Soil Characterisation

Question 1

What is soil?

Answer 1

a thin upper layer called pedosphere on top of most
of earth’s land surface in which plants grow, a black or dark brown material.

Question 2

What is soil made of?

Answer 2

Soil is made of loose, weathered rock and organic material.

Question 3

What are the parts of soil?

Answer 3

The rock material in soil contains three noticeable parts: sand, clay, and silt.

Question 4

What is considered good quality soil for plants?

Answer 4

A good quality soil for growing plants should have about 45%
minerals, 5% organic matter, 25% air, and 25% water.

Question 5

What are key factors that affect soil formation (pedogenesis) and the properties of the soil?

Answer 5

 parent material
 Climate
 Organisms
 topography
 Time

Question 6

What is parent material?

Answer 6

This refers to the minerals and organic materials present during the soil’s formation.

Question 7

Some examples of parent material are?

Answer 7

Materials from volcanoes, sediment transported by wind, water, or glaciers.

Question 8

Where is most parent material come from?

Answer 8

Our parent material is mainly Marine sediment (ocean in origin), or produced by steam-river action.

Question 9

How can climate affect the soil?

Answer 9

Weathering processes like the cycles of freezing and thawing, can have a major influence on the rate of soil formation. Along with wetting and drying vary with each region.

Question 10

How can living organisms affect the soil?

Answer 10

As plants and animals die, organic matter incorporates with weathered parent material and becomes part of the soil.

Question 11

What are some living organisms help enrich the soil?

Answer 11

The actions of moles, earthworms, bacteria, fungi, and round worms mix and enrich the soil.

Question 12

How can topography affect the soil?

Answer 12

The slope or hilliness of a region can have a major influence on the moisture and erosion of soils.