The Nature Of Soil, The Basic Components of Soil & The Application Of Soil

Studying the nature of soil is very pertinent to the Soil Scientist in the sense that soil form the major component of most activities of living organisms. It soil as natural home for all the terrestrial living organisms in the ecosystem and the main source through which plants survive for photosynthesis. Without soil, I don't how lives of most living creatures would evolved and replicate themselves.

The soil to the Agriculturists point of view is the major component of the Earth crust where most relevant minerals are deposited for plants growth and survival of other living organisms. It anchors the plants roots acting like a socket for the tap and root hairs of plants. It's a place where most nutrient and other trace elements are found. Most elements like water and mineral salts which are the basic plants feed are deposited in the soil. It's a place where other microorganisms like earth worms, termites, bacterial, fungi, millipedes, cockroaches and centipedes are found found.

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The components of soil

Soil is compost of so many materials that support plants to survive. Some of these components are the soil particles, water, air, living organisms(plants & animals) and other mineral salts.

Soil particles

The soil particles consist of gravels, rocks and other fines particles. The soil itself were formed gradual break down of rocks which took place more years ago. In terms of particle sizes, soil can be described as sand or gravels, silt and clay. Clay particles are very smooth, silt is intermediate between clay and sand. Sand particles are very rough.

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Soil water
This is the amount of water found in the soil. The amount of water in the soil has greater effects on the plants. For instance of the water is very low it leads to wilting in plants. The water level must be moderate so that the plants can use them for photosynthesis. The type of soil has much effects on the water in the soil. Sandy soils are noted to have very poor water holding capacity. Clayey soils becomes water log when it excessively rain. But Loamy soils have good water holding capacity.

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Soil Air

This is the amount of air in the soil. The nature of the soil always determine the amount of aeration in the soil. For example lose soil encourages good amount of air in the soil. If the soil is very compact, much air cannot pass through. The nature of burrowing organisms can be one factor. For instance if Earth worms, termites, crickets and millipedes are found in the soil,they bore holes into the soil and hence aeration can take place very easily.

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The soil living organisms

The soil is a habitat for living organisms such as millepedes, termites, Earth worms, crickets, ants and centipedes. Without soil they have no place to live and inter breed. Sometimes when the soil dead vegetations and debris remain in the soil, they decompose and form part of the soil for plants growth and restructure the soil structure. As mentioned earlier,the presence of the living organisms in the soil helps air to circulate in the soil. In this case, for most soil which lack most of these living animals have love organic matter.

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The soil plants

The soil plants has to do with the vegetation cover in the soil. The vegetations in the soil increase the fertility in the soil. The plants also protect the living organisms by giving the animals shade. Soil which have low vegetation has low organic matter as well. The plants in the soil serve as means through which photosynthesis take place. Plants protect the soil surface from soil erosion during run off.

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The importance or uses of soil.

Soil has so many uses. Aside Agriculture purposes, soils are used for building houses. For instance sands are used to mix with cement and gravels for putting up buildings.

Soils are used for construction of roads and for ceramic works like moulding pots and dishes.

For Agricultural purposes, soils are used for growing crops. They are used for nursing seeds.

Soils serve as place for most of the terrestrial organisms like grasscutters, antelopes, lions, human beings and bacterials.

Soils anchor plants roots and they are the main place where plants dwell.

The role soils play are very enormous. Hence, we should properly use the soil in very good manner. There are many instances where human activities lead to the destruction of the soils.

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