SOIL

THE SOIL

Soil is one of the most important factors of all farming operations.

The soil is of paramount importance in all farming operations.

Soil is the basic factor in the food chain;

SOIL IS COMPOSED OF/ IS MADE OF:

• 45% of parent mineral matter
• 5% of organic matter (dead plants and animals, organic waste) and living organisms (worms, nematodes, bigger animals) 
• 25% of water
• 25%  of air (gases)

Soil is a complex body composed of five major components

1. Mineral matter obtained by the disintegration and decomposition of rocks;
2. Organic matter, obtained by the decay of plant residues, animal remains and microbial tissues;
3. Organisms, both big (worms, insects) and small (microbes)
4. Water, obtained from the atmosphere and the reactions in soil (chemical, physical and microbial);
5. Air or gas, from the atmosphere, reactions of roots, microbes and chemicals in the soil

SOIL IS

1) USED TO PRODUCE BIOMASS

2) USED TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRODUCE FOOD AND WATER

3) EXPLOITED AS SOURCE OF RAW MATERIAL

4) PROTECTED AS CULTURAL HERITAGE

SOIL DEGRADATION /SOIL DESTRUCTION

1)  PHYSICAL DEGRADATION

• EROSION 
• DESERTIFICATION
• WATER-LOGGING
• SOIL COMPACTION 
• OVERGRAZING
• DEFORESTATION

2) BIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION

• CHANGES IN ANIMAL AND PLANT BIODIVERSITY
• INTENSIVE USE OF PESTICIDES

3) CHEMICAL DEGRADATION

• ACIDIFICATION
• ACID RAINS
• SALINIZATION
• CONTAMINATION 
• HEAVY-METALS, 
• NITROGEN, (helps above ground leaf  growth)
• PHOSPHOROUS, (encourages plant cell divisions)
• POTASSIUM (increases plant resistance to diseases)
• TOXIFICATION
• EUTROPHICATION