By SIDDHESH & RISHAB FROM VII E

Soil is a thin layer of material on the Earth's surface in

which plants have their roots. It is made up of many
things, such as weathered rock and decayed plant and
animal matter.
 COMPOSITION OF SOIL
Soil is made up of :
SOIL PARTICLES
MINERALS
HUMUS
WATER
AIR
SOIL ORGANISMS
 SOIL PROFILE

O-HORIZON: is the upper most layer composed of organic matter

A-HORIZON: is the soft dark porous layer just below the O-HORIZON
B-HORIZON: is below the A-HORIZON. It is formed due to leaching
and accumulation of materials from the above layers. The colour of this
layer is due to presence of oxides of iron and aluminium or calcium
carbonate leached from the A-HORIZON
C-HORIZON: is the layer below B-HORIZON. It is made up of small
lumps of rocks produced by weathering. It resembles the underlying the
parent rock.
D-HORIZON: is the hard bed rock which forms the lowermost layer.
Generally it is not considered as a part of soil.
 SOIL PROFILE

O-HORIZON

A-HORIZON

B-HORIZON

C-HORIZON

D-HORIZON
 TYPES OF SOILS
SANDY SOIL
CLAYEY SOIL
LOAMY SOIL
SILTY SOIL
ALLUVIAL SOIL
BLACK SOIL
RED SOIL
DESERT SOIL
MOUNTAIN SOIL
MARSHY SOIL
Sandy soil: is light and porous.
Water holding capacity is very less
It does not support plant growth

Clayey Soil: has fine clay particles

remaining together.
Water holding capacity is high
It supports plants like Mango, Jackfruit,
Black plums etc
Silty soil: has smooth particles.
Water holding capacity is high
Crops like pulses, cotton, jute, paddy etc are
grown

Loamy Soil: is a mixture of clay, sand silt.

Water holding capacity is good.
Good aeration and good water movement..
Regarded as best soil for plant growth
Alluvial soil: is a mixture of sand clay and silt
formed by sediments brought down by a river.
Very fertile.
Water holding capacity is good
Suitable for cultivation of sugarcane, rice
wheat cotton, gram etc.

Black soil: is formed from weathered

lava rocks. It is clayey.
Water holding capacity is good.
Very fertile.
Suitable for cultivation of jowar, wheat
sugarcane, cotton,gram etc
 Red soil: is red due to the presence of
large amounts of iron oxides.
Water holding capacity is good.
Not fertile
Suitable for growing vegetables, ragi ,rice
and tobacco

Desert soil: is arid and sandy due to

mechanical weathering of rocks in desert.
Water holding capacity is low
Plants like cactus can grow.
Mountain soil: includes forests and hills
Rich in humus
Very fertile.

Marshy soil: found in the continuously

water logged areas.
Contains iron and varying amounts of
humus.
SOIL : HABITAT FOR ORGANISMS

Bacterias and microbes increase the soil fertility

Bacteria in soil Microbes in soil

SOIL : HABITAT FOR ORGANISMS

Fungi: are microganisms which do not have chlorophyll. They are

saprophytes and survive on dead and decaying matter.They make the
soil fertile by breaking down the dead organisms and releasing simple
nutrients in the soil.
SOIL : HABITAT FOR ORGANISMS
Insects:
A large number of Amoeba, worms, earthworms, snails, ants
grasshoppers, snakes, mammals are found in soil.
Organisms such as earthworms, rats, ants make the soil porous and
facilitate root penetration

Earthworms Ants Rats

Soil is a facilitator for percolation and retention of water. Ground water
accumulates mainly from rains that percolates through soil. It also collects from
water that seeps into the ground from lakes and ponds. Ground water provides
freshwater in many areas in the world.
PICTURE SHOWING THE FLOW OF GROUNDWATER