Environmental Science - Soil

Water is important because it is the basic transport
Environmental Science
medium for carrying essential plant nutrients from
solid soil particles into plant roots and to the
farthest reaches of the plant's leaf structure.
Chemistry of Soil Transpiration happens when the water in a plant
evaporates into the atmosphere from the plant's
Soil is a mixture of weathered rocks and leaves.
minerals, decayed plants and animal material
(humus and detritus), and small living organisms
which includes plants, animals and bacteria. Soil Soil carries the nutrients to the plant extremities by
also consists of water and air. this process wherein plants remove carbon dioxide
A typical productive soil is 5% organic matter and from the atmosphere and add oxygen by
95% inorganic matter photosynthesis. The reverse of this process
occurs during plant respiration.
Importance of Soil
- production of food;
- maintaining the balance of carbon, nitrogen,
and phosphorus; If soil becomes saturated with water, the oxygen
- for the construction of building materials. will immediately be consumed by the respiration of
microorganisms and will cause degradation of
Distinguished Layers of Soil organic matter in soil.
Excess water in soils is harmful to plant growth,
A layer of a typical soil is called horizon. It is the and the soil does not contain the air required by
product of complex interactions between processes most plant roots. Most important crops (exception
that develop during weathering. The rainwater that of rice) cannot grow on soil soaked with water.
penetrates through the soil brings dissolved and
colloidal solids to lower horizons where they are
deposited.
The A horizon or topsoil is the top layer of soil

and several inches in thickness. Maximum
biological activity in the soil happens in this layer. Soil Pollutants
This layer also contains most of the soil organic
matter and is important in the productivity of plant.
In defining the composition of soils, the parent Pollutants from Livestock Production
rocks where soils are formed play an important Livestock manure has a very high BOD and can
role. rapidly deplete oxygen when it gets into waterways.
Decomposition of animal waste products produces
inorganic nitrogen that can contaminate water
with potentially toxic nitrate. Inorganic N and P
released to water can cause eutrophication of
Water and Air in Soil
water. Nitrous oxide (NO) released to the
atmosphere from livestock waste degradation can
The other characteristics of soil includes: be an air pollutant. Methane generated in the
1. Strength anaerobic degradation of livestock wastes is a
2. Workability potent greenhouse gas.
3. Soil particle size
4. Permeability Pesticides and their Residues In Soil
5. Extent of maturity
current strict regulations with improperly discarded
There are four major concerns regarding pesticides solvents.
in soil:
1. carryover of pesticides and biologically Soil receives enormous quantities of pesticides as
active degradation products to crops grown an inevitable result of their application to crops. The
in later seasons degradation of these pesticides on soil largely
2. biological effects on organisms in terrestrial determines their ultimate environmental effects.
and aquatic ecosystems including Among the factors to be considered are the
bioaccumulation and transfer through food sorption of the pesticide by soil; leakage of the
chains pesticide into water, as related to its potential for
3. groundwater contamination water pollution; effects of the pesticide on
4. effects on soil fertility microorganisms and animal life in the soil; and
production of relatively more toxic degradation
Herbicides are considered the most common products
chemicals that affect soil and organisms. It is well .
studied that these pesticides and other foreign Soil Loss and Degradation
compounds that remain in soil for a long period
of time have its effects. Some are listed below: Soil is a fragile resource that can be lost by
1. the substances become increasingly erosion or become so degraded that it is no
resistant to extraction and desorption longer useful to support crops.
process The physical properties of soil and its susceptibility
2. they become significantly less bioavailable to erosion, are strongly affected by the cultivation
to organis practices to which the soil is subjected.
3. overall toxicity is decreased
Desertification refers to the process associated with
Wastes in Soil drought and loss of fertility by which soil
becomes unable to grow significant amounts of
Large quantities of waste products are received by plant life. Desertification involves erosion, climate
soil. Sulfur dioxide emitted in the burning of variations, water availability, loss of fertility, loss of
sulfur-containing fuels ends up as sulfate in soil. soil humus, and deterioration of soil chemical
Nitrogen oxides from the atmosphere that are properties.
converted to nitrates are eventually deposited in Soil erosion is the loss of soil by the action of
soil. Particulate lead from the exhaust of an both water and wind; water is the primary source
automobile is found at high concentration in soil of erosion.
along heavily traveled highways. And also, elevated
levels of heavy metals from mines and smelters A related problem is deforestation or loss of
are found on soil near such facilities. forests. The problem is particularly acute in tropical
on of heavy regions, where the forests contain most of the
existing plant and animal species. In addition to
Soil is the receptor of many hazardous wastes from extinction of these species, deforestation can
landfill leachate, lagoons, and other sources. In cause devastating deterioration of soil through
some cases, land farming (land treatment) of erosion and loss of nutrients.
degradable hazardous organic wastes is practiced
as a means of disposal and degradation. Volatile A related problem is deforestation or loss of
organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene forests. The problem is particularly acute in tropical
(C6H6) and toluene (CH), may contaminate soil in regions, where the forests contain most of the
industrialized and commercialized areas. Some of existing plant and animal species. In addition to
the sources of these VOCS are: leaking extinction of these species, deforestation can
underground storage tanks and landfills built before
cause devastating deterioration of soil through
erosion and loss of nutrients.
- Nature and Pollution

- Inorganic and Organic matters
- Adjustment of Soil Acidity
- Macro- and Micronutrients
- Soil Pollutants
- ponents.

Environmental Science - Soil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environmental Science - Soil

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Environmental Science - Soil

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Water is important because it is the basic transport

The A horizon or topsoil is the top layer of soil

- Nature and Pollution

You might also like