Let's dig into the wonders of the earth beneath our feet with this KS2 Science quiz all about soil! It's a mix of clay, sand, water, air, and special stuff called humus, full of nutrients.
Guess what? It takes hundreds of years for just one inch of soil to form! That's why we need to protect topsoil from washing away. Soil is made of clay or sand, water, and humus from decayed bits of plants and animals. Plants use these nutrients, making a cycle in the food chain.
Do you know which soil lets water drain best? Test your soil smarts with this cool KS2 Science quiz!
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You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is soil made from?
Soil also contains weathered bedrock, clay and sand
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Humus is the decayed remains of organisms (plants, animals, insects, etc.) that have died
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Soils containing a lot of iron become a rusty colour
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The more permeable soil is, the easier it is for water to drain away - less-permeable soil holds water better
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Loam is very fertile because it has plenty of humus to provide nutrients to the plants; it is also permeable enough to contain air, but not so permeable that it allows water to drain away too quickly
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We rely on soil for many things
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Climate has an important effect on soil - high rainfall will usually produce an acidic soil
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Clay soil is sticky when wet, and forms hard lumps. In hot weather it often cracks
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Sandy soil does not hold moisture very well
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Observing after rain might give you a rough idea but measuring how much water drains would be a proper scientific test
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