Group 2:

Members:
Yurric Apostol, Mariel Sarona, Queenie Ira Mae Delima,
Uzzi Keir Tangarorang, Alliah Cawas, Morell Liberal, Darla Dacillo,
Cresente Sarsaba
Land is the part of the world not covered by the oceans and sea.
Soil is a thin covering over the land consisting of a mixture of
minerals, organic materials, living organisms, air, and water that
together support the growth of organisms such as plant life. Soil
components vary with different types of soil. An agricultural soil is
about 45% mineral, 25% water, and 5% organic matter.
Soil is a natural body called the pedosphere which has four important
functions: it is a medium for plant growth; it is a means of water storage,
supply and purification; it is a modifier of Earth's atmosphere; it is a
habitat for organisms; all of which, in turn, modify the soil

Soil is called the "Skin of the Earth" and interfaces with

its lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.
 The Components of Soil
Farmers are concerned with the soil because the nature of soil determines the
kinds of crops that can be grown and the farming method. The nature of soil
also determines the quality and quantity of food. If the soil is abused it can no
longer grow crops and people will suffer.

Herbs such Camellia grow well in clay or

Verbascum plants thrive in poor,
as sage, thyme and rosemary are silt soils but prefer an acidic or
gravelly and alkaline soils
ideal for sandy soils. neutral soil.
 Soil Formation
There are five soil- forming factors that soil scientists use to explain
how soils form. These are parent materials, climate, topography, biological
factors, and time.

1. Parent Material Whenever soil is weathered directly from the underlying

rock they are called residual soils. Moving water, ice, or wind may transfer the
soil from the parent material and they are called transported soil.
2. Climate Temperature and the amount of moisture can cause
different patterns of weathering. The wind redistributes sand and
other particles. The amount, intensity, timing, and kind of
precipitation influence soil formation. Seasonal and daily changes in
temperature affect the kinds of vegetation.
3. Topography Slope effects the moisture and temperature of
soil, steep slopes facing the sun are warmer and steep slopes
facing the sun warmer and steep soils may be eroded and lose
their topsoil.
4. Biological Factors Organisms such as plants, animals, and
microorganisms including humans affects soil formation. Animals and
microorganisms mix soil by forming burrows and pores. Plants roots
break rocks and soil as they grow.
5. Time Soil formation processes are continuous. Deposition
from a flood buries the surface and underlying horizons. More
developmental features can be seen on older land surfaces. Such
as terraces above the active flood plain.
Soil Properties
- Include soil texture, structure, atmosphere, moisture, biotic content and chemical
composition.
Soil texture is determined by the size of the mineral particles within the soil.
The larger soil particles are gravel, which consists of fragments larger than 2.0
millimeters in diameter. Sand particles are between 0.05 and 2.0 millimeters. Silt particle
range from 0.002 to 0.05 millimeter in diameter. The smallest are the clay particles, which
are less than 0.002 millimeter in diameter.
Loam provides good aeration drainage properties of large particles with nutrient
retention and water holding ability of clay particles.
Soil profile is the idealized vertical cross section from the ground surface down to the
parent rock. In a well-developed soil, distinct horizons can be seen. The three major
horizons are A, B, C-horizons (O-horizons), but they are usually buried. Horizons are
sometimes also called zones. It is end result of surface weathering brought about
primarily by downward percolation of water.
1. A Horizon the top soil of 2. B Horizon the subsoil 3. C Horizon the transition
leaching form which of accumulation. Clays are from the soil profile to the
downward percolation of more prevalent and organic unweathered parent material
water has removed some
matter less abundant. below.
clays and soluble ions. It is
also commonly rich in organic
matters(humus).
Soil Conservation Practices
- The kinds of agricultural activities that soil can be used for are determined by:
soil structure and texture, drainage fertility, rockiness, slope of the land, amount and
nature of rainfall, and climate condition.
The amount of agricultural soil must be protected from erosion by water or wind.
Whenever happens the topsoil is lost and the soils fertility decreases. For this reason,
proper soil conservation measures should be employed to minimize the loss of topsoil.
1. Contour Farming it refers to the tilling at night angles to the slope of the land. It is one
of the simplest methods for preventing soil erosion. This practice is useful on gentle
slopes. The series of small ridges at right angles to the slope acts as dam to prevent water
from running down in order to allow more water to soak into the soil.

2. Strip Farming strip farming is practiced when a slope is too steep or too long. In strip
farming, alternating strips are closely sown on crops such as corn. The closely sown crops
stop the flow of water, which reduces soil erosion and allows more water to be absorbed
into the ground.
3. Terracing one practical method of preventing soil erosion on a very steep land
is to construct terraces. Terraces are level areas constructed at right angles to the
slope to retain water and greatly reduce to the amount of erosion.

4. Waterways are depressions on sloping land where water collects and flows off the
land. However, when not properly maintained, waterways are susceptible to erosion.
5. Windbreaks the wind also cause erosion. Windbreaks are
plantings of trees or other plants that protect bare soil from the full force
of the wind. Windbreaks reduce the speed of the wind and decrease the
amount of soil that is carried away.
 Soil Quality Management Components
- Good quality management of soil require planning ad activities that
could enhance and prevent erosion that may be a result of either natural or
human causes. The following are things that should be considered:

1. Enhance organic matter. Adding new organic matter is perhaps is the most
important way to improve and maintain the soil quality. Addition of organic matter
improves soil structure and enhances water and nutrient holding capacity.
2. Avoid excessive tillage. Tillage is used to loosen surface soil and break soil
structure. Reducing tillage minimizes the loss of organic matter and
protects the soil surface plant residue

3. Manage pests and nutrients efficiently. Efficient pest and nutrient

management means test and monitoring soil and pests. This means applying
only necessary chemicals at the time and at the right place.
4. Prevent soil compaction. Compaction reduces the amount of air, water,
and space available roots and soil organisms. An example of
compaction is caused by repeated traffic or travel on wet soil.

5. Keep the ground covered. Ground covers protects the soil. It provides
habitats for largest soil organisms and can improve water availability. The
ground can be covered by leaving crop residue on the surface or by
planting cover crops.
6. Diversify cropping systems. Plants contribute a unique not
structure and type of residue to the soil. Changing vegetation
across the landscape or over time increases not only plant
diversity but also the organisms that live there.
Waste Management
- Is the generation, prevention, characterization, monitoring, treatment,
handling, reuse and residual disposition of solid wastes.
Solid waste is generally made up of objects of particles that accumulate on the
site where they are produced. There are various types of solid waste such as
mining, agricultural, and municipal.
1. Mining Waste mining waste is generated in three primary ways. First, in most
mining operation, large amounts of rock and soil need to be removed to get the valuable
ore. The waste material is left on the surface ate the mine site. Second, milling operations
extract the valuable material from the ore. The grinding and sorting of materials produces
solid waste called tailings. These tailings are dumped on the land near the milling site and
the liquid waste is stored in ponds. Lastly, the water hat is pumped from mines flows from
piles of waste rock or tailings that contain hazardous materials.
2. Agricultural Waste a common from waste from the raining of animals and the
harvesting and processing of crops and trees. Most agricultural waste is organic and is used
for soil enhancement activities. Other materials are burned as a source of energy. When
there is too much agricultural waste in one place, runoff of groundwater contamination due
to infiltration happen.
3. Industrial Waste a water coming from sources other than mining. It includes
a variety of materials such as demolition waste, scraps from manufacturing processes,
and ash from combustion. If they are classified as hazardous waste, the disposal
requires special hazardous waste, the disposal requires special hazardous landfills.
4. Municipal Solid Waste these are the materials that people in a region no longer
want because they are broken, spoiled, or have no further use. This type of waste comes
from households, commercial establishments, institutions, and some industrial sources.
Some communities pick up and compost food waste from commercial establishments and
put the resulting nutrient rich soil to use in municipal projects or for sale to the public.
 Methods of Waste Disposal
Waste should be disposed of properly. Depending on the location, there are
generally five techniques used in waste disposal:

1. Landfills landfill method is the cheapest and the most convenient waste disposal. A
typical solid waste landfill is constructed above an impermeable clay layer that is lined with
an impermeable membrane. The everyday deposit of fresh garbage is covered with a layer of
soil to prevent it from blowing around. Threat of groundwater contamination reduce the use
of this practice.
2. Incineration incineration waste disposal is burning in a controlled manner
using an incinerator. Incineration coupled with high temperature waste treatments
are recognized as thermal treatments. During the process of incineration, the waste
material that is treated is converted in to gases, particles, and heat. These products
are later used for generation.
3. Mulch and Compost the organic material that is used to cover the soil is
called mulch. Composing is the method of allowing the natural process of
decomposition to transform organic materials into humanlike material called
compost.
4. Source Reduction this refers to the method for designing, manufacturing,
purchasing, using and reusing materials so that the amount of waste to its toxicity is
reduced.

5. Recycling this is the method of collecting and processing materials that would
otherwise be thrown away as trash and running them into new products.