Soil Components

Q uestion 1: Write the scientific term:

1- The loose superficial layer of earth’s crust.

Soil  

2 - The decayed remains of plants and animals.

Humus  

3 - Minute living organisms exist in soil.

Micro-organisms  

Q uestion 2: Complete the following:

1- The scientists classify the soil due to difference in ……… and ……… .

colour – texture  

2 - The decayed remains of plants and animals are called ……… .

humus  

3 - The colour of humus is usually ……… or ……… .

dark brown – black  

4 - Humus adds ……… to soil.

nutrients

5 - Many living organisms take the soil as ……… .

home

6 - The rocks can be divided into small pieces by ……… or ……… .

water - wind

7 - The soil consists of ……… mixed with ……… and ………

broken rocks – decayed material – micro-organisms

8 - The composition of soil includes ………, ………, ……… and ……… .

gravel – mud – silt – humus

9 - The origin of Egypt’s soil is rocks of ……… .

Ethiopian plateau  

G ive reasons for:

1- The soil is important for plants.

Because plants can’t grow without soil.

2 - Many living organisms depend on soil.

Because they use it as a home for living and all land organisms depend on the soil.

3 - Humus is important for the soil.

Because it adds nutrients to soil.  

4 - The soil is related to many living organisms.

Because many living organisms depend in their life on the soil.

5 - Roots of plants help the soil.

Because they hold the soil in place and soil erosion does not happen quickly  

Q uestion 4: Write the relation between soil and each of the following.

1- Insects:

They make nests to lay eggs.

2 - Earth worms:

They dig tunnels to make homes.  

3 - Plants:

They fix roots and hold the plant.  

Q uestion 5:

What are the soil different components?

gravels – silt – mud – humus

Q uestion 6:

Explain: How was Egypt’s soil formed?

Due to the breaking down of rocks in Ethiopian plateau then transferred by flood water to Egypt and deposited year after year as layers.

Q uestion 1: Complete the following:

1- Soil can be classified into three different types ………, ………, and ……… .

clay – sand – silt

2 - The ……… soil is a mixture of gravel, sand, clay silt and more humus.

silt  

3 - The size of particles in clay soil is ……… .

small  

4 - The silt soil has ……… colour while sand soil has ……… colour .

grey – yellow  

5 - The ……… soil is poorly aerated.

clay  

6 - The ……… soil has the greatest draining of water.

sand

7 - The ……… soil is considered the best soil.

silt  

8 - The fertility is high in ……… soil.

silt

9 - The ……… soil is highly compacted.

clay

1 0- Potato and sweat potato can be planted in ……… soil.

sand  

1 1- Cotton, rice and sugar can be cultivated in ……… .

clay soil  

1 2- Many plants grow efficiently in ……… soil.

silt  

Q uestion 2: Give reasons for:

1- Silt soil is the best soil.

Because it is highly fertile, medium aeration and medium drainage of water.  

2 - Silt soil is high fertile.

Because it contains a high amount of humus.

3 - Clay soil is poorly aerated.

Because size of particles is small and small spaces are exist between them.  

4 - Peanut plants grow in sand soil.

Because they give fruits beneath soil surface.  

Q uestion 3: Compare between the three types of soil from the following points.

(colour – size of particles – aeration – compactness – fertility – drainage of water)

Q uestion 4: Correct the words between brackets:

1- The (silt) soil has yellow colour.

sand  

2 - The clay soil is (high)-aerated.

poor  

3 - The clay soil is (high) fertile.

medium  

4 - The cotton is suitable in (sand) soil.

clay  

5 - The (clay) soil contains more humus.

silt  

6 - The draining of water is high in (clay) soil.

sand  

7 - The colour of clay soil is (grey).

dark

8 - The aeration is (medium) in sand soil.

poor

Q uestion 5: Mention an example for:

1- Plants grow in clay soil.

Cotton  

2 - Plants grow in silt soil.

Strawberries

3 - Plants grow in sand soil.

Sweet potatoes.  

4 - High fertile soil.

Silt soil  

5 - Poor-aerated soil.

Clay soil  

6 - Dark colour soil.

Clay soil  

7 - Medium drainage soil.

Silt soil