Importance and Composition of Soil

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Related video:    • Observing the Composition of Soil  

Soil is a very important part of our planet. It forms the top layer of much of the Earth's land surface.
Soil is incredibly important to organisms. Most plants use soil and its components as their primary source of water, minerals, and nutrients, which they need to photosynthesise. Photosynthesis produces oxygen that other organisms rely on for survival. It also provides plants with the energy they need to grow. And by growing and flourishing all around our planet, they provide energy for other organisms too.

This rich environment doesn't just support plants; it's also home to other living things, including small animals, fungi, and microorganisms.

Soil can be different in different places, but it generally has three main components: small rock particles, water, and spaces that can be filled with air. Some soils also contain humus, which is the remains of dead plants, animals, and other living things. This addition makes the soil richer and more beneficial for plant growth.

In the next video, we're going to use a magnifying glass, and a digital microscope to take a closer look at different types of soil and composition of each.

One type is sandy soil. Sandy soil has big particles, like the sand you find at the beach. These big particles mean that sandy soil can't hold onto water very well because the water just drains right through. This is why sandy soil if often dry. But, the big spaces between the particles do allow a lot of air to move through. Sandy soil does not contain much humus.

Another type is clay soil. Clay soil has very small particles. These tiny particles pack closely together. This makes it good at holding water, but it doesn't let air through easily. Because of this, clay soil can be hard for plant roots to move through. Like clay, sandy soil does not contain much humus.

Then there is silt, which has qualities that sit between those of sandy and clay soils. Silt particles are finer than sand but bigger than clay, making silt soil smooth to the touch. This medium-sized particle composition allows silt soil to hold water more than sandy soil. Silt also has some humus which which provides minerals and nutrients to plants.

The last type of soil we will look at is loamy soil. It's made of a mix of sand, silt, and also some clay particles. This gives it the best qualities for growing plants. It holds moisture but also drains well, so it's not too wet or too dry. Loamy soil often contains lots of humus, which helps the soil hold onto nutrients and moisture, and it makes the soil very good for growing plants.

So, there you have it, four main types of soil - sandy soil, clay soil, silt and loamy soil.