Different Types of Soil for Class 5 Science
- Soil is an essential natural resource. As India is an agriculture-based country, it is highly dependent on fertile tracts of soil for growing crops that vastly boost our economy. Different types of soil are found in different regions of the country.
- Soil is formed gradually over a long period by the process of weathering.
- Various agents like water, wind, and microbes help in this process.
- Different places have different soil types because of the minerals in the parent rock.
- Soil is home to a large number of microorganisms. Some of these microbes help in improving soil fertility.
Process of Soil Formation and its Components
Question 1:
Which type of soil covers the major areas of the northern plains of India?
Answer:
Alluvial soil covers the major areas of the northern plains as different rivers, and their tributaries flood them.
Question 2:
What is pedology?
Answer:
The scientific study of the origin, nature, distribution and classification of soil is called pedology.
Question 3:
What is Kaolinite?
Answer:
It is a clay-like material that forms due to weathering of feldspars.
Question 4:
Which climate is favourable for the process of weathering?
Answer:
A moist and humid climate increases the rate of weathering, whereas weathering is slowest in a cold and arid climate.
Question 5:
How does temperature influence the rate of weathering?
Answer:
Temperature influences the rate of weathering in the following ways—
- A rise in temperature increases the rate of chemical reaction, thereby increasing the rate of chemical weathering.
- The high temperature allows the microbes to grow well, increasing the rate of biological weathering.
Question 6:
Does the Sun play a role in the formation of soil? If yes, how?
Answer:
Due to the Sun’s heat, rocks expand during the day. When the temperature falls at night, they cool down and contract. This contraction leads to the formation of cracks in the rocks, and hence, they become more prone to weathering.
Types of Soil
Question 1:
Which type of soil is considered ideal for food production and why?
Answer:
Loamy soil is considered ideal for food production as it is rich in nutrients and organic matter and holds the perfect amounts of air and water.
Question 2:
Do you think garden soil varies from place to place? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, garden soil varies from place to place because of the parent material, climate, and terrain of a place.
The common things one can find in the garden soil are humus, fertilisers, and microbes.
Question 3:
What is added to neutralise acidic soil?
Answer:
Quick lime is added to neutralise acidic soil.
Question 4:
Why does desert soil have less organic matter?
Answer:
- Desert soil does not provide enough humidity or water to the organisms. As a result, it is difficult for these living organisms to survive. There is a limited number of plants and animals in deserts.
- Too much dryness in the desert soil does not support any microbial activity, which would have led to an increase in the organic matter.