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pressure for the air from sea surface to flow on to land. This is why the
atmosphere remains cool.
10. Home for animals, bird & insects: Soil is the natural dwelling place for many
living beings. Animals like, rats, mice, guinea pigs, mongoose, squirrel etc live in
the burrows made in the soil. Reptiles like snakes, lizard live in the soils. Even
insects live and nest in the soil. Some birds also nest in the soil. Thus soil
provides a safe shelter to many living beings and promotesbiodiversity.
TOP SOIL USES:
1. Agriculture: Top soil is used for agricultural production of crops necessary for
human and animal food and clothing needs. Soil has fertility like essential
minerals and organic matter needed for cultivation.
2. Microbial growth: Soil texture is suitable for cultivation of bacteria, fungus etc.
These bacteria are suitable for fixing nitrogen and fertility in soil. Further these
microbes producemedicine like antibiotics.
3. Water harvesting: When there is rain, soil absorbs water. This water goes into
deeper layer of soil and is available for Plants and forest to grow. Further this
water is also available as ground water for drinking and cultivation (by bore
wells).
4. Soil supports germination: Without soil, the earth would have lacked plants,
trees and forests. When a seed from tree falls on to soil. Soil gives safe protection
and environment for its growth. Hence it is useful for germination of seeds to
grow into plants. Without soil there would have been no trees and plants on the
earth. More than 95% of trees in this world are grown naturally by soil without
man sowing the seeds.
5. Waste Decay: Soil layers promotes decay of waste and pollutants by microbes.
The decay of organic matter converts to petroleum and other essential resources.
Without soil there would have been no waste decay and world would have been a
place full of corpses (dead bodies) and other waste.
TIPS FOR SOIL CONSERVATION:
Soil conservation is very essential to reap the above benefits. It has to be done in
two ways
a) Soil erosion prevention
b) Soil pollution prevention.
The main soil erosion is due to the top soil being blown away by heavy winds and
also being carried away by rain water and floods.
Hence Top soil erosion has to be prevented by wide cultivation of plants. They
acts as natural hindrance to winds and prevents soil erosion. Tilling of soil against
the flow direction of rain water prevents soil erosion.
Soil layers get polluted due to heavy human activity, and careless disposable of
industrial pollution. This pollution also reduces soil fertility and becomes unfit for
cultivation.
The soil also loses many bacteria and other soil animals due to heavy soil
pollution.
Hence to minimize soil pollution, it is important to go for organic farming. Also
avoid excess use of artificial pesticides. Besides this minimize industrial pollution.
Before discarding the waste, it has to be treated to prevent soil pollution.