Water resources
Soil Sciences is the study of soil as a natural resource on
Water is vital to life, its cover 70% of the earth
Properties of the water
Water is a universal solvent
Water has a neutral PH level
3 main process of water cycle
*Evaporation- it is a process in which liquid water
changes into vapor
*Condensation- it occurs when water droplets in the
clouds became larger and heavy
*Precipitation- water vapor falls down.
3 ways to produce water vapor
*Sublimation – when ice can directly transform into
water vapor
*Evaporation- when water from the surface of the
earth transform into water vapor.
*Transpiration- when water from the plants transform
into water vapor
Oceans- is the biggest reservoir of water, it is belong
to surface water as marine water.
4 Recognized Oceans in History
 Atlantic Ocean
 Pacific Ocean
 Indian Ocean
 Arctic Ocean
Salinity – it is the saltiness of water
3 major zone of the ocean
*Surface Layer- first layer of the ocean, it consists of
relatively warm, low density water, extends from the
ocean surface to a depth of 100m
*Thermocline- it is the second layer of the major zone
of ocean.
*Deep zone- the last layer of the major zone of the
oceans.
Aquifer it is a layers of rock or sand that can absorb and
hold water.
Aquitards – deposits that do not easily transmit water.
2 types of aquifer
a) Unconfined aquifers – geologic units in which
the water is exposed to atmospheric pressure
b) Confined aquifers – are under pressure and
separated from the ground surface and
atmospheric pressure by confining layer or
aquitard.
the surface of the Earth including soil formation,
classification and mapping
Pedosphere- it is a living skin of the earth surface
which is a result of the dynamic interaction in the
four sub system.
Soil formations- weathering of rocks, may result from
physical or chemical change it may be in slow or in rapid
process.
Five Factors that affects a soil formation.
 Parent Materials- Important in soil formation
because its chemistry and type will determine
the kind of soil that will formed along with the
effects of the other factors.
 Climate- Temperature, rainfall and moisture
affects the pattern and intensity of soil –
forming processes such as weathering, leaching,
transportation and distribution.
 Topography- The gradient of the slope affects
water flow and erosion. Soils that form in steep
slopes tend to be thinner because of the higher
rates of erosion.
 Biological Factors- Organisms such as plants,
animals microorganisms and humans affect soil
formation. Animals and microorganisms mix the
soil through burrowing, while plant roots aid in
the weathering process as they grow.
 Time- The formation of the soil is long and
continuous process which may take hundreds
to thousands of years depending on the climate
and environment.
Soil profile- the sequence of soil horizons from the
surface down to underlying bedrocks.
Major horizons; A, B and C
How human activities degrade soil quality
 Soil Erosion- refers to the absolute soil losses in
terms of topsoil and nutrients. It is indeed the
most visible effect of soil degradation. It is a
natural process but it often made such worse by
poor management practices.
 Soil Compaction- Reduces the amount of air,
water, an space available to roots and soil
organisms. An example of compaction is caused
by repeated traffic or travelling on wet soil.
 Desertification- Is the irreversible change of the
land to such a state where it can no longer be
covered for its original use. It is characterized by
droughts and arid conditions as a result of
human activities and exploitation.
Desertification is a major threat to world soils
and currently affects about one – sixth of the
 world’s population and a quarter of the world’s
land.
 Intensive Agriculture- Intensification of
agriculture has led to the use of more an
heavier machinery, deforestation and clearing
of land for use in cultivation.
 Urbanization- The increasing population has led
to the conversion of land to urban center which
are generally characterized by concrete
structure, roads and pavements.
Conservation of soil resource and
protection of soil
 Contour Farming- Refers to the tilling at the
right angles to the slope of the land. It is one of
the simplest method for preventing soil erosion.
 Strip Farming- Is practiced when a slope is too
steep or too long, in strip farming, alternating
strips are closely sown on crops such as corn.
 Terracing- One practical method of preventing
soil erosion on a very steep land is to construct
terraces. Terraces are level areas constructed at
a right angles to the slope to retain water and
greatly reduce the amount of erosion.
 Water ways- Are depressions on sloping land
where water collects and flows off the land.
 Wind Breaks- reduce the speed of the wind and
decrease the amount of soil that is carried
away.
 LOAM- ideal soil for
agriculture
 Clay- type of soil that are
mostly rusty- red in color
(NOTE: MEMORIZE AND UNDERSTAND THE
SOIL ORDER IN YOUR NOTEBOOK)
 Industrial waste- Waste coming
from the sources other than mining.
Demolition waste, scrap from
manufacturing processes, ash
 Municipal solid waste-Materials
that people in a region no longer
want because it is broken or spoiled
or has no use. Waste from
communities are often commercially
sold because it can be recycled
Methods of Waste Disposal
 Landfill- Cheapest and most
convenient waste disposal.
Constructed above an impermeable
clay layer lined with an impermeable
membrane.
 Incineration- Burning in a controlled
manner using an incinerator
(thermal treatments). Converted
into gases, particles, and heat for
generation of electricity.Gases are
treated to eradicate pollutants
 Mulch and Compost- Method of
allowing the natural process of
decomposition to transform organic
materials into humus (or compost).
Mulch – organic material used to
over the soil
 Source reduction- Method of
designing, manufacturing,
purchasing, using and reusing
materials so amount of waste is
reduced.
 Recycling- Collecting materials and
turning into new products

HUMAN ACTIVITY AND ENVIRONMENT

Waste Managements- Generation,
prevention, characterization, monitoring,
treatment, handling, reuse and residual
disposition of solid waste.

Solid Waste- Made up of objects or

particles that accumulate on the site where
they are produced.

KINDS OF SOLID WASTE

 Mining waste- Large amounts of
rock and soil removed to get to the
ore. These are left on the surface at
the mine site.
 Agricultural waste- Common form
of waste from raising animals and
harvesting and processing or crops
and trees