Soil resources are soils, which are the main source of raw materials for the production of food products, as well as some types of non-food products.
Soil concept
Soil can be described as the center of an ecosystem. Preservation of biological diversity requires respect for the soil. The vast majority of representatives of flora and fauna are concentrated in it. Soils and soil resources accumulate energy, the basis of which is humus. All this is due to the fact that the soil is not the whole earth, but only its surface layer, which has fertility.
Earth and soil
Land resources represent the earth's surface on which it is possible to place various economic objects, as well as buildings and settlements.
One of the most important areas of land use is agricultural. The latter is possible only in relation to soils. Land resources in our country are huge, soil resources are much more modest.
In this regard, they often talk about soils and soil and land resources.
Soil value
Soil is a non-renewable resource. It serves as the habitat of many living organisms, and also performs a protective function.
What is the importance of soil resources? When answering the question, you need to try to imagine the whole wave of pollutants that spills on the ground by various manufacturers. It is the soil that is the primary link that binds these pollutants, making them largely inaccessible to flora and fauna, from which some of these harmful substances could get to a person along trophic chains, causing permanent damage to his health. However, the perpetual motion machine does not exist, so the possibilities of soils are limited, especially in conditions of technogenic pollution.
According to some reports, a lack of magnesium in the diet can cause oncology of the stomach. In food, all the necessary elements enter the food chain from the soil.
A large number of microorganisms are concentrated in soil resources, most of which are useful.
In addition, many animals live in the ground, which, together with pathogenic microflora, can cause human diseases.
Thus, there is both a positive value of soil resources and a negative value.
Soil resources and their features
Soil resources are a place of accumulation of phytomass; animals and microorganisms live here, which decompose dying remains. As a result, all organic matter accumulates in the soil. This is the peculiarity of soil resources.
Various processes take place in the soil to create and destroy chemicals of various nature, both organic and mineral.
The chemicals necessary for life accumulate in the phytomass. Not all of these substances are needed by plants, most of them undergo migration, the speed of which is largely determined by the granulometric composition of soils.
The soil resources of our planet together form the pedosphere. Soil processes are included in all global biogeochemical cycles.
What are the features of soil resources? Thus, the answer to this question lies on the surface. The peculiarities are that there are many different soils on the planet in type, granulometric and chemical compositions, physical properties, various plants grow on them, various microorganisms live in them, which causes their various properties.
Russian soil
Our country has many different zones. In this regard, the soil resources of Russia are diverse.
In our country there are brown, brown, gray forest soils, chernozems, soddy, podzolic, permafrost, yellow soils, red soils and many other types of soils.
Gley soils are mainly located in the north of our country. They contain a large amount of oxygen, they are waterlogged and practically unsuitable for agricultural use. In this regard, the flora growing on these soils is quite poor and is mainly represented by shrubs and mosses.
Podzolic soils are widespread in the taiga zone of conifers, which are characterized by increased acidity due to the decomposition of falling needles. Due to precipitation, acidity is somewhat neutralized, but podzolic soils are considered infertile. On these soils, large quantities of calcareous materials must be used, which help to neutralize acidity or grow crops that are not afraid of high acidity: potatoes, lupine and several others.
Closer to the center of Russia are brown and gray forest soils. They are rich in ash. The most fertile of these soil types are located in the forest-steppe zone.
In addition to these soils, the soil resources of Russia are also represented by chernozems, which are the most fertile soils. Among them, 5 types of chernozems are distinguished, which differ in the content of humus, and, as a result, in fertility. In some cases, the thickness of the humus horizon in these types of soils can reach or even exceed 1 meter (while in brown and gray forest soils it can reach a maximum of 45 cm).
In arid steppe conditions, chestnut soils prevail . They are less fertile compared with chernozems. These types of soils, as well as others that are common in the steppe zones - gray soils, gray-brown soils - are saline soils.
Improving soil fertility
Not all soils have the same soil fertility. It must be improved in soil resources. This is achieved by applying organic (peat, manure, compost, green fertilizer, straw) and mineral fertilizers (all mineral fertilizers, except those containing chlorine, are universal, therefore, when fertilizers intended for vegetables are sold, this is not entirely true , they can be used for various crops, depending on the availability of soil with nutrients available to plants). In addition, liming of acidic soils is carried out, alkaline gypsum is cast, marshy soils are drained, soils located in arid conditions, on the contrary, are irrigated.
Grading
Soils are formed during the weathering of rocks. In this case, various particles are formed. Such particles have soil resources of organic and organomineral origin, which are formed as a result of natural processes.
Particles having different sizes have different effects on fertility. So, stones interfere with ensuring the high-quality fulfillment of agrotechnical requirements.
Gravel is characterized by poor water holding capacity and moisture capacity.
In sand, they are slightly better, high permeability. Crops grown in open ground can be cultivated in the sands when reaching a moisture capacity of 10% or higher.
Coarse dust has approximately the same properties as sand. With the predominance of medium and coarse dust in the soil, they become prone to swimming.
Fine dust is capable of swelling and shrinkage, is characterized by stickiness and dense addition.
In many ways, soil fertility depends on the content of sludge. This fraction contributes to the flow of physical and chemical processes, is characterized by good absorption capacity, and is characterized by a high humus content. Sludge particles mainly contribute to the formation of well-structured soil resources. This does not always happen. So, in the case of a low content of humic substances, soils can have unfavorable water and air properties.
Different particles may be contained in the same soil. Their ratio is called the particle size distribution.
Soils with a predominance of sand and clay have different properties. As granules become heavier, the mineralogical composition of soils improves, which leads to an increase in the content of nutrients, an improvement in the course of humus accumulation and on the processes of structure formation.
Thus, the soil fertility is affected not only by the type of soil, but also by its granulometric composition.
Soil chemistry
Most soils contain oxygen. A lot of silicon, aluminum. Compared to the lithosphere, soil resources contain more carbon and nitrogen generated as a result of biogenic activity.
Compared to the lithosphere, the content of hydrogen and oxygen increases, which is associated with the weathering of rocks.
In each type of soil there are soil horizons for which their chemical composition is characteristic.
Finally
Thus, soil resources are soils that are located in a certain territory. On the territory of our country, many types of soils are common. This is due to the fact that in spatial terms Russia is divided into many zones. Different types of soils are fertile. It is influenced not only by the type, but also by the particle size and chemical compositions. Different soils have different thermal, water, air and nutrient regimes. All this leads to various types of living organisms prevailing in different soils.