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What Is Soil?

Article Summary by: madugundukrishna

Original Author: krishnamadu

Summary rating: 5 stars (1 Ratings)
Visits : 69
words:600
Comments : 0

Soil is a valuable natural resource. The outermost soft layer of the earth is known as soil. It is formed in layers.

The dark colored layer at the top of the soil is called topsoil. It is very fertile. Just under the topsoil, there is a layer of light colored soil. It is called subsoil. It consists of soil and small rocks. At the bottom, solid rock called bedrock is present.
Experiment-1
Go to the field. Pick up some soil and feel it. It is very soft. It is topsoil dig the soil to a few feet deep, you can find the subsoil. If you dig further you can find the bedrock.
There are many kinds of soils. Soils are different in different places. Clayey soil, sandy soil, loamy soil and rocky soil are the different kinds of soils.
Soil is important for the survival of all living things. It contains air and water. Crops grow in the soil. Some animals live inside the soil. Running water, heavy rains and strong winds remove the top fertile soil.
Soil Erosion
The removal of the top fertile soil is called soil erosion. Soil erosion brings the less fertile subsoil to the surface. So, due to soil erosion a fertile land may turn into a wasteland.
When it rains, the topsoil from the hills is washed down into the rivers and plain. The running water carries the fertile soil from one place to another. The deposition of fertile topsoil in the river bed is called silting. Delta is formed at the place where the river joins the sea. It is triangular in shape. It consists of fertile soil.
Experiment-2
Take a big heap of soil and fix some stones init in the form of a hill. Pour water at the top the hill with a porous can. The water flows down like a stream. It also carries thee soil particles making the stones bare. The soil spreads all over the ground. In the same way, the running water carries away the topsoil which is rich in nutrients and humus.
Experiment-3
Place a paper on the table. Make a small heap of sand on it. Blow air through a pipe. The sand particles are shifted to the other side. In the same way, strong currents of wind blow away the topsoil from one place to another. This occurs vigorously where there is no vegetation. Plants grow well in this topsoil.

Published: July 09, 2009

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<div dir='ltr'><font size='6'><b>What Is Soil?	</b></font><br /><br /><strong>Summary by:</strong><a href="http://www.shvoong.com/writers/madugundukrishna/" title="madugundukrishna" target="_blank">madugundukrishna</a><br /><span>Soil is a valuable natural resource. The outermost soft layer of the earth is known as soil. It is formed in layers. The dark colored layer at the top of the soil is called topsoil. It is very fertile. Just under the topsoil, there is a layer of light colored soil. It is called subsoil. It consists of soil and small rocks. At the bottom, solid rock called bedrock is present.<br/>Experiment-1<br/>Go to the field. Pick up some soil and feel it. It is very soft. It is topsoil dig the soil to a few feet deep, you can find the subsoil. If you dig further you can find the bedrock.<br/>There are many kinds of soils. Soils are different in different places. Clayey soil, sandy soil, loamy soil and rocky soil are the different kinds of soils.<br/>Soil is important for the survival of all living things. It contains air and water. Crops grow in the soil. Some animals live inside the soil. Running water, heavy rains and strong winds remove the top fertile soil.<br/>Soil Erosion<br/>The removal of the top fertile soil is called soil erosion. Soil erosion brings the less fertile subsoil to the surface. So, due to soil erosion a fertile land may turn into a wasteland. <br/>When it rains, the topsoil from the hills is washed down into the rivers and plain. The running water carries the fertile soil from one place to another. The deposition of fertile topsoil in the river bed is called silting. Delta is formed at the place where the river joins the sea. It is triangular in shape. It consists of fertile soil.<br/>Experiment-2  <br/>Take a big heap of soil and fix some stones init in the form of a hill. Pour water at the top the hill with a porous can. The water flows down like a stream. It also carries thee soil particles making the stones bare. The soil spreads all over the ground. In the same way, the running water carries away the topsoil which is rich in nutrients and humus. <br/>Experiment-3<br/>Place a paper on the table. Make a small heap of sand on it. Blow air through a pipe. The sand particles are shifted to the other side. In the same way, strong currents of wind blow away the topsoil from one place to another. This occurs vigorously where there is no vegetation. Plants grow well in this topsoil. <br/></span><br /><a href="http://www.shvoong.com/exact-sciences/agronomy-agriculture/1911939-soil/" target="_blank">What Is Soil?	</a> Originally published in Shvoong: <a href="http://www.shvoong.com/exact-sciences/agronomy-agriculture/1911939-soil/" target="_blank">http://www.shvoong.com/exact-sciences/agronomy-agriculture/1911939-soil/</a> </div>

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