Particularly, soil air is needed by many of the microorganisms that release plant nutrients to the soil. Since plant roots require water and oxygen (from the air in pore spaces), maintaining the balance between root and aeration and soil water availability is a critical aspect of managing crop plants.

Soil water is particularly important in nutrient management. In addition to sustaining all life on Earth, soil water provides a pool of dissolved nutrients that are readily available for plant uptake. Therefore, it is important to maintain proper levels of soil moisture. Water is a necessary for the weathering of soil.

In addition to soil fertility, soil microorganisms play essential roles in the nutrient cycles that are fundamental to life on the planet. Fertile soils teem with soil microbes. A better understanding of soil microbiology is essential if agricultural production is to meet the needs of a growing world population.

The following is the role of Soil and Water in our daily life: Soil and water are crucial factors in the existence of humans. Soil filters our water replenishes vital nutrients to our forests and crops. It helps to regulate the temperature of the Earth and many of the primary greenhouse gases.

These soil functions include: air quality and composition, temperature regulation, carbon and nutrient cycling, water cycling and quality, natural “waste” (decomposition) treatment and recycling, and habitat for most living things and their food. We could not survive without these soil functions.

Functions of Soil in the Global Ecosystem medium for plant growth, regulator of water supplies, recycler of raw materials, habitat for soil organisms, and.

Major functions of the soil are: It supports plant growth by holding the roots firmly and supplying water and nutrients to the plants….Properties of Soil

• It contains air.
• It can hold water or moisture.
• It can absorb or soak water.
• It allows water to pass down through it.

Humans use soil as a holding facility for solid waste, filter for wastewater, and foundation for our cities and towns. Finally, soil is the basis of our nation’s agroecosystems which provide us with feed, fiber, food and fuel.

While there’s no such thing as a perfect soil, different plants grow best in different types of soil. Most common garden plants prefer loam — soils with a balance of different-sized mineral particles (approximately 40% sand, 40% silt, and 20% clay) with ample organic matter and pore space.

Soil is composed of both biotic—living and once-living things, like plants and insects—and abiotic materials—nonliving factors, like minerals, water, and air. Soil contains air, water, and minerals as well as plant and animal matter, both living and dead.

An example of a nonliving object is an apple or a dead leaf. A nonliving object may have some characteristics of living things but does not have all 5 of the characteristics. A car can move and use energy, which makes it seem alive, but a car cannot reproduce.

For young students things are ‘living’ if they move or grow; for example, the sun, wind, clouds and lightning are considered living because they change and move. Others think plants and certain animals are non-living.

The first step in repairing damaged soil is to begin adding nutrients and structure back into the ground. This will take you from “dirt” to real “soil”. Some of the best and easiest soil amendments are compost and aged manure (just don’t use cat or dog feces).