Ans. For cotton, sandy loam or loam, which drain water easily and can hold plenty of air, are more suitable.
Ans. Crops such as wheat are grown in the fine clayey soils, because they are rich in humus and are very fertile.
Ans. On the basis of the proportion of particles of various sizes, the soil can be classified as sandy, clayey and loamy.
Ans. Soil holds water in it, which is called soil moisture. The capacity of a soil to hold water is important for various crops.
Ans. The nature of any soil depends upon the rocks from which it has been formed and the type of vegetation that grows in it.
Ans. Silt occurs as a deposit in river beds. The size of the silt particles is between those of sand and clay.
Ans. The soil is formed by the breaking down of rocks by the action of wind, water and climate. It is a very slow process.
Ans. On a hot summer day, the vapour coming out of the soil reflects the sunlight and thus, the air above the soil seems to shimmer.
Ans. For paddy, soils rich in clay and organic matter and having a good capacity to retain water are ideal.
Ans. Soil is formed by the breaking down of rocks by the action of wind, water and climate. This process is called weathering.
Ans. Clayey soil retains the highest amount of water and sandy soil retains the least.
Ans. Soil supports the growth of plants by holding the roots firmly and supplying water and nutrients.
Ans. Clayey soil is useful for crops because:
i. It is good at retaining water.
ii. It is rich in organic matter.
Ans. Soil is affected by wind, rainfall, temperature, light and humidity. These are some important climatic factors which affect the soil profile and bring changes in the soil structure.
Ans. Top soil is known as the habitat of many living organisms because this provides shelter for many living organisms such as worms, rodents, moles and beetles.
Ans. Top soil is important for plant growth because it is rich in humus and minerals which makes the soil fertile and provides nutrients to growing plants.
Ans. Polythene bags and plastics pollute the soil. They also kill the organisms living in the soil. That is why there is a demand to ban the polythene bags and plastics.
Ans. A vertical section through different layers of the soil is called the soil profile. Each layer differs in feel (texture), colour, depth and chemical composition. These layers are referred to as horizons.
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