Soil is formed from sand, remains of dead plants and animals, minerals, water and air. There are three main types of soil: gravel which does not hold water well, sand which allows water to pass through easily, and clay where water does not flow freely. Ideal soil, called loam, contains clay, sand and humus and is good for plant growth. Soil is composed of gravel, sand and clay particles, humus, water and air minerals. The top layer of soil contains nutrients for plants, while the middle layer has rock pieces and less humus, and the bottom layer is bedrock with few nutrients. Soil erosion occurs when topsoil is removed by wind and water, increasing with def

1. Soil
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2. Formation of Soil
 Soil is defined as the top layer of the Earth ’s
surface, which consists of sand, remains of dead
plants and animals, and minerals with some
amount of water and air in it.
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3. Types of Soil
Three types types of soil, depending on the size, feel, and
colour of the soil particles
1. Gravel consists of tiny stones and does not hold water.
2. Sand is light and dry. Water passes easily through this
kind of soil as particles are rough.
3. Clay particles are extremely fine. Water does not flow
freely through this soil.
Soil that consist s of clay, sand and humus is called loam.
Loamy soil is good for growing plants.
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4. Composition of soil
Soil is made of
 Gravel, sand and clay particles
 Humus (remains of dead plants and animals)
 Water
 Air, minerals
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Gravel

5. Soil
 Top soil
 Uppermost layer
 Contains sand, clay,
humus and water
 Gives nutrients to
plants.
 Subsoil
 Middle layer
 Contain broken pieces of
rock.
 Less humus
 Bedrock
 Bottom layer
 Large pieces of rock
 Not much water.
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6. Soil Erosion
 The removal of the fertile topsoil by the action of
wind and water is called soil erosion.
 Strong winds, heavy rainfall and cutting down of
trees increase soil erosion.
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7. Soil Conservation
 Protection of soil is known as soil
conservation.
Steps to conserve soil.
 More number of trees should be planted to replace the
ones that are cut down.
 Crop Rotation
 Different types of crops should be grown on a farmland so that the soil gets time
to recover its fertility.
 Trees and bushes should be planted in open land to
prevent wind to blow away topsoil.
 Dams should be built across rivers to prevent floods.
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