Soil resources

OBJECTIVES:
A. Differentiate sand, silt, clay and gravel.
B. Appreciate the importance of soil by
enumerating it’s uses in our daily lives.
C. Cite human activities that affects the quality of
soil.
SOIL
 Essential component of Earth that has enabled life
to exist on the planet and continues to support it.
SOIL
 It forms the pedosphere – the foundation of
terrestrial life on this planet

 Greek words pedon which means “soil” and sfaira

which means “sphere”.
 It is the living skin of Earth
Pedosphere which is a result of a dynamic
interaction.
Components of Soil
Organic matter (humus
roots, and dead and
decaying organisms)
5%
Water
25%

Mineral (gravel, sand, silt,

clay)
45%

Air
25%
Soil Formation
 Soil forms when rock weathers.
 Weathering – it is the breakdown of rocks that

may result from physical and chemical changes.

 Soil formation may be a slow or a rapid process.
Factors that Affect
Soil Formation
 Climate

Parent Material Topography

Biological Factors Time

1. Parent or Source
Material
 It is important in soil formation because its
chemistry and type will determine the soil that
will be formed.

 Residual solid - Soil formed on site through the

weathering or the underlying rock.
1. Parent or Source
Material
 Most soils are transported from the source to
another area by agents of erosion and transportation
such as water, wind and ice.
2. Climate
 Temperature, rainfall, and moisture affects the pattern
and intensity of soil-forming processes such as
weathering, leaching, transportation, and distribution
2. Climate
 Climate also affects the type or organisms,
biological activity, and rates of chemical
reactions.

 Soil types vary depending on climate.

 3. Topography
 The gradient of the slope affects water flow and erosion.
 Soil that form in steep slopes tend to be thinner because
the higher rates of erosion.
3. Topography
 Slope aspect, which is the direction of the slope
face, affects temperature and moisture as slope
facing the sun are warmer.
4. Biological factors
 Animals and microorganisms mix the soil through
burrowing.
 Microorganisms also affect nutrient and chemical
exchanges between roots and soil.
4. Biological factors
 Plant roots aid in the weathering process as they
grow.
4. Biological factors
 Human activities such as agriculture and
urbanization have positive and negative effects on
the quantity and quality of soil.
5. Time
 The formation of soil is a long and continuous
process which may take hundreds and thousands
of years depending on the climate and
environment.
 In moderate climates, it takes 200-400 years to
develop 1 cm of soil.
 The rate is faster in tropical climates and much
longer in dry and cold climates.
Soil Texture
Soil Texture
 It is the relative proportion of the particle in
the soil (sand, silt, and clay)

 Soil is naturally composed of a mixture of

these particles and the proportion of which
affects further soil properties such as porosity
and water retention.
 Soil Texture
Silt
Sand

Clay

 Clay - <0.002 mm
 Silt - 0.002-0.005 mm
 Sand - 0.005-2.00 mm
 Gravel and rock - >75.00 mm
Soil Texture
 Proportions of clay, silt, and sand are
plotted in the soil texture triangle to
determine its soil type based on
particle size.
Soil Texture
 Loam - ideal soil for agricultural use
 It provides good aeration and

drainage properties
 Human Activities that
Leave the Soil Exposed
and Speed Up Erosion
Deforestation
 Logging kills plants that prevent erosion by
holding the soil together.
 Timber companies utilize a variety of different
techniques, such as partial clearing and replanting, to
prevent soil degradation and erosion in their work zones.
Agricultural Depletion
 Farming can degrade the topsoil and lead to an
increase in erosion.
Agricultural Depletion

 To plant a field, a farmer must first till the

soil, breaking it up and loosening it so the
new plants can take root. Once the plants
are harvested, the loose soil remains and
wind or rain can easily wash it away.
Agricultural Depletion
 In the 1930s, much of the American plains
suffered greatly from erosion due to non-
sustainable farming practices, creating the
Dust Bowl and leading to widespread poverty
and migration to the west coast.
Agricultural Depletion
Agricultural Depletion
 Mining operations
 These operations leave large amounts of loose soil exposed
to the elements, and they often require large amounts of
water, which can exacerbate the erosion process.
Mining operations
 Development and Expansion
 Urban and suburban development can also exacerbate
erosion, especially if the developers ignore the natural state
of the land.
Development and Expansion
 Some landscapers replace natural ground
cover with plant species unsuited to the
climate, and these plants may not be as
effective at preventing erosion.
Recreational activities
 Humans also cause erosion through recreational
activities: hiking
Recreational activities
 Humans also cause erosion through recreational
activities: riding off-road vehicles.
Recreational activities
 An even greater amount of erosion occurs when
people drive off-road vehicles over an area. The
area eventually develops bare spots where no
plants can grow. Erosion becomes a serious
problem in these areas.
Soil Conservation
Soil Conservation
 One component of soil conservation is the
enhancement of organics in soil.
 Soil conservation could be done through

vermicomposting.
 Soil Conservation
 Vermicomposting – a process that uses earthworms such as
African night crawlers (Eudrilus eugeniae) to turn organic
wastes into high quality composts, which can be mixed with
soul to enrich its organic content.