients and also it has a greater water holding capacity. Hence it is fertile.
(c) Clay:
It is fine textured soil of particle size ranging in colloidal dimension (10-1000 A). It actively participates in physio- chemical reactions of the soil. It has highest water holding capacity and also it stores the nutrients. Hence it is known as storehouse of water and nutrients for plants. In addition to the above classification, soils are also classified on the basis of their physical, chemical and biological properties.
The major types of soil are:
(i) Podzol:
It is an acidic (pH 4.0 to 4.5) grayish soil seen near the south of Tundra’s. Its fertility is comparatively lesser.
(ii) Chernozem:
It is a blackish soil seen in the grassland areas. The soil is highly fertile and productive.
(iii) Latosol:
It is nutrient poor soil seen in heavy rainfall areas (near equator). From this soil, the mineral substances are leached into the deeper part of the soil.
(iv) Desert Soil:
It is a grayish or greenish soil found in the desert areas of the world. It is highly alkaline and less fertile.
(B) Soil Profile:
A vertical section of the matured soil shows several layers, with distinct characteristic physical and chemical properties, which are known as horizons or soil horizons. These layers or horizons from top to bottom together constitute soil profile. Each horizon has a specific thickness, structure, colour, texture, porocity, etc.
The soil profile can be broadly divided into five horizons. From the surface downwards, these may be named as O-horizon, A-horizon, B-horizon, C-horizon and R-horizon. The A and B zones together form the true soil or solum.
1. O-Horizon:
(a) O1 horizon:
(b) O2 horizon:
2. A-Horizon:
(a) A1 Layer:
(b) A2 Layer:
(c) A3 Layer:
3. B-Horizon:
(a) B1 Layer:
(b) B2 Layer:
(c) B3 Layer:
4. C-Horizon:
5. R-Horizon:
(C) Composition of Soil:
The chief components of soil are:
1. Inorganic matter 40% (approx.)
2. Organic matter 10% (approx.)
3. Soil water 25% (approx.)
4. Soil air 25% (approx)
(D) Uses of Soil:
The uses of are as under:
1. It provides habit for terrestrial plants, animals and microbes.
2. Its quality determines the distribution of plants and animals.
3. It provides nutrients and water to the plants for their growth and metabolism.
4. It is used as building material.
5. It acts as a buffer for changes of temperature, for the flow of water and solute between the atmosphere, ground and surface waters.
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The vast size of India, along with the diversity in the natural environment of its various parts gives rise to a vast variety in the soil cover. As we have already described, the formation of different types of soils are mainly dependent on the nature of parent material, climate, general topography of the particular region and activity of organisms.
These factors vary in their degree of operation from one place to the other and thus result a number of soil types in India. While the soils in the Extra-penisular and Indo-Gangentic plains are quite young, those in the Peninsular parts are old and highly matured.
The major soil types in India have been recognized as follows:-
- Alluvial soils, which are well developed in the Indo-Gangetic plains as well as in the coastal deltaic regions
- Regur or black cotton soil, which are concentrated over the Deccan Lava tract that includes parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujurat, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu. It is highly fertile.
- Red soils are due to a wide diffusion of iron in ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks. Red soils cover almost the whole of Tamil Nadu, Kamataka, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern part of Maharashtra.
- Lateritic soils are commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
Desert soils are found in Rajsthan.
Apart from the above types, the soils ii the mountainous regions of the country also form a significant kind of soil of India.
These factors vary in their degree of operation from one place to the other and thus result a number of soil types in India. While the soils in the Extra-penisular and Indo-Gangentic plains are quite young, those in the Peninsular parts are old and highly matured.
The major soil types in India have been recognized as follows:-
- Alluvial soils, which are well developed in the Indo-Gangetic plains as well as in the coastal deltaic regions
- Regur or black cotton soil, which are concentrated over the Deccan Lava tract that includes parts of Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujurat, Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Tamil Nadu. It is highly fertile.
- Red soils are due to a wide diffusion of iron in ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks. Red soils cover almost the whole of Tamil Nadu, Kamataka, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh and south-eastern part of Maharashtra.
- Lateritic soils are commonly found in Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam.
Desert soils are found in Rajsthan.
Apart from the above types, the soils ii the mountainous regions of the country also form a significant kind of soil of India.
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