Using and Caring for Soil

How People Use Soil

Soil is used by people in many ways. Farmers use soil to grow the plant crops that we eat for food. They also use soil to raise the animals that provide us with milk, eggs and meat. People also use soil in gardens to grow vegetables and fruits, or plants for decoration. Plants that grow in soil are also used by people to make fabric, such as cotton, which is used to make clothes. Trees also need soil to grow. Trees provide people with the wood we need to build houses or burn for fuel.

AB Activity 8.7

Caring for Soil

Soil takes a long time to form. Just one centimeter of soil can take up to 1,000 years to form. Because it takes so long to form, it is important that we care for soil. We can care for soil by preventing erosion. Erosion can occur when we remove plants from the soil. This makes it easy for topsoil to be washed away by wind and water. When the topsoil is removed, many plants and animals cannot get the things they need from the soil that remains.

Soil can be harmed by pollution. Soil pollution occurs when harmful things, such as chemicals and rubbish, are added to soil.

Think Deeply

How can water pollution affect land and soil pollution?

Science Words

Use the words to complete the sentences.

minerals rocks magma igneous rocks volcano lava sedimentary rock metamorphic rock rock cycle soil humus weathering

1. Molten rock beneath the Earth’s surface is called .

2. is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces. 3. The part of soil that is rich in the remains of dead organisms is called .

4. On Earth, rocks are continually forming, weathering and changing form in a process called the . 5. Rock formed when igneous and sedimentary rocks are subject to heat and pressure are . 6. Layers of sediment press together to form .

7. A is an opening in the Earth’s surface through which magma flows as . 8. All are made up of one or more minerals.

9.

the Earth. are non-living substances that are formed naturally in

10.

11. form when magma or lava cools and solidifies.

is a mixture of weathered rock, minerals and other living and non-living things.