Chapter 9

Soil

 

Introduction

Soil commonly referred to as earth or dirt, is one of the most critical elements of mother nature. It consists of minerals, organic components & hummus and provides nutrition and water to plants. Moreover, it is the base on which the plants grow and bind the roots of trees together. Therefore, soil is an important element for agriculture, which forms a major part of our lives. It is also a significant element in our Ecosystem.

India is an agriculture-dependent country. Agriculture provides food, water, shelter and pretty much all the essential requirements of living. Hence, soil automatically becomes a critical element for all living organisms.

There are different types of soil, some of which are:

  • Clayey soil contains large particles of soil
  • Loamy soil contains sand, clay, and silt. It is ideal for growing plants and crops.
  • Sandy soil comprises sand and eroded rock particles.
  • Silty soil, in which granules size is smaller compared to sandy soil.

Soil is the foundation that helps the flora to grow by providing them with water and enough nutrients. It also acts as a home to countless microbes and organisms like bacteria, worms, insects, algae, fungi, and so on. Soil also acts as a water reservoir or storage for plants to grow and makes the surface cooler. Loamy soil, especially, can soak in a lot of water.

Furthermore, the soil is used to make various items like pots, pans, diyas, cups, and so on. In addition, soil also consists of numerous minerals and nutrients that help in nourishing the earth’s surface. Therefore, having nutrients helps provide nourishment for plants.

It is vital to understand the process of soil formation to understand the concept of soil. Before we understand the soil formation process, let us learn what weathering is. It is a process by which rocks are broken down to form soils. 

There are three ways soil can be formed:

  • Biological Weathering: In this process, living organisms break down rock into sand. This may include plants as well as soil organisms. The process involves the respiration of carbon dioxide by plant roots, leading to the formation of carbonic acid. This carbonic acid reacts with roots and helps them turn into soils.
  • Physical Weathering: In this process, the soil is formed by processes such as freezing and thawing, wetting and drying, as well as shrinking and swelling of rock and other sediments, leading to their breakdown into finer particles. This process is very important in the early stage of soil formation.
  • Chemical Weathering: In this process, rocks get decomposed through various chemical processes like acidification, dissolution, carbonation, hydrolysis, and oxidation. 

Several components give soil its features. These components of soil include:

  • Water: Water is a major component of soil. It is stored in the soil to help the plants grow. 
  • Minerals: Minerals provide adequate nourishment and nutrients for the plants to grow and survive.
  • Air: The air enters the gaps between soil particles. It also plays a role in helping the soil provide a strong foundation for plants to grow. 
  • Organic Components: Biodegradable waste, dead animal and plant cells often become a part of soil gradually. These components are also essential in providing nutrients and nourishment to the growing plants.

Soil is an important chapter from the Science exam point of view. The NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 9 gives students a chance to clear their doubts regarding the chapter. It also helps students evaluate themselves to understand their strengths and weaknesses so that they can work accordingly. Soil, in general, has a lot of benefits and is quite essential in agro-based countries. Therefore, students must know the details of soil. 

The link given below provides all the required information about the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science Chapter 9 and provides all the solutions to the questions in detail. 

Students may check out the link to access the question and the solutions of NCERT related to the chapter soil. 

https://msvgo.com/cbse/ncert-solutions-class-7-science-soil

The sections in the chapter ‘Soil’ include:

  1. Soil: This chapter deals with the overall information of the soil and gives a brief description of soil. The NCERT Questions from this section explore general questions about soil. 
  2. Soil Teeming with Life: This chapter introduces the uses of soil and how it impacts human life. The NCERT questions from this section explore the details of how the soil is essential to the environment. 
  3. Soil Profile: This chapter explores the soil profile, i.e., the components of the soil, in detail. The NCERT Questions from this section focus on what constitutes the soil. 
  4. Soil Types: This section of the chapter explores the different types of soil. It talks about the classification of soils, which type of soil is suitable or unsuitable for growing plants, and so on. The NCERT Questions related to this section focus on different types of soil.
  5. Properties of Soil: This section focuses on the different features of the soil. It talks about the nature of soil and how the soil reacts. The NCERT Questions related to this section explore questions related to the soils that would be appropriate for farming, the soil known for retaining the most water, the soil known for being infertile and not suitable for agriculture, and so on. 
  6. Moisture in Soil: This section explores the moisture retention capacity of soil. It also explores how soil retains moisture and distributes it to plants to help them grow and nourish themselves. The NCERT Questions related to this section explore the process by which soil provides plants water, how soil stores water, the benefits of soil storing water, and so on. 
  7. Absorption of Water by soil: This section explores the way soil absorbs water. It also talks about the absorption process in detail. The NCERT Questions related to this section talk about water absorption capacity of soil.
  8. Soil and Crops: This section of the chapter explores the relationship between soil and crop. It explains in detail how the crops need soil to grow, nourish and replenish themselves and how soil requires plants to remain fertile. This section also focuses on the types of soil important for the growth of the crops and the soil that cannot grow crops.

 

Although there are various types of questions in the NCERT Exercises, there are a few frequently asked questions in the NCERT Exercises. Listed below are some of the most frequently asked questions about soil in the NCERT exercise and the solutions to them:

1. Explain how soil is formed.

Soil formation is an extensive process. It is formed due to weathering of rocks. Weathering is a process that involves the chemical decomposition and the physical breakdown of rocks and minerals. There are three types of weathering: chemical weathering, mechanical weathering, and biological weathering. Biological and Mechanical Weathering are natural processes. The decomposition happens naturally in these types of weathering. On the other hand, Chemical Weathering is a chemical process, i.e., decomposition happens due to chemical processes in this type of weathering. Earthquakes, climatic changes, wind, and water are factors that help in soil formation. In the weathering procedure, the rocks break into little pieces to form soil particles eventually. With time, the soil particles turn into a layer of soil. 

2. List out the concepts discussed in Chapter 9 of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science.

Listed below are the concepts discussed in Chapter 9 of the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science:

  1. Soil teeming with life, 
  2. Soil Profile
  3. Soil types
  4. Properties of Soil
  5. Moisture in Soil
  6. Absorption of water in Soil 
  7. Soil and Crops

3. Explain the prevention of Soil Pollution and Soil Erosion from the Chapter 9 of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science

Listed below are the measures that can be taken to prevent soil pollution and erosion:

  1. Planting new saplings and trees. 
  2. Stopping or Reducing Deforestation. 
  3. Reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. 
  4. Reducing the use of plastics. 

4. Discuss the usefulness of clayey soil for crops covered in Chapter 9 of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science. 

Listed below are some benefits and usefulness of clayey soil covered in Chapter 9 of NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Science:

  1. The growth of crops like Paddy is possible in Clayey Soil because one of the properties of clayey soil is that it has massive water retention capacity. These crops need large quantities of water to grow. 
  2. Clayey soil has a good water holding capacity. 
  3. Clayey soils can grow cereals like wheat.
  4. Clayey soils have a vast amount of organic matter.

Soil is a crucial part of the Earth’s surface. It also protects the  erosion of plants and acts as a backbone for food security. In ancient times, people created settlements near fertile soil. Therefore, students must understand the importance of soil. MSVGo is an e-learning platform that provides excellent study material on science chapters. So, if you are looking for a platform to help you with this chapter, MSVGo is the right place for you. Join MSVGo to access exclusive content related to this chapter now!

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