formation of soil

reflect
Dirt is everywhere. It is in your backyard and
on the bottom of the ocean. It might even be
under your fingernails!
Not all dirt is the same. Dirt can be different
colors. Which colors of dirt have you seen?
Maybe brown, red, or black? Dirt can be very
dry, like sand in the desert. Dirt can also be
very wet.
A special kind of dirt is called soil. Soil is a
type of dirt found on Earths surface. It helps
plants grow. But where does soil come from?

Carrots grow in a special kind of dirt

called soil. What other plants grow
insoil?

What is weathering?
Dirt is made up of very small pieces of rock. The small pieces came from bigger rocks.
Rocks are made up of minerals. Rocks form the hard part of Earths surface. How do rocks
go from being big to small?
The process of breaking down Earths rocks into smaller and smaller pieces is called weathering.
Weathering can happen in different ways. It can happen by physical forces or through chemical
changes. Thats why we call the two types of weathering physical and chemical.
Physical weathering happens when rocks are broken down into smaller pieces by the wind,
water, or ice. The smaller pieces of rock are made of the same minerals as the original
rock. They are simply smaller pieces of the same material.
Chemical weathering is another process
thatbreaks down rocks into smaller
pieces. But during this process, the
minerals that make up the rock also
change. In other words, the rock
becomes a different type of rock.
Water is the most common cause
of chemical weathering. Chemicals
in the water react with chemicals in
the rock. The water can be from rain,
streams, or even the ocean. The Grand
Canyon was formed by water from
the Colorado River slowly dissolving
rock over hundreds of years. The river
also caused physical weathering as its
water flowed over the land.

The Colorado River slowly broke down

rock to form the Grand Canyon.

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39

formation of soil
What is soil made of?
Both types of weathering can break down rocks into
smaller pieces. The smaller pieces make up soil.
Different soils have different colors and textures, and
they are made of different minerals. Think of minerals
like ingredients in rocks. Rocks are made up of more
than one mineral. When those rocks break apart into
smaller pieces, you get different types of soil.

Rocks are broken down into

smaller pieces that make up soil.

Look at the picture to the left. Most of the rocks are

red. The soil around the rocks is also red. The red soil
was made from red rocks that were broken down by
weathering.

try now
What types of soils are in your neighborhood? Grab a notebook and a pencil. With an adult,
go to at least three different locations with dirt. You might visit a local park, your backyard,
and your school playground. If possible, bring along a magnifying glass so you can observe
the soils up close.
Write down the color of the soil, and anything else you notice. Does this soil feel wet or dry?
Are there larger rocks in the area that are the same color as the soil? Are there any plants
growing in the soil?
After making your observations, look for patterns
in your data. Were there more plants growing
in the wet or dry soil? Were different types of
plants growing in the different types of soil?
What else is soil made of?
Soil is not just made up of small pieces of rock.
Soil also has other substances that are important
for plant growth and survival. Substances that
help living things grow are called nutrients.
Where do the nutrients in soil come from? Many
are recycled from dead plants and animals.
Over time, dead plants and animals decay, or
break down into smaller pieces in the soil.

Soil is more than just small pieces

of rock. It is also made up of
decomposed plant and animal
remains that add nutrients back to
the soil.

When plants and animals decompose, they

help return nutrients to the soil. For example,
all plants and animals contain carbon. Plants
need carbon in the soil to grow. Without this
stuff from decomposed organisms, soil could not support the growth of new plants.

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formation of soil
Another important nutrient in soil is nitrogen. Animal waste is a good source of nitrogen. Thisis
why farmers often spread animal manure on crop fields. Manure helps new plants grow!

look out!
Manure is not the only type of fertilizer that farmers use. Some fertilizers are made of
chemical mixtures. These chemicals provide nitrogen and other nutrients to the soil. Using
too much fertilizer can pollute the environment, however. When it rains, the extra chemicals
may wash into nearby streams or ponds.
How are soils different in
different areas?
Soil types are different in
different areas. Some soils
contain lots of amounts of
organic material. Organic
matter is material from
things that were alive, such
as decomposed plants and
animals. These soils contain
lots of nutrients, so they are
usually good for growing
plants. Other soils have
lots of inorganic material.
Inorganic materials come
from things that were never
alive, such as rocks.
Soil is also classified based on the texture of the rock particles. You can figure out soil
texture by using your sense of touch. Rub the soil between your fingers. If it feels rough,
the soil is likely sand. If the soil feels sticky, it might
contain clay. Clay usually has very small particles.
Ifthe soil feels smooth, it is silt. Loam soils contain a
mixture of different sized particles, so they often feel
lumpy. Loam soils are usually the best for farming
because they are usually very rich in nutrients.
Discover Science: The Soil of Western Texas
In Western Texas, the land has very dry, sandy soil.
Theplants that grow here are adapted to dry conditions.
These include cacti and other drought-resistant plants.
Remember that soils get their nutrients from
decomposing plants and animals. Because there are
fewer plants in this area, the soils have fewer nutrients.
As a result, Western Texas has very few farms.

Western Texas has a very dry

soil. The dry soil supports plants
adapted to desert-like climates,
such as cacti. It is not good for
farming.

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41

formation of soil
what do you think?
Today, many food crops are grown in places
that do not normally support plant growth.
Farmers bring water to their fields from far
away. This allows the fields to support crops.
Bringing water to farms can take away the
water from other areas. Those areas might
have needed that water to support local
wildlife. Do you think the need to grow crops
is more important than the need to support
wildlife? How do you think people can meet
both needs?

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What Do You Know?

Soil is formed through the combination
of different materials. In the space below,
create a drawing of soil that includes
pictures of the materials that contribute
to soil. Be sure to label each part of your
picture.

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formation of soil
connecting with your child
Importance of Soil Quality in Agriculture
Children are probably familiar with dirt from
an early age. They may or may not realize
that soil quality is important for determining
how well the soil supports plant growth.
Take a trip with your child to the local
home improvement store or to a store
with a gardening section. Locate a bag of
gardening soil with a label that lists the soil
characteristics, such as nitrogen content,
organic content, etc. Use the soil contents
as a basis for discussing with your child the
relationship between soil composition and
soil function. For example:

Other than dirt, what components are in

the soil? For help, have your child read
the ingredients on the bag. (Common
answers include nitrogen, carbon, and
phosphorous.)
If the soil manufacturer had not added
these things to the soil, how else could
these materials be added to soil?
(Onemethod is to compost organic
material, then add the results to soil.)

If you or a family friend has a garden at

home, follow up this visit with a trip to the
garden. Examine the soil with your child,
What are the properties of the soil? Is it
and discuss similarities and differences
light or dark in color? Is the texture rough between the gardening soil in the garden
and dry, or wet and smooth? (Gardening store and the soil in an actual garden.
soil is typically dark and damp.)

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