Question

What is the significance of soil as a natural resource?

Answer 1

Hint: Natural resources are broadly described as substances that exist naturally on earth. They are used to support life and meet human needs. Based on their availability, natural resources can be categorised into renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are naturally replenished and thus have the advantage of unlimited supply over a long period. Whereas, non-renewable resources have a limited supply and thus, take a very long time to replenish. The five most important natural resources on earth are air, water, soil, iron and forests.

Complete answer: Soil is used to describe the top layer of rock debris and organic materials that form on the earth’s surface. It plays a vital role in balancing the planet’s ecosystem and supporting life on it. Soil provides anchorage for roots by absorbing and retaining water and nutrients. It serves as a biological habitat to smaller and microscopic creatures. It is the foundation of man-made structures and a source of raw materials for construction. Apart from these, the most significant function of the soil maintains the nitrogen cycle by converting nitrogen into multiple chemical forms as it circulates between the atmosphere, terrestrial and marine ecosystems through the process of fixation, ammonification, nitrification and denitrification. The degradation of soil quality and erosion resulting from human activities has become a widespread issue and must be controlled so as to conserve soil.

Note: Various factors affect the formation of soil namely relief, parent material, climate, vegetation and other life-forms and time. Based on genesis, colour, composition and location, soils in India are categorised into Alluvial soils, Black soils, Red soils, Laterite soils, Desert soils, Saline soils and Forest soils.