Page 69 - Ripples SCIENCE 7 - TEJPUR Edition 2024 Answer Key

10. What is soil erosion?

Ans. Removal of the fertile topsoil by wind or water is called soil erosion. It occurs when
the soil is left without vegetation or due to deforestation. The roots of the plants or

trees keep the soil together and allow several microorganisms to grow and survive in
it.

G. Long-answer questions

1. Write two properties each of loamy, clayey and sandy soil.
Ans. Loamy Soil : Loamy soil consists of a mixture of sand, clay and silt. It is also rich in

humus. It has small and big particles in roughly the same proportion.
Sandy Soil : Sandy soil is light, aerated and dry in nature. This type of soil lacks

nutrients, hence it does not support the diverse growth of plants.
Clayey Soil : It consists of a large quantity of fine particles. Because of their small size,

the clay particles are tightly packed and have very little space between them. Due to

little space, clayey soil is not well aerated like sandy soil.
2. Why is soil an inseparable part of our life?

Ans. Soil is an inseparable part of our life because :
Agriculture : Soil provides the foundation for growing crops, which are essential for

food production.
Habitat : It supports plant growth, which in turn provides habitat and food for

animals.

Water Filtration : Soil filters and cleans water as it percolates through, maintaining
the water cycle.

Nutrient Cycling : It helps in recycling nutrients, making them available for plants.
Construction : Soil is used as a building material and foundation for structures.

Climate Regulation : Soil plays a role in regulating the Earth's climate by storing
carbon and other greenhouse gases.

3. Discuss the various steps that must be taken to conserve soil.

Ans. The various steps taken to conserve soil are :
• Before dumping anything into the soil, it must be treated properly to remove

pollutants such as harmful chemicals.
• Use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers should be minimised.

• Use of low-grade plastic should be banned as it not only pollutes the soil but
also endangers the lives of various living organisms in the soil.

• Substances that release gaseous pollutants, like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur,
should be avoided as far as possible, to reduce the risk of acid rain.

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