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HANDOUT
Grade 8 Subject: Integrated Science Term 3 Topic: Soils

SOIL
Soil is apart if the earth’s crust, it is the loose surface material
composed of five ingredients: minerals, soil organic matter,
living organisms, gas, and water that covers most of the land
surface. Soil provides the structural support and the source of
water and nutrients for plants It is formed by breaking down
of rocks, by a very slow process called weathering.

Soil Formation
Essentially, soil is formed when rocks eventually weather away and break down into small
particles. Solid rock can weather away one of the three ways into the soil, namely:

1. Mechanical Weathering- observed near the surface of the earth, also called physical
weathering, which is influenced by wind, water and temperature.
2. Chemical Weathering - As the name suggests, chemical weathering occurs when rocks are
broken down by chemical reactions this type of weathering can change the chemical
composition of soil.
3. Biological Weathering- Though not an actual weathering process, living organisms weaken
disintegrate rocks, often by initiating mechanical or chemical weathering .

Soil Importance
Soils are essential for life, in the sense that they provide the medium for plant growth, habitat for
many insects and other organisms, act as a filtration system for surface water, carbon store and
maintenance of atmospheric gases. Let us take a closer look at each of these:
1. Medium for plant growth:
-Soils support roots and keep them upright for growth.
-Soils provide plants with essential minerals and nutrients.
-Soils provide air for gaseous exchange between roots and atmosphere.
-Soils protect plants from erosion and other destructive physical, biological and chemical
activity.
-Soils hold water (moisture) and maintain adequate aeration.
2. Habitat for many insects and other organisms:

-Insects and microbes (very tiny single-cell organisms) live in the soils and depend on soils for
food and air.
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-Soils are homes to a diverse range of organisms such as worms and termites. They provide the
needed moisture and air for the breakdown of organic matter.
-They provide a home for many organisms such as insects to lay and hatch eggs and rodents to
give birth to new offspring.
3.A Filtration system for surface water:
After rainfall and snowmelts, water flows on the earth’s surface to water bodies, but much of it
soaks and gets infiltrated into the ground. As it continues its way downwards through the many
layers in the ground, it is filtered from dust, chemicals and other contaminants. This is why
aquifers (underground water) are one of the purest sources of water. Filtered water also provides
plants with clean, unpolluted water needed for growth.

4.Carbon store and maintenance of atmospheric gases

Soils help regulate atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) by acting as a carbon store. During
humification (a process where soil organisms form complex and stable organic matter) some
organic matter breakdown do not occur completely, especially in soils like peat, owing to its high
acid and water content.

Soil Composition
The soil is composed of different types of 5% organic
matter, 45% minerals, 20-30% different gases and 20-30%
water. Therefore, soil is known as a diverse body. Given
below is the composition of soil in detail:

1. Organic Matter- is found in very small amounts in soil. Soil Organisms

Plants and animals are the main sources of organic matter.
Depending upon the decomposition stage, the organic
matter is of the following three types:

 Completely decomposed organic matter

 Partially decomposed organic matter
 Undecomposed organic matter

2. Minerals- an important element of the soil. These are solid components composed of atoms.
These occur naturally and have a fixed chemical composition. Olivine and feldspar are the main
minerals present in the soil

3. Gaseous Components-The air-filled pores of the soil contain the gaseous components.
Nitrogen and oxygen present in the pores are generally the atmospheric air fixed by the
microorganisms. However, the composition of carbon dioxide is higher due to the gas produced
by microorganisms present in the soil.

4. Water-The soil dissolves the minerals and nutrients in water and transports it to different parts
of the plants. These are essential for the growth and development of the plant.
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Soil Profile
The soil is the topmost layer of the earth’s crust mainly composed of organic minerals and rock
particles that support life. A soil profile is a vertical cross-section of the soil, made of layers
running parallel to the surface. These layers are known as soil horizons.
The soil is arranged in layers or horizons during its formation. These layers or horizons are
known as the soil profile. It is the vertical section of the soil that is exposed by a soil pit. The
layers of soil can easily be identified by the soil
colour and size of soil particles.
The different layers of soil are: Topsoil, Subsoil and
Parent rock. Each layer of soil has distinct
characteristics.
Soil profile helps in determining the role of the
soil as well. It helps one to differentiate the given
sample of soil from other soil samples based on
factors like its colour, texture, structure, and
thickness, as well as its chemical
composition.

NB. Each horizon may be slightly or very different from the other above or
below it. Each horizon tells a story about the makeup, age, texture and
characteristics of that layer. Most soils have three major horizons. These are A
Horizon, B Horizon and C Horizon. Aside from these three, there are also the O,
E and R horizons.

Soil Types
There are various types of soil that undergo diverse environmental pressures. The soil is mainly
classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and mineral compositions.
The soil is basically classified into four types:
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1. Sandy Soil
The first type of soil is sand. It consists of small particles of weathered rock. Sandy soils are one
of the poorest types of soil for growing plants because it has very low nutrients and poor in
holding water, which makes it hard for the plant’s roots to absorb water. This type of soil is very
good for the drainage system. Sandy soil is usually formed by the breakdown or fragmentation of
rocks like granite, limestone, and quartz.
2. Silt Soil
Silt, which is known to have much smaller particles compared to the sandy soil and is made up
of rock and other mineral particles which are smaller than sand and larger than clay. It is the
smooth and quite fine quality of the soil that holds water better than sand. Silt is easily
transported by moving currents and it is mainly found near the river, lake, and other water
bodies. The silt soil is more fertile compared to the other three types of soil. Therefore it is also
used in agricultural practices to improve soil fertility.

3. Clay Soil
Clay is the smallest particles amongst the other two types of soil. The particles in this soil are
tightly packed together with each other with very little or no airspace. This soil has very good
water storage qualities and making hard for moisture and air to penetrate into it. It is very sticky
to the touch when wet, but smooth when dried. Clay is the densest and heaviest type of soil
which do not drain well or provide space for plant roots to flourish.

4. Loamy Soil
Loam is the fourth type of soil. It is a combination of sand, silt, and clay such that the beneficial
properties from each is included. For instance, it has the ability to retain moisture and nutrients,
hence, it is more suitable for farming. This soil is also referred to as an agricultural soil as it
includes an equilibrium of all three types of soil materials being sandy, clay, and silt and it also
happens to have hummus. Apart from these, it also has higher calcium and pH levels because of
its inorganic origins.

Soil pH
Soil pH is the measure of how acidic or how alkaline your soil is. It is actually to measure the
concentration of Hydrogen ions in the solution. The pH levels are measured on a scale of 0 to 14.
Where 0 being the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline and 7 stands for neutral.
To give you an example lemon juice can be in the range of 2 to 3 signifies very acidic whereas
baking soda can be of a pH of 8 to 9 which means it is very alkaline. The fresh clean drinking
water is of pH
The pH of soil has a very big role in
plant growth and its survival. Now the
good news. The soil pH is not fixed.
You can change it to your plant’s
liking. The soil pH is dependent on
your local climate. You can get the idea
by looking at the plants in your locality.
Generally, it is found that in high
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rainfall areas the soil pH is acidic. It is best to test your soil pH before you start planting. When
the soil is acidic, farmers ass lime to soil. When the soil is alkaline famers add iron sulphate.

Soil Improvements
They are four different types of soil, and various sub-types within each of these. Below you'll
find descriptions of each soil type and suggestions for improving the soil if necessary.

Clay soil is defined as soil that is composed of mostly clay particles. If you have sandy clay soil
that crumbles after being squeezed in your hand, there might not be a need to improve the
structure of the soil. That said, you might need to add some organic matter to enhance the
nutritional value of the soil. On the other hand, if you have heavy clay soil, which molds like
modeling clay and turns hard as a brick during dry summers, improving your clay soil by adding
organic matter, such as composted manures or other aged compost, will take a bit of work. The
good news is that the work you do will instantly improve the structure of your soil, make it easier
to work with, improve soil drainage, and your plants will love you for the nutritional benefits.

Loam is considered to be the most desirable medium for growing vegetable crops, flowers,
shrubs, trees and many other types of ornamental plants. Loam is considered ideal for gardening
and agricultural uses because it retains nutrients well and retains water while still allowing the
water to flow freely. It is found in a majority of successful farms in regions around the world
known for their fertile land. Loam soil feels soft and rich and is easy to work over a wide range
of moisture conditions. Likewise, a poor-quality loam can be simply adding organic matter. How
much you add will depend on the fertility of your soil. For example, in a vegetable or flower
garden this can be done between each planting season as the soil is worked.

Sandy soils are coarse in texture. Some plants and trees love growing in sandy soils, while others
can't tolerate it. Sandy soils can be enormously improved by the generous addition of organic
matter such as topsoil, mushroom compost, composted manure. Spread a layer of organic matter
3 to 4 inches thick on the surface of the area to be improved, and then thoroughly incorporate
into the soil. If you do not incorporate the organic matter, water will not percolate well and thus
plants will grow poorly.

Silt soil is finer than sand, but still feels gritty. Silt is commonly found in floodplains and is the
soil component that makes mud. Soils with a lot of silt make excellent farm land, but erode
easily. When improving silt soil, till to a depth of at least 1 foot. Then add a layer of any soil
amendments (sand, aged compost, etc) over the tilled soil. Till the amendments into the soil. If
the procedure is conducted in the fall, the improvements should be apparent by the following
spring.

Soil Conservation
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From pervious sub topic, we learned about the role of soils and how essential they are for life on
earth. Unfortunately, soils are under threat in many ways, from excessive farming practices, use
of chemicals during agricultural practices, water, land and air pollution, erosion and so on. These
upset the natural function of soils and affect many ecosystems that depend on it for survival.

This is why soil conservation is very important. It is the actions we can take, or things we can
apply to our use of soils and lands to ensure their sustained health and quality.
Here are a few:

Planting vegetative cover:

The root systems of vegetative cover hold soils in place and prevent wind and water erosion. It
also ensures its supply of organic matter from dead leaves and dropping of animal’s waste. The
vegetative cover also shelters the soils from excessive heat from the sun. It helps to reduce
evaporation and retain soil moisture, needed for the breakdown of organic matter.

Careful waste disposal and management:

When we recycle more and compost our food waste, we reduce the number of contaminants that
we introduce to soils. We also give back to the land, rich humus from composts that we do. This
is why we need to manage our waste well to ensure that our soils are alive and healthy.

Farming practices:
No-till farming, terrace and contour farming are all great ways
to conserve soil quality. Regarding no-tilling, crops are
allowed to stay after the harvest season, to shed off naturally,
thereby holding the soil together and sheltering the soils from
wind and water action. Terrace and contour farms take into
account the slope of the land to reduce run-off after the rains.
In many places, windbreaks, usually composed of trees or
shrubs planted along specific distances in farms are effective
ways of controlling wind erosion.
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Composting
Compost is simply decayed organic matter — and "organic matter" is a pretty wide-ranging
label. A twig can be organic matter, but so can a banana peel. When you mix a bunch of these
items together in a compost pile, they break down naturally into a nutrient-rich fertilizer that
helps gardens grow. Your compost is a nutrient-rich food product for your garden and will help
improve soil structure, maintain moisture levels, and keep your soil's pH balance in check while
helping to suppress plant disease. It will have everything your plants need including nitrogen,
phosphorus and potassium and it will help buffer soils that are very acidic or alkaline.
What can be composted?
Almost anything that comes from the ground can be composted. Cucumber ends, apple cores,
carrot peels, cantaloupe rinds, avocado pits, an old pumpkin leftover s vegetable or fruit scrap
will do. But grains also sprout from soil, which means you can throw stale bread, cereal, and
pasta in your compost heap, too. Coffee grounds and filters, tea leaves, herbs, spices, and nut and
egg shells are all acceptable ingredients. You can also include cut flowers or plant trimmings, as
long as they aren't diseased. But there's a long list of things you can't compost — and they
mostly apply to animal products. No meat, fish, butter, yogurt, cheese, milk, or animal fat is
allowed. It's also a good rule of thumb to keep anything oily or greasy out of the pile, and please,
don't include your pet's poop. It may be organic, but it introduces disease to the compost that
make it unusable.
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WORKSHEET

1. The solid layer of rock beneath the soil

is called . 7. Which is the correct order of soil
a. bottom rock horizons from top to bottom?
b. solid rock a. A, B, C, O
c. top rock b. O, A, B, C
d. bedrock c. O, C, B, A
d. C, B, A, O
2. Which lists the soil particles from largest
to smallest? 8. The layer of parent material in soil is
a. sand, gravel, clay, silt called the __________
b. gravel, silt, sand, clay a. O-Horizon
c. gravel, sand, silt, clay b. A-Horizon
d. gravel, clay, sand, silt c. B-Horizon
d. C-Horizon
3. Which of the following statements about
soil is most true? 9. How is soil made?
a. The deeper into the soil layers, the more
rock appears. a. weathering
b. The deeper into the soil layers, the more b. infiltration
organic matter. c. transpiration
c. The shallower the layer, the greater d. erosion
amount of rock appears.
d. The deeper the soil layer, the more 10. In which environment might soil be
nutrients. MORE acidic?
a. a dry environment
4. Which of the following makes A- b. a humid environment
Horizon ideal for growing plants? c. an Arctic region
a. carbonic acid d. a mountain range
b. humus
c. organic matter 11. What is an organic matter in soil?
d. rocks
a. leaching
5. This is the loose, weathered material on b. horizon
Earth's surface in which plants can grow. c. humus
a. rocks d. profile
b. sand
c. water 12. Which of the following is NOT an
d. soil important factor in soil formation?

6. A soil's texture is determined by its a. parent material

a. water content. b. time
b. mineral composition. c. loam
c. thickness. d. organisms
d. particle sizes.

DIY -SOIL TEST (HOME EXPERIMENTS)
Soil Test 1: The Squeeze Test
To determine your soil type, take a handful of
moist (but not wet) soil from your garden, and
give it a firm squeeze. Then, open your hand. One
of three things will happen:
1. It will hold its shape, and when you give
it a light poke, it crumbles. Lucky you—this
means you have luxurious loam!
2. It will hold its shape, and, when poked,
sits stubbornly in your hand. This means you
have clay soil.
3. It will fall apart as soon as you open
your hand. This means you have sandy soil.
Now that you know what type of soil you have,
you can work on improving it.
Soil Test 2: The Percolation Test
It is also important to determine whether you
have drainage problems or not. Some plants, such
as certain culinary herbs, will eventually die if
their roots stay too wet. To test your soil’s
drainage:
1. Dig a hole about six inches wide and
one foot deep.
2. Fill the hole with water and let it drain
completely.
3. Fill it with water again.
4. Keep track of how long it takes for the
water to drain.
If the water takes more than four hours to drain,
you have poor drainage.
-ANNANDALE -SEC- 2020 -SCI -G8-SOILS-
Soil Test 3: The Worm Test
Worms are great indicators of the overall health
of your soil, especially in terms of biological
activity.
If you have earthworms, chances are that you also
have all of the beneficial microbes and bacteria
that make for healthy soil and strong plants. To
do the worm test:
1. Be sure the soil has warmed to at least 55
degrees, and that it is at least somewhat moist,
but not soaking wet.
2. Dig a hole one foot across and one foot
deep. Place the soil on a tarp or piece of
cardboard.
3. Sift through the soil with your hands as you
place it back into the hole, counting the
earthworms as you go.
If you find at least ten worms, your soil is in
pretty good shape. Less than that indicates that
there may not be enough organic matter in your
soil to support a healthy worm population, or that
your soil is too acidic or alkaline.
4. Soil Test 4: Soil Profile
Materials: Transparent Container, Garden
Shovel, Soil, Water and Straw /Stick
Procedure:
1. Using a shovel dig up a small amount of soil
from around the yard.
2. Place the soil into the container to fill up
about half of the container.
3. Fill the container with water to cover the soil
in the container and more.
4. Using a straw mix the soil and water
together.
5. Leave the container on a flat surface and
make observations every 60 mins for
3hours.
6. Record observations
7. Making a drawing of the container after 3
hours