When I saw this month’s theme, I was inclined to break down this topic in a series of consecutive reports, but still place major importance on each report. For millennia, soil has been, apart from water and air, an integral part of our survival. Its functionality crosses all spectrums of need and supply, but there is still a lot to be done in order to understand it.

In this month’s theme, I will be writing about what soil is and its functionality (report 1), soil/land degradation and how that has been devaluing soil (report number 2) and what new techniques are being implemented for agri-farming (report number 3).

So…let us start with the burning question...

What is Soil?

Soil is one of the three major natural resources, alongside air and water. It is one of the marvellous products of nature and without which there would be no life.

Soil content (eSchooltoday, n/a)

Soil is made up of three main components – minerals that come from rocks below or nearby, organic matter which is the remains of plants and animals that use the soil, and the living organisms that reside in the soil.

The proportion of each of these is important in determining the type of soil that is present. But other factors such as climate, vegetation, time, the surrounding terrain, and even human activities (eg. farming, grazing, gardening etc.), are also important in influencing how soil is formed and the types of soil that occur in a particular landscape.

There are many types of soils, usually placed in classes (types) based on their color, profile, texture, composition or structure. Each soil type is formed differently and can be found in specific places on the earth’s immediate surface, mid and deep under the surface. Soils on the surface (a few millimeters deep) are usually exposed to direct climatic and environmental factors, and are easily blown away by wind, washed away by water or even broken down by temperature changes, human and animal activity. There are also soils found deep down the earth, often protected from climatic and environmental factors.

(eSchooltoday, n/a)

But because soils are formed from a variety of ways and in infinite conditions, it is hard to give a number for the types of soils we have on earth. However, they can be grouped using the stuff that they are made of (more on this in the next report J)

Importance (Functions) of soils

Soils are essential for life, in the sense that they provide the medium for plant growth, habitat for many insects and other organisms, act as a filtration system for surface water, carbon store and maintenance of atmospheric gases. Let’s further define these functions:

Medium for plant growth:

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•  Soils support roots and keep them upright for growth.
•  Soils provide plants with essential minerals and nutrients.
• Soils provide air for gaseous exchange between roots and atmosphere.
• Soils protect plants from erosion and other destructive physical, biological and chemical activity.
• Soils hold water (moisture) and maintain adequate aeration.

A Filtration system for surface water:

After rainfall and snowmelts, water flows on the earth’s surface to water bodies, but much of it soaks and gets infiltrated into the ground. As it continues its way downwards through the many layers in the ground, it is filtered from dust, chemicals and other contaminants. This is why aquifers (underground water) are one of the purest sources of water. Filtered water also provides plants with clean, unpolluted water needed for growth.

Carbon storage and maintenance of atmospheric gases:

Soils help regulate atmospheric Carbon dioxide (CO2) by acting as a carbon store. During humification (a process where soil organisms form complex and stable organic matter) some organic matter breakdown does not occur completely, especially in soils like peat, owing to its high acid and water content.

On a global scale, soils contain about twice as much carbon as the atmosphere and about three times as much as vegetation source.

This results in the accumulation of organic matter in the soil which is high in carbon content. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and many other nutrients are stored, transformed, and cycled in the soil. There is one thing for sure about soil, it is resilient but finite. It takes on the horrendous task of carrying life only to have it taken from it and lose its nutritional value. And that is what we need to view soil, it is strong, but fragile. Great in volume but lately weak in nutritional value.

(School for soils, n/a).

I would like to give a big shout out to fellow ambassador Yves, Kushal, and many others ambassadors and members who touched on this topic in the past months of the year! Your reports may lay the foundation of other reports; I know it will positively influence my writing from here on it.

On the next report: I will be tacking soil/land degradation, how soil has devalued over the decades and examples of countries that have adverse soil degradation.

Reference list:

Soil for Schools. N/a. What is Soil [Online]. Available: https://www.soil-net.com/legacy/schools/index.htm. N/a. Accessed: Dec 1, 2018.

Eschool Today. N/a. What is Soil? [Online]. Available: https://www.eschooltoday.com/soils/soil-profile-and-soil-horizons.html. N/a. Accessed: Dec 3, 2018.