What is Soil?

The uppermost layer of the earth’s surface is

called soil.

It is a loose layer where plants can grow. The

earth’s top layers allow plants to bury their
roots to absorb water and nutrients. The
lower down you go, the more rocky it
becomes.
 What is in Soil?
Soil is made up of the following:
• Air
• Water
• Living and once living plants and animals
• Minerals

The most common minerals found in soil are phosphorus, potassium and
nitrogen, and these minerals help plants grow.
 How is soil formed?

Soil takes a long, long time to form. It can take around 1,000 years, just to make
a couple of centimetres of soil!

Lots of different factors influence how soil is made, one such factor is climate.
 Climate

A country’s climate, or usual weather patterns affects the kinds of plants and
animals that will live there. The amount of rain and the temperature affects the
type of plants that grow there. In warm and moist climates soil can be produced
quickly, as dead leaves break down quicky. Colder climates slow this down.
Rain causes minerals to be washed deep into the layers of the soil.
 Parent Materials

Soils around the world are different, depending on what gets dropped on them
from the air and water. Parent materials are materials which over time affect the
soil. In areas with lots of volcanoes, volcanic ash can drop onto soil. Rocks in an
area can affect the soil, as rain over time can wear away the rock and wash
minerals into the soil.
 Living Organisms

In autumn leaves fall from trees. In fact, twigs, fruit, pieces of bark and other
such things are always falling on the ground from the plants that grow nearby.
These living things are broken down by bacteria, fungi and earthworms. This
gives off nitrogen and sulphur that plants use.
 The Landscape

The shape of the land affects the soil as steep hills mean that water can run off it
and make it dry and hard for plants to grow there.
 Time

It takes a long time to make soil. It takes even longer for soil to form on
mountains as the wind and the slope slow the process down.
 Layers of soil
• Organic - This top layer is the layer with twigs, leaves etc that fall
onto the ground.

• Topsoil - This is a thin layer where plants and animals live.

• Subsoil - This layer is made of iron, clay and other remains from
once-living plants and animals
• Parent material - This is called the parent material as the other
layers formed from this. It is very rocky.

• Bedrock - This is about a metre below the surface and is made of

soil rock.
 Why is soil so important?

Although we might not realise it, soil is very important! Lots of people think of
it as mud, that we might want to wipe off our shoes, but it has an extremely
important job in supporting life on earth.
 Plants grow in soil

Plants grow in soil. They use the soil to get nutrients and water to help them
grow. They also use the soil layers to keep them steady in
the ground.
 Food

Soil allows plants and trees to grow. Trees and plants are used as food sources
for humans and animals.

If we think of all the food items we eat every day, many of them are grown on
trees and plants. Wheat, fruit, vegetables, rice and even pasta are all produced
from plants.
 Flooding

Soil helps to prevent flooding. This is because during heavy rainfall, soil helps
to soak up excess water. This helps control the amount of water on the ground
and prevents roads and other areas from being flooded.
 Did you know?

A scientist that studies soil is called a pedologist!

 What can you do to help take care of our soil?

You can help by composting. You can make a compost heap for fruit and vegetable scraps.
These will eventually break down and return nutrients to the soil.

Buy organic food. It is best to buy fruit and vegetables that have not used chemical
pesticides, herbicides or fertlizers on the soil.

Grow your own organic vegetables.

Help out with gardening by pulling up weeds! This reduces the need for pesticides.