Formation of soil from the parent material (bedrock): mechanical weathering of rocks by temperature changes, abrasion, wind, moving

water, glaciers, chemical weathering activities and lichens.

Under ideal climatic conditions, soft parent material may develop into 1 cm of soil within 15 years.

 O-horizon: freshly-fallen & partiallydecomposed leaves, twigs, animal waste, fungi & organic materials. Colour: brown or black. A-horizon: humus/partially decomposed organic matter & some inorganic mineral particles. darker & looser than the deeper layers. O & A-horizon: contain a large amount of bacteria, fungi, earthworms, small insects, forms complex food web in soil, recycles soil nutrients, & contribute to soil fertility. B-horizon /(subsoil): less organic material & fewer organisms than A- horizon. C-horizon: consists of broken-up bedrock, does not contain any organic materials. Chemical composition helps to determine pH of soil & also influences soils rate of water absorption & retention. R-horizon: The unweathered rock (bedrock) layer that is beneath all the other layers

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil pollution is caused by the presence of chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment. Resulting in a change of the soil quality likely to affect the normal use of the soil or endangering public health and the living environment.

SOIL POLLUTION
Soil contaminants are spilled onto the surface through many different activities. Most of these are the result of accidents involving the vehicles that are transporting waste material from site of origin to a disposal site. Others involve accidents involving vehicles (automobiles, trucks and airplanes) not transporting wastes, but carrying materials, including fuel, that when spilled contaminate the soil.

Agricultural Soil Pollution i) Pollution of surface soil

ii) pollution of underground soil

Soil pollution by industrial effluents and solid wastes i) pollution of surface soil ii) disturbances in soil profile

Pollution due to urban activities i) pollution of surface soil ii) pollution of underground soil

CAUSE OF SOIL POLLUTION

Pollution in soil is associated with Indiscriminate use of fertilizers insecticides and herbicides Dumping of large quantities of solid waste

Deforestation and soil erosion

INDISCRIMINATE USE OF FERTILIZERS

Farmers generally use fertilizers to correct soil deficiencies. Fertilizers contaminate the soil with impurities, which come from the raw materials used for their manufacture. Mixed fertilizers often contain (NH4NO3), P2O5, and K2O. For instance, As, Pb and Cd present in traces in rock phosphate mineral get transferred to super phosphate fertilizer. reduces the protein content of wheat, maize, grams, etc., grown on that soil. The vegetables and fruits grown on over fertilized soil are more prone to attacks by insects and disease.

INDISCRIMINATE USE OF PESTICIDES, INSECTICIDES AND HERBICIDES

Plants on which we depend for food are under attack from insects, fungi, bacteria, viruses, rodents and other animals, and must compete with weeds for nutrients. First widespread insecticide use began at the end of World War II and included DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) and gammaxene. Decrease the fertility of the soil

DUMPING OF SOLID WASTES

In general, solid waste includes garbage, domestic refuse and discarded solid materials such as those from commercial, industrial and agricultural operations.

DEFORESTATION
Soil Erosion occurs when the weathered soil particles are dislodged and carried away by wind or water.

 Humans speed up this process by construction, mining, cutting of timber, over cropping and overgrazing.
Many scientists believe that a wealth of medicinal substances including a cure for cancer and aids, lie in these forests. Deforestation is slowly destroying the most productive flora and fauna areas in the world, which also form vast tracts of a very valuable sink for CO2.

EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

The build-up of toxic compounds, chemicals, salts and radioactive elements in the soil has an adverse effect on the growth of plants and indirectly affects the health of human beings.

There are two ways one can actually come in contact with contaminated soil :Directly Indirectly

DISEASES CAUSED BY SOIL POLLUTION

Cancer Kidney and Liver Disease Malaria Cholera and Dysentery Skin and Stomach Infections

CONTROL OF SOIL POLLUTION

Soil pollution leads to the degradation of the quality of soils and decrease in the crop-production. At times especially due to excessive erosion the entire area is turned into wasteland unsuitable for cultivation.

MEASURE TO CONTROL SOIL POLLUTION ARE

Reducing chemical fertilizer and pesticide use Reusing of materials Recycling and recovery of materials Reforesting Solid waste treatment