Soil and its Distinct Layers

We will discuss here about the soil and its distinct layers. Soil is the portion of landmass on which plants can grow naturally.

In fact soil is the outer most layer of the Earth’s crust. Heat, rain and wind play important roles for the formation of soil. The primary rock is broken into finer particles by prolonged weathering. These particles contain several minerals. Wind carries these particles from one place to another while mixing of many other materials undergoes. Organic remains of plants and animals are called humus which also get mixed with it. In this process soil is formed as a soft and heterogeneous mixture on the Earth’s surface.

Soil is a moist mixture of various-sized rock particles and minerals together with partly decomposed organic matters as well as remains of dead plants and animals.

Soil has three distinct layers, referred to as soil profile. They are; topsoil, subsoil and bed rock.

1. Topsoil: It is the top most part of soil profile. It contains fine sand, clay, water and air. It supplies all necessary nutrients to the plants, which grow on it. It is usually rich in humus and minerals.

2. Subsoil: It is the second layer of soil profile. It contains larger particles. This portion contains little organic matters, water and minerals.

Tap roots of bigger plants can reach this layer.

3. Bed rock: It is the base of soil profile, which is made of large pieces of parent rocks. This layer has very little water. Roots of plants never reach this layer.

When we collect soil samples anywhere from the topsoil we find five basic components in it. Those are minerals, humus, water, air and a few living organisms.










Fifth Grade

From Soil and its Distinct Layers to HOME PAGE

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


Recent Articles

  1. Respiratory Balance Sheet | TCA Cycle | ATP Consumption Process

    Feb 18, 24 01:56 PM

    ATP Synthase in Mitochondria
    The major component that produced during the photosynthesis is Glucose which is further metabolised by the different metabolic pathways like glycolysis, Krebs cycle, TCA cycle and produces energy whic…

    Read More

  2. Electron Transport System and Oxidative Phosphorylation | ETC |Diagram

    Feb 04, 24 01:57 PM

    Electron Transport Chains
    It is also called ETC. Electron transfer means the process where one electron relocates from one atom to the other atom. Definition of electron transport chain - The biological process where a chains…

    Read More

  3. Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle | Krebs Cycle | Steps | End Products |Diagram

    Jan 28, 24 12:39 PM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of process which execute in a cyclical form and final common pathway for oxidation of Carbohydrates fat protein through which acetyl coenzyme a or acetyl CoA is completely oxidised to c…

    Read More

  4. Aerobic Respiration | Definition of Aerobic Respiration | Glycolysis

    Dec 15, 23 08:42 AM

    Aerobic Respiration
    This is a type of respiration where molecular free oxygen is used as the final acceptor and it is observed in cell. Site of Aerobic Respiration - Aerobic respiration is observed in most of the eukaryo…

    Read More

  5. Fermentation | Definition | Types of Fermentation | Application

    Nov 29, 23 10:27 PM

    Fermentation
    Definition of fermentation- It is a process that is energy yielding process of anaerobic oxidation of organic compounds which are carried out by the enzyme action of micro organisms where neither gase…

    Read More