CHAPTER ONE

WHAT IS SOIL

Soil is usually referred to as the naturally occurring organic materials found on the
earth’s surface. It is mainly composed of mineral, nutrients, water, other inorganic
particles and some residues of plants and animals. From a general perspective, 
“soil” is a very broad term and refers to the loose layer of earth that covers the
surface of the planet. The soil is the part of the earth’s surface, which includes
disintegrated rock, humus, inorganic and organic materials. For soil to form from
rocks, it takes an average of 500 years or more. The soil is usually formed when
rocks break up into their constituent parts. When a range of different forces act on
the rocks, they break into smaller parts to form the soil. These forces also include
the impact of wind, water and the reaction from salts.

There are three stages of soil:

 Solid soil
 Soil with air in the pores
 Soil with water in the pores
There are various types of soil that undergo diverse environmental pressures. Soil
is mainly classified by its texture, proportions and different forms of organic and
mineral compositions.

Soil is classified into four types:

 Sandy soil.
 Silt Soil.
 Clay Soil.
 Loamy Soil.
Sandy Soil

The first type of soil is sand. It consists of small particles of weathered rock. Sandy
soils are one of the poorest types of soil for growing plants because it has very low
nutrients and poor water holding capacity, which makes it hard for the plant’s roots
to absorb water. This type of soil is very good for the drainage system. Sandy soil
is usually formed by the breakdown or fragmentation of rocks like granite,
limestone and quartz.

Silt Soil
Silt, which is known to have much smaller particles compared to sandy soil and is
made up of rock and other mineral particles, which are smaller than sand and larger
than clay. It is the smooth and fine quality of the soil that holds water better than
sand.  Silt is easily transported by moving currents and it is mainly found near the
river, lake and other water bodies. The silt soil is more fertile compared to the
other three types of soil. Therefore, it is also used in agricultural practices to
improve soil fertility.

Clay Soil
Clay is the smallest particle amongst the other two types of soil. The particles in
this soil are tightly packed together with each other with very little or no airspace.
This soil has very good water storage qualities and makes it hard for moisture and
air to penetrate into it. It is very sticky to the touch when wet, but smooth when
dried.  Clay is the densest and heaviest type of soil which does not drain well or
provide space for plant roots to flourish.

Loamy Soil
Loam is the fourth type of soil. It is a combination of sand, silt and clay such that
the beneficial properties from each is included. For instance, it has the ability to
retain moisture and nutrients; hence, it is more suitable for farming. This soil is
also referred to as agricultural soil as it includes an equilibrium of all three types of
soil materials being sandy, clay, and silt and it also happens to have humus.  Apart
from these, it also has higher calcium and pH levels because of its inorganic
origins.

CHAPTER TWO

Uses of Soil

Agriculture:
Soil is fertile and has the vital nutrients needed to support plant growth for
human and animal needs like food and clothing .

Medicinal:

Soils can be used to make medicine. There are organisms called microbes which
are created in the soil. These microbes are harmful to bacteria; this is why soils
are used to make antibiotics. Skin ointments are also made from soil. Microbes
are tiny organisms not visible by the naked eye.

Cosmetic Products:
Everyday cosmetic products women use is made from soil, examples are
foundation, blush and facial masks.

Waste Decay:

Soil layers help in decaying waste and harmful pollutants. This is necessary
otherwise we would have land full of dead animals, plants and human bodies.
These decayed organic matter are responsible for making petroleum.

Pottery:
Clay soil is used to make pottery and ceramics. When mixed with water and due
to its compact nature one can mold the clay soil into pots, bowls, plates etc.

Building:

Soil can be used to build. A lot of building materials can be made from soil
(bricks etc). It is also mixed with cement to offer support since it is compact and
can hold material.

CHAPTER THREE
DIFFERENTIATE AMONG THE SOIL.
Whether you are using soil for gardening or soil for potted plants, you need to
make sure you have the right kind of soil for your project. The two basic features
you can use to evaluate soil is the fertility and texture. Based on these two features,
there are five main types of soil that you can use. By knowing the key features of
each soil type, you’ll be sure to use the proper type for your landscape project.

1. Sandy Soil
Sandy soil is light, warm, and dry with a low nutrient count. This soil tends
to be light because of its high proportion of sand and low amount of clay.
The benefit of sandy soil is that it has fast water drainage and is quick to
warm up. These features tend to dry out sandy soil in the summer, but
adding organic matter to the soil will give plants a nutrient boost and
improve its water-holding capacity.

2. Clay Soil
Clay weighs more than sand, making it a heavy soil that benefits from high
nutrients. During the winter, clay soils remain cold and wet. In the summer,
they tend to dry out. This soil is made of over 25% clay and the spaces in
between clay particles help the soil to hold a high amount of water. Clay soil
can be frustrating to work with, as it drains slowly and tends to dry and
crack in the summer.

3. Peat Soil
Peat soil is very rarely found in natural gardens. Instead, it is often imported
in to provide a nutrient-rich soil base for planting. Peat soil tends to retain a
large amount of moisture and is high in organic matter, making it perfect for
any landscape supply.

4. Silt Soil
Among the different types of soil, silt soil has a high fertility rating. It is
light and moisture retentive. This soil is made of medium-sized particles,
allow it to both drain well and to hold moisture well. The particles are prone
 to washing away in the rain, but they can be bound in more stable clumps
with an addition of organic matter.

5. Loamy Soil
Loam soil is considered the be the favorite of gardeners. It is made of a
combination of sand, silt, and clay that is designed in such a way to avoid
the negative effects of each type. Loam soil is fertile, easy to work with, and
provides good drainage. By varying the predominant composition, this soil
can be either sandy or clay loam.

When you know the different types of soil, you can make an informed decision
about what to use for your landscape project. Pick the soil that best suits the needs
of your property, and start planting right away.
 CHAPTER FOUR

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CHAPTER ONE
THE MEANING OF FARM ANIMALS
Farm animals are animals raised or kept primarily for consumption, to generate
income and to help with some farm operations. Another name for
them is Livestock. The difference between farm animals (FA) and wild animals is
that farm animals live among men while wild animals live in the wild, forest,
jungle, etc.
EXAMPLES OF FARM ANIMALS
Farm animals are animals kept or raised on farms. The common ones are 
1. Goat
2. Sheep
3. Cattle,
4. Ox,
5. Camel,
6. Buffalo,
7. Horse,
8. Donkey,
9. Mule, 
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15. rabbit 
[Link] pig, etc.
 CHAPTER THREE

ANIMALS THAT LIVE ON LAND

 INCLUDE:

1. CATS,

2. ANTS,

3. DOGS,

4. SPIDERS,

5. KANGAROOS,

6. TIGERS,

7. LIONS,

8. MICE,

9. BATS,

10. BULLS,

11. OXEN

12. LEOPARDS,

13. ELEPHANTS,

ANIMALS THAT LIVES IN WATER

1. CROCRODILE
2. CRAB

3. DOLPHINE

4. BAIKAL SEALS

5. HIPPOPOTAMUS
 CHAPTER FOUR

USES OF FARM ANIMALS

Animal Wild ancestor Domestication Utilization Picture

Riding, racing, carrying and pulling

Donkey African wild ass Africa Beast of burden and draught

Eurasian
Cattle Eurasia Meat, milk and draught
aurochs
Zebu Indian aurochs Eurasia Milk, meat and draught

Bali cattle Banteng SE Asia Meat, milk and draught

Yak Wild yak Tibet Pack animal, milk, meat and hide

Water Wild water

Gayal Gaur India and Malaysia Beast of burden and draught

Iran and Asia

Reindeer Reindeer Eurasia Draught, milk, flesh and hide

Bactrian Wild Bactrian