Environmental Chemistry

TOPIC : NATURE & COMPOSITION OF SOIL

PRESENTER : AMMARA ISHAQ
DEPARTMENT : CHEMISTRY

SEMESTER : 5th
ROLL# : 02
SOIL
● Upper most layer of earth crust which is
biologically active.

● Final product of weathering action of physical

Chemical & biological process on rocks
SOIL PROFILE
● With increasing depth, typical soils exhibit distinctive layers called
horizons.
● Arrangement of horizons in a soil is known as soil profile.
● Soil horizons are differentiated on basis of soil texture, colour, structure &
thickness.

● Various soils may have a variety of horizons.

Figure:
NATURE AND COMPOSITION OF SOIL

● Basic components of soil are inorganic minerals, organic matter, water

and air.

● Inorganic component =45%

● Organic Matter =5%

● Water =25%

● Air =25%.
Characteristics of Soil
●A variety of soils can be physically distinguished by means
of its

●Soil Texture
Is determined by type of soil particles such as sand, silt and clay.
●Soil Structure
Is determined by the spatial arrangements of solid soil particles.
●Soil Density
Is capacity of soil for compaction.
●Soil Porosity
Is the pore space in soil filled with either air or water.
INORGANIC COMPONENTS IN SOIL
Definition:
Weathering of parent rocks & minerals to form the inorganic soil components.

Inorganic Colloids:
● Ultimately results in formation of inorganic colloids.
● Play a role in detoxification of substances
Common Elements:

● Common elements on the earth’s crust are

Oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium and magnesium.

Common Soil Minerals:

● Common soil mineral constituents are finely divided quartz(SiO ₂),
Orthoclase (KALSi₃O₈), and oxides of manganese and titanium.
 ORGANIC MATTER IN SOIL
Definition:
● Derived by decomposition of dead remains of plants and animals or
through metabolic activities of living organisms present in the soil.

Importance of organic matter in soil:

● It serves as:
❖ Source of food for microorganisms
❖ Undergoes chemical reaction( ion exchange)
❖ Influence physical properties of soil
❖ Contributes to weathering of mineral matter.

Example (Contribution to weathering action):

● Oxalate in soil water dissolves minerals
Speeding weathering process and increasing availability of nutrient ion species.

Weathering process involves Oxalate complexation of iron or aluminum in minerals

Reaction:
3H+ +M(OH) 3(s)+2CaC2O4(s) M(C2O4)-2(aq)+2Ca2+(aq)+3H2O

Components of Organic Soil Fraction

● Biologically active components of the organic soil fraction includes:

Polysaccharides, amino sugar, nucleotides, organic Sulphur, phosphorus compounds and

humus (bulk of soil organic matter).

Accommodation of organic matter in soil is strongly influenced by

 ● Temperature
● Availability of oxygen

SOIL HUMUS
Definition:
Organic component of soil, formed by decomposition of leaves and other plant
minerals by soil microorganisms.

Composition:
Composed of a base – soluble fraction called humic and fulvic acid, or insoluble
fraction called humin.

Influence of humic substances in soil:

● Humic substances influence soil properties.
● Strongly bind metals and serve to hold micronutrients metal ions in
soil.
● Water – holding capacity of soil is significantly increased.
● Have strong affinity for organic compounds with low water solubility
such as DDT.
● Serves as buffers in soil.
WATER IN SOIL
● Water held in the soil in following forms.

1. Gravitational Water

2. Capillary water

3. Hygroscopic water
AIR IN SOIL
● Roughly 35% of volume of typical soil is composed of air-filled
pores.

● Soil Air contains number of gases:

Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour,
● SOIL Air and atmosphere air differ in composition.

● SOIL Air contains greater proportion of CO2 and lesser amount

of O2 than atmospheric air.

● SOIL Air contains a far great amount of water vapour than

atmospheric air.

● The amount of nitrogen in soil air is almost the same as in

atmosphere.
Factors affecting the composition of soil air:
● Nature and condition of soil
● Type of crop
● Microbial activity