Soil

Question and answers.

Q1. What is soil?
Ans: Soil is the upper most layer of the earths crust in which plants grow.
Q2. Why is soil a habitat of many species of plants and animals?
Ans: Soil is a habitat of many species of animals and plants because soil has all properties to
sustain life. It has all the properties to sustain life. It has water, air and nutrients which serve as
food.
Q3. what is meant by weathering of rocks / weathering?
Ans: The process of breaking down of surface rocks into smaller pieces is called weathering.
Q4. Name 2 different types of weathering?
Ans: 1) physical weathering
2) Chemical weathering
Q5. Mention the factors responsible for weathering.
Ans: The factors responsible for weathering are:

Changes in atmospheric temperature and pressure.

Friction due to moving air.
Flowing or falling water.
Formation of ice causes the rocks to break.
Roots of big plants pierce through the rocks and break them into pieces.
Borrowing animals make holes in the soil and break them into smaller particles.
Natural phenomena like volcanic eruptions, cyclones and earthquakes.

Q6. What are the factors responsible for chemical weathering?

Ans : Factors responsible for the chemical weathering are:

Acid rains: The acid rain breaks the rocks due to chemical reaction.
Microorganisms: Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi produce acids and break the rocks.

Q7. Define Soil Profile

Ans : The vertical section of soil that shows distinctive layers of soil is called soil profile.

Q8. Name the different layers of soil

Ans : Different layers of soil are:

O Horizon (Humus)
A Horizon (Top Soil)
B Horizon (Sub Soil)
C Horizon (Parent Soil)
R Horizon (Bed Rock)

Q9. Draw a neat labeled diagram to show soil profile

Ans :

Q10. Define the following.

Sand: Sand is the largest particle in the soil. It does not hold water and nutrients.
Silt: Silt is the soil particle whose size is between the sand and clay. Silt feels smooth and
powdery when wet it feels wet not sticky.
Clay: Clay has very fine particles .clay is smooth when dry and sticky when wet.
Sandy soil: soil with lot of sand, little clay and a lot of air space, good drainage of water
and poor in nutrients is called sandy soil.
Clayey: A soil with more of clay is heavy and can hold lot of water. Such a soil is called a
clayey soil.
Loamy soil: The soil which a balanced amount of clay, sand and silt is called loamy soil.

Q11. Give reasons

Loamy is is best suited for plant growth.

Ans : Loamy is is best suited for plant growth because it

1)
2)
3)

Has uniform water retention and proper drainage capacities

Has a balanced amount of silt and clay.
Is rich in humus.
Plant roots cannot penetrate the horizon after the sub soil.

Ans: Plant roots cannot penetrate the horizon after the sub soil because the layer below the sub
soil is very hard.
Q12. List the factors that determine the fertility of soil at a place
Ans: The factors that determine the fertility of soil at a place are:

The mineral composition of the soil

Amount of humus present
Water holding capacity
Porosity

Q13. Earthworms are called natures tiller and farmers friend why
Ans: Earthworms are called natures tiller and farmers because:

They bring the soil upside down (till)

They add nutrients to the soil in the form of their excreta( worm cast )
They help in creating air spaces in the soil by loosening it.

Q14. Define the following

Permeability

Ans : The ability to percolate water through it.

Porosity

Ans : The property of soil to have air spaces between soil particles.

Horizons

Ans: Different layers showed by soil are called horizons

Humus

Ans : Decomposed organic matter present in soil.

Q15. Name the different types of soil found in India

Ans: The different types of soil found in India are

Alluvial soil
Red soil
Lateritic soil
Regur soil (black soil)

Q16. What is soil erosion?

Ans: Carrying away of the top soil by the action of wind and water is called soil erosion.
Q17. Mention the 2 causes for soil erosion
Ans: The 2 causes for soil erosion

Grazing of animals
Deforestation

Q18. Mention any 2 steps to prevent soil erosion

Ans: 2 steps to prevent soil erosion are

Afforestation
Terrace farming