Soil is defined as the upper part of the earths crust that

serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants

and microorganisms. It is considered as essentially a
non-renewable source.
 SOLID PHASE (50%)

- Soil Minerals (45-49%)

- Soil Organic Matter (1-4%)

PORE SPACES (50%)

- Liquid Phase (25%)

- Gaseous Phase (25%)
 minerals
Percentage composition

organic matter is
25% further comprise of
(Organisms 10%,
Roots 10%, Humus
48% 80%)
Water

25%
Air

5%
 Soil is formed by mineral particles, organic
matter(living and dead biomass), water, air and living
organisms.
It is mainly divided into Solid particles(50%) and pore
spaces (50%).
Solid particles are further divided into 45%minerals
and 5% organic matter.
Pore spaces are further divided into 25% Air and 25%
Water.
 It is made up of two components:
Minerals (Inorganic), such as salts, Iron, Manganese,
Quartz, mica, silicon,
Organic, such as soil fauna (animals), flora, plant
roots, plant residues, organic matter.
This phase contains most of the nutrients essential for
plant growth, such as C, N & S etc.
This phase provides physical support for the plants
and nutrients to plants and microorganisms.
 In this phase, nutrients are mixed with water, also
called as soil solution.

This phase helps to transport the nutrients in the soil

& is the immediate source of most nutrients and water
absorbed by plant roots and microorganisms.
 In this phase, soil gases occupy the pore spaces along
with water.
These are the same gases as are in the atmosphere
above the soil surface but their concentration in the
soil may be different.
This phase provides oxygen for respiration of plant
roots & microorganisms.
 Soil texture is important because the type &
abundance of microorganisms depends upon soil
texture .
Soil is differentiated into three types on the basis of
relative proportion of various soil particles.
Sandy soils
Clayey soils.
Silty soils
 Sandy soils:
It have low water & nutrient holding capacity, so they
are less fertile & have less number of plants &
microorganisms.

Clayey soils:
It have high water & nutrient holding capacity, so they
have high plants & microorganisms.

Silty soils:
It have medium water & nutrient holding capacity, so
they have medium plants & microorganisms.
Soil is divided into four major layers:
Surface soil
Sub-surface soil
Vadose Zone
Saturated Zone
 It is also called Top soil or plough layer. It is upper layer of
soil. Its Depth is 0-20 cm.

It is more exposed to sun light & atmospheric gases (CO2 &

O2) compared to the sub-surface soil.

This is the major zone of root development & contributes a

large share of nutrients & water used by plant roots.
 It is the layer which is present immediately below the
surafce soil. Its depth varies from 20-40 cm or 20-60 cm.

less exposure to sunlight

Plants also obtain nutrients & moisture from this soil

layer.
 Helps in soil formation and stability
Bioremediation
Municipal waste disposal/ Composting
Nutrient cycle
Generate Oxygen in the Atmosphere.
Recycle nutrients stored in organic matter to an
inorganic form.
Allow Herbivores to Consume good quality Food.
Decomposition
 SOIL Pollution
Addition of substances which adversely affect the
quality of soil or its fertility is known as soil pollution
Polluted water also pollute soil
Solid waste is a mixture of plastics, cloth, glass, metal and
organic matter, sewage, sewage sludge, building debris,
generated from households, commercial and industries
establishments add to soil pollution
Fly ash, iron and steel slag, medical and industrial wastes
disposed on land are important sources of soil pollution
In addition, fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural use which
reach soil as run-of f and land filling by municipal waste are
growing cause of soil pollution
Acid rain and dry deposition of pollutants on land surface also
contribute to soil pollution
 Soil Pollution

The introduction of substances, biological

organisms, or energy into the soil,

resulting in a change of the soil quality,

which is likely to affect the normal use of the

soil or endangering public health and the living
environment.
 Soil contaminants are spilled onto the surface through
many different activities

Most of these are the result of accidents involving

the vehicles that are transporting waste material
from site of origin to a disposal site

Much good agricultural land is threatened by chemical

pollution, particularly by waste products from urban
centres. Chemical degradation is responsible for 12
per cent of global soil degradation
 Other spills are the direct action of
humans pouring potentially toxic
materials (solvents, paints, household
cleaning agents, oil, etc.) onto the soil
surface rather than disposing these
materials by more appropriate means
Illegal dumping is the disposal of waste
in unauthorized areas.
It is also known as open dumping, fly
dumping, and mid-night dumping
Illegal dumps occur most often along
isolated roadsides in remote areas of
the country
Materials often found in illegal dumps
include large household appliances,
tires, excess building materials, old
furniture, oil, household chemicals, and
common household refuse
 When any liquid pollutant is on or just below the ground
surface for any period of time, one of three things could
happen to it, if it is not cleaned up first
1- pollutant might be washed away by precipitation,
causing little or no harm to the ground on which it was
found
pollutants will simply accumulate somewhere else)

pollutant could infiltrate through the unsaturated soil, in

much the same way as ground water.
 Agricultural practices, including the use of
agricultural chemicals, are another primary source
of pollution on or near the ground surface

Most agricultural chemicals are water-soluble

nitrates and phosphates that are applied to fields,
lawns and gardens to stimulate the growth of
crops, grass and flowers
Information needed to clean up materials added
to soil include:

1) Kind of material - organic or inorganic - is the

material biodegradable, is the material dangerous
to animals and humans,
2) how much material was added to the soil, will
it overload the organisms in the soil;
 3) Kind of Soil - will the soil be able to handle
the material before groundwater is contaminated,
4) Growing conditions for the soil organisms - is it
too cold, too wet etc.
5) How long has the material been on the site - is
there evidence of environmental problems, is it
undergoing decomposition.
6) Immediate danger to people and the
environment - Urgency of the situation.
A treatment process that uses microorganisms (fungi, or
bacteria) to break down, or degrade, hazardous
substances into less toxic or nontoxic substances (carbon
dioxide and water)
 Temperature favorable for organisms

Water available (near field capacity)

Nutrients (N, P, K) in adequate supply

Material added is similar to naturally occurring organic

material

Oxygen in sufficient quantity

 Plants, soil, and microbes in
the soil work together to
determine which metals and
nutrients plants take up
from the soil.

Some plants excrete a

variety of different
chemicals into the soil, some
of which act as signals to
soil organisms
 Sources of soil pollution
Industrial sources It includes fly ash, chemical
residues, metallic and nuclear wastes. Large number of
industrial chemicals, dyes, acids, etc. find their way into the
soil and are known to create many health hazards including
cancer.

Agricultural sources Agricultural chemicals especially

fertilizers and pesticides pollute the soil. Fertilizers in the run-
off water from these fields can cause eutrophication in water
bodies. Pesticides are highly toxic chemicals which affect
humans and other animals adversely causing respiratory
problems, cancer and death
 Sources of soil pollution
Plastic bags Plastic bags made from low density
polyethylene (LDPE), is virtually indestructible, create
colossal environmental hazard. The discarded bags block
drains and sewage systems. Leftover food, vegetable waste
etc. on which cows and dogs feed may die due to the choking
by plastic bags. Plastic is non-biodegradable and burning of
plastic in garbage dumps release highly toxic and poisonous
gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, phosgene,
dioxine and other poisonous chlorinated compounds.
 Control of soil pollution
Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste should be avoided
To control soil pollution, it is essential to stop the use of
plastic bags and instead use bags of degradable materials
like paper and cloth
Sewage should be treated properly before using as
fertilizer and as landfills
The organic matter from domestic, agricultural and other
waste should be segregated and subjected to
vermicomposting which generates useful manure as a
byproduct
The industrial wastes prior to disposal should be properly
treated for removing hazardous materials
Biomedical waste should be separately collected and
incinerated in proper incinerators