Recognizing the limitations of earlier soil classification systems, the Soil Survey Staff of the US Soil Conservation Service developed an exhaustive and scientific classification scheme in 1975, known as Soil Taxonomy. This system aimed to classify the world’s soils systematically based on their composition, development, and weathering. Key Features of Soil Taxonomy: The 10 Major…
Imagine Earth as a giant quilt, where different patches of land have unique soils shaped by climate, vegetation, and parent material. Soil scientist Curtis Fletcher Marbut classified soils into three broad categories—Zonal, Intrazonal, and Azonal soils—each defined by the degree of influence from environmental factors. Zonal Classification of Soil 1. Zonal Soils: The Climatic Influence…
Let’s say you are an explorer, traveling across different landscapes—from lush green valleys to arid deserts, from black fertile fields to red rocky terrains. The ground beneath your feet changes as you move, and each type of soil tells a story of its origin, formation, and characteristics. To understand and categorize this diversity, scientists have…
Imagine a world map with animals moving across continents—some slowly over thousands of years, others in sudden bursts, driven by necessity, opportunity, or human intervention. This movement, known as animal dispersal, shapes ecosystems and influences biodiversity. Just as plants spread through seed dispersal, animals also migrate from their places of origin to new habitats. Their…
Imagine we are travellers in time and space, tracing the footsteps of plants as they embark on their grand voyage across the planet. Unlike animals, plants do not have legs to walk, wings to fly, or fins to swim. Yet, they have conquered almost every corner of the Earth. How? Through the remarkable process of…
Soil is the foundation of life on Earth, the bedrock of agriculture, and the storehouse of essential nutrients. However, soil erosion threatens this precious resource, putting food security, water availability, and ecosystems at risk. Preventing soil erosion is not just an environmental necessity—it is an economic and social imperative. So, how do we protect our…
Imagine you are standing on a lush green hilltop, feeling the soft soil beneath your feet. This top layer of soil, the topsoil, is where life thrives—it holds essential nutrients, supports plant roots, and sustains entire ecosystems. But what if this precious layer begins to disappear? This is the story of soil erosion—the gradual or…
Land degradation is a serious environmental issue that results in the deterioration of soil quality, reduced agricultural productivity, and disruption of ecosystems. It occurs due to both natural processes and human activities, leading to loss of vegetation cover, soil erosion, and decreased land fertility. In India, where a large population depends on agriculture, land degradation…
Suppose you are walking through a vast, fertile field where the soil is rich, dark, and full of life. This is how nature intended soil to be—a thriving ecosystem that sustains crops, forests, and grasslands. But as we continue our journey, we notice something disturbing. The soil is losing its vitality. It is becoming dry,…
Soil isn’t just formed overnight—it takes thousands, sometimes millions, of years for natural forces to shape it. Five major factors act as architects of soil, determining its composition, fertility, and characteristics. 1. Climate Climate is the most dominant factor in soil formation because it influences moisture levels and temperature, which drive soil-forming processes. 💡 Example:…
