Importance of soil and 14 Best Uses

Soil is one of the most valuable natural resources available to us.

It is very important for sustenance of life on the earth.
The top soil which is suitable for plant growth is eroded due to human activities like
construction of building, homes, roads and city expansions.
On the other hand the soil layers, responsible for soil fertility, microbiology and
other soil organic matter are polluted and contaminated deliberately due to agricultural
and industrial pollution.
Unfortunately we humans of this generation have been habituated to avoid even soil
contact by foot. Many of us are even unaware of soil, its feel, touch and its properties.

IMPORTANCE OF SOIL
Soil plays a vital role in the survival of living beings on the earth. Its importance can be
listed as
1. Soil fertility: Fertile soil supports growth of plants. In-turn these plants produce vital
needs to humans like food, clothing, furniture, medicine etc. Even other animals, insects
receive food by grazing on plants.
2. Soil microbiology: It
provides

support

for

survival

of

many bacteria,

algae, fungi etc.. These bacteria and microbes present in soil help in environmental
balance like retaining of moisture, decay of dead bodies of animals, plants etc.,
scavenging of waste and other toxic chemicals including plastic.
3.Top soil provides shelter for insects, reptiles, birds and animals. Further top soil is
necessary for even other activities like nesting, reproduction, hatching of eggs, breeding
etc.
4. Soil organic matter contains essential minerals and elements like phosphates,
sulphates, calcium, zinc, magnesium and many more. These elements are provided to
plant during growth and from there to all the living forms. Hence they act as source
of essential minerals and elements needed for various enzyme and cell reactions.

5. Soil a source of minerals: Minerals and mines present in soil is the source of many
metals like iron, bauxite, zinc etc . Many metal elements are mixed up with soil and
hence extracted from soil by technical processes.
6. Soil is used for making utensils, tiles etc. The utensils like cups, plates china clay,
plaster of paris etc. Tiles used in home or building made of ceramic like soil
components.
7. Soil contents like gravel, clay, sand, etc. are widely used for construction of homes,
buildings, roads etc
8. Soil a source medicines: Soil gives us some important mineral medicines like
calcium (bones), iron (anemia) bentonite (laxative) and other substance like petroleum
jelly, steatite for cosmetics, talcum powders etc.
9. Soil keeps atmosphere cool: Soil absorbs water when there is rain and so, when is
there is heavy sun heat, this water from soil evaporates making the air cooler.
Further you might have noticed wind blowing from sea surface to land surface. This is
because soil get heated fast and cools fast unlike water. Hence during heavy summer,
soil gets heated fast and so the air above it raises causing low pressure for the air from
sea surface to flow on to land. This is why the atmosphere remains cool.

USES OF SOIL:
1. Agriculture: Top soil is used for agricultural production of crops necessary for human
and animal food and clothing needs. Soil has fertility like essential minerals and organic
matter needed for cultivation.
2. Microbial growth: Soil texture is suitable for cultivation of bacteria, fungus etc.
These bacteria are suitable for fixing nitrogen and fertility in soil. Further these microbes
produce medicines like antibiotics.
3. Water harvesting: When there is rain, soil absorbs water. This water goes into
deeper layer of soil and is available for Plants and forest to grow. Further this water is
also available as ground water for drinking and cultivation (by bore wells).
4. Soil supports germination: Without soil, the earth would have lacked plants, trees
and forests. When a seed from tree falls on to soil. Soil gives safe protection
and environment for its growth. Hence it is useful for germination of seeds to grow into
plants. Without soil there would have been no trees and plants on the earth. More than
95% of trees in this world are grown naturally by soil without man sowing the seeds.
5. Waste Decay: Soil layers promotes decay of waste and pollutants by microbes. The
decay of organic matter converts to petroleum and other essential resources. Without
soil there would have been no waste decay and world would have been a place full of
corpses (dead bodies) and other waste.