SOILHOW DOES SOIL AFFECT

LIVING THINGS?

Why is soil important?

SOIL provides support and nutrients

for plant growth to give us…

• Medicine

• Food

• Cotton to make clothes

• Wood

Weatheringbreaks down rocks to create soil.

It can be caused by weather, water, or living things

How was soil formed?

It takes thousands of

years

There are three components of soil:

1. Weathered Rocks rocks broken into small pieces by weather

2. Minerals

3. Humus from the remains of dead plants and animals

• Soil is a mixture of

Humus

Humus is made of leaves, twigs, small animals, or other decayed substances.

Humus adds many nutrients to the soil.

Humus is in the dark in color.

3 Layers of Soil

1. Topsoil (The layer on TOP)

2. Subsoil (The prefix SUB means under)

3. Bedrock (It’s hard as rock down there!)

Humus and minerals gives the topsoil a rich brown color.

Lighter color with less humus and minerals.

Mostly rocks.Also called Solid Rock