Scribd
Upload
7 views

Soil and Water Form3

Uploaded by

7jb875d4pz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
7 views

Soil and Water Form3

Uploaded by

7jb875d4pz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

SOIL AND WATER

Soil formation
Weathering
• Soil is the loose layer of material covering the earth's surface, it originates from parent rock
and is the medium in which plants grow.
• The soil was formed through the weathering of rocks.
• Weathering is the process whereby rocks are broken down into smaller particles (soil).

Forms of weathering
Physical weathering
• The physical breakdown of rocks into smaller particles without chemical change.

Agents of physical weathering


Temperature changes
• Rocks are heated during the day; the outer layer warms up faster than the inner part therefore
expands at different rates.
• At night the outer layer cools more rapidly than the inner layer thus rates of contraction are
different.
• This expansion and contraction of the layers at different rate causes strains and therefore
cracks to develop, and this leads to peeling off of the outer layer (exfoliation).

Freezing water
• Water collects in rock crevices and freeze under low temperature. The frozen water expands
and exerts pressure on the rock causing it to break.

Wind abrasion
• Wind carries with it sand particles which cause a sand paper action upon rubbing with rock
surfaces. This removes very small soil particles from the rocks.

Water abrasion
• Rocks bounce on each other as they are carried in running water causing them to peel off.
The material in suspension also rubs on river beds and banks and erode rock surfaces in the
process.

NB: Particles formed by physical weathering do not necessarily become soil but are raw
materials which are further processed into soil by chemical weathering.

Chemical weathering
• This the chemical breakdown of rocks into smaller particles that have chemical properties
different from the parent material i.e. new substances are formed.
Agents of chemical weathering Leached
chemicals/minerals
• Agents like lichens produce chemicals which corrode rocks.

Carbonic acid
• Rain water reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and form a weak carbonic acid.
Water + Carbon dioxide > Carbonic acid
• Carbonic acid reacts with limestone in some rocks to form calcium hydrogen carbonate.
Carbonic acid + Limestone > Calcium hydrogen carbonate
• Calcium hydrogen carbonate dissolves in water and the rock is gradually worn out.

Oxygen
• Oxygen in the air oxidize iron in some rocks (oxygenation), this change weakens rocks
(pulverizes rocks).

Hydrogen
• Hydrogen ions in water can replace some cations (minerals with a positive charge) within
some rocks. Such actions include sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium. The
displacement of the cations weakens the rocks. The displaced cations can be absorbed by
plant roots.

Solution
• Salt contained in some rocks dissolves in water and is washed away from the parent material.
This weakens the parent material which eventually crumbles.

Biological weathering
• This is the disintegration of rocks caused by direct or indirect action of living organisms.

Agents of biological weathering


Plant roots
• Penetrate rock crevices, grow and exerts pressure between the crevices which results in the
rocks breaking apart.

Animals
• When animals continually move over a rock surface, the rocks will peel off due to friction.

Humans
• Human activities which release erosive chemicals into the environment. Carbon dioxide from
industries causes acid rain which can cause carbonation of rock minerals. Quarries and, Road
and dam construction involves the blasting of rocks using dynamites.

Factors influencing soil formation


• parent material
• climate
• relief/topography
• time
• organic matter.

Soil textural classes


• Soil texture is determined by proportional percentage composition of particles (sand, silt and
clay) making up the soil
• In Zimbabwe there are eight textural classes of soil

Zimbabwean soil textural classes


Textural class Percentage particle composition
Sand Under 15 - 20% silt, over 85% sand
Loamy sand 15 - 20% silt, 80% - 85% sand
Sandy loam Over 20% silt and clay, over 50% sand
Sandy clay loam 20 - 30% clay, over 50% sand
Sandy clay 30 - 50% clay, over 50% sand
Clay loam 20 - 40% clay, less than 45% sand
Clay 40% clay, less than 45% sand
Heavy clay Over 50% clay

The textural triangle


• A textural triangle is used to determine soil structure by referring to the percentage
composition that corresponds with a particular soil class
• The textural triangle is used when percentage composition of sand and clay is known
• The percentage composition of sand and clay in a soil are determined by sedimentation or
sieve method
Soil structure
• Soil structure is the arrangement of soil particles into aggregates or clods
Importance of soil structure
• It affects the water holding capacity of the soil
• It affects root penetration and growth of plants
• It affects soil aeration and drainage

Factors affecting soil structure


• Soil structure is mostly affected by poor farming methods and practices
Monoculture
• Monoculture is a practice of growing the same crop on the same field year after year
• It depletes soil nutrients, promotes soil erosion and same rooting structure which does not
promote binding of soil resulting in poor soil structure

Water logging
• Waterlogged conditions reduce decomposition and soil organic matter content
• Microbial activity and aeration are also reduced resulting in poor soil structure

Burning crop residues


• Burning or removal of crop residues results in lack of organic matter which binds soil
particles together to form crumbs of soil
• Organic matter also improves soil aeration, microbial activity, water holding capacity and
buffers soil pH
• Lack of organic matter therefore results in poor soil structure

Tillage practices
• Conservation tillage causes little or no disturbance to the soil therefore conserves the soil in
its original structure
• Conventional or deep cultivation destroys soil structure through disturbing the arrangement
of soil particles especially if done when the soil is too wet or dry

Use of heavy machinery


• Heavy machinery such as tractor drawn implements and combined harvesters results in soil
compaction thereby destroying the soil structure
• Compacted soil restricts root development and have poor drainage and aeration which is not
good for crop growth

Methods of improving or maintaining soil structure


• Application of organic manure, composts and green manure
• Practising minimum tillage, crop residues are left on the surface to decompose and add
organic matter to the soil.
• Addition of agriculture lime, which result in more particles combining together to form
crumbs through flocculation
• Practicing crop rotation including crops which leave a lot of leaf litter e.g. legumes. The litter
will eventually decompose and add humus to the soil.
• Maintaining well drained soils

Advantages of good soil structure


• have high nutrient retention
• provides easy root penetration
• have adequate aeration for root respiration and microbial activity
• have high water-holding capacity
• resistant to water and wind erosion
• easy to work on

Improvement of physical characteristics of soils


Sandy soils
• addition of agricultural lime
• addition of organic manure
• addition of anthill soil or clay

Clay soils
• applying agricultural lime
• addition of organic matter
• practice conservation tillage

You might also like