Earth Science 11

Earth Science – Grade 11

Quarter 1 – Module 13: Quality and Quantity of Soil.
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education Division of Pasig City

Development Team of the Self-Learning Module

Writer: Mariel C. Villamor

Editor: Ronald C. Dumapias
Reviewers: Ronald C. Dumapias
Illustrator:
Layout Artist: Mark Kihm G. Lara
Management Team: Ma. Evalou Concepcion A. Agustin
OIC-Schools Division Superintendent
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Pasig City
Earth Science 11
Quarter 1
Self-Learning Module 13
Quality and Quantity of Soil.
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Earth Science Self-Learning Module 13 on Quality and

Quantity of Soil.

This Self-Learning Module was collaboratively designed, developed and

reviewed by educators from the Schools Division Office of Pasig City headed by its
Officer-in-Charge Schools Division Superintendent, Ma. Evalou Concepcion A.
Agustin, in partnership with the City Government of Pasig through its mayor,
Honorable Victor Ma. Regis N. Sotto. The writers utilized the standards set by the K
to 12 Curriculum using the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC) in
developing this instructional resource.

This learning material hopes to engage the learners in guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Further, this also aims to help learners
acquire the needed 21st century skills especially the 5 Cs, namely: Communication,
Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character while taking into
consideration their needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the
body of the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this
module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to
manage their own learning. Moreover, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.
 For the Learner:

Welcome to the Earth Science Self-Learning Module 13 on Quality and

Quantity of Soil.

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful
opportunities for guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You
will be enabled to process the contents of the learning material while being an active
learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

Expectations - This points to the set of knowledge and skills

that you will learn after completing the module.

Pretest - This measures your prior knowledge about the lesson

at hand.

Recap - This part of the module provides a review of concepts

and skills that you already know about a previous lesson.

Lesson - This section discusses the topic in the module.

Activities - This is a set of activities that you need to perform.

Wrap-Up - This section summarizes the concepts and

application of the lesson.

Valuing - This part integrates a desirable moral value in the

lesson.

Posttest – This measures how much you have learned from the
entire module.
 EXPECTATIONS

The module is about the quality and quantity of soil.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. identify human activities, such as farming, construction of structures, and
waste disposal, that affect the quality and quantity of soil;
2. give ways of conserving and protecting the soil for future generations.; and
3. appreciate the role of farmers in providing the nation with edible and
nutritious farm crops.

PRETEST

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. Which of the following is a human factor affecting farming?
a. fertilizer b. labor supply
c. relief d. soil

2. What is it called when a farmer plants different crops in order to use less
nutrients or different nutrients from the soil?
a. contour plowing b. cover crops
c. crop rotation d. terracing

3. Why is it important for farmers to rotate their crops?

a. To make sure that the soil will rest.
b. To make sure the soil fertility is maintained.
c. To make sure people have a variety of food to eat.
d. To adapt to the changes in temperature over the course of year.

4. Which of the following is one of the benefits of organic farming?

a. The crops look better
b. Farmers get paid more
c. Cheaper than the other
d. Their produce contains fewer chemicals

5. Which of the following is the major contributor to erosion, especially on a local

level.
a. agricultural depletion b. deforestation
c. mining operations d. overgrazing animals
 RECAP
From the previous lesson, quality and availability of water for human use
most water becomes polluted by human activities. These include: throwing sewage
and industrial waste into rivers and oceans, using harmful fertilizers, and even
littering. All of these human activities affect our water sources. Water pollution
affects the plants, animals, and soil around the river.
Name some human activities that affect the quality and availability of water
for human use.
1. Human Activities (residential/urban waste)
2. Industrial activities (industries’ wastewater)
3. Agricultural Activities (pesticides and fertilizers)
4. Construction Activities (sediments from construction sites)

Unscramble each of the clue words.

Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.
Wastewater Treatment

LESSON

Soil is a resource that you can’t live without.

Soil is especially vulnerable to erosion if it is bare or exposed. Plants therefore serve
a tremendous role in preventing soil erosion. If the soil is covered with plants, erosion
is slowed down. But when soil is bare, the rate of erosion speeds up tremendously.
Here are some human activities that leave the soil exposed and speed up erosion. We
speed up erosion through the following actions.
Activities that affect soil resources are:
1. Agricultural Depletion - Farming can degrade the topsoil and lead to an increase
in erosion. To plant a field, a farmer must first till the soil, breaking it up and
loosening it so the new plants can take root. Once the plants are harvested, the loose
soil remains and wind or rain can easily wash it away. In the 1930s, much of the
American plains suffered greatly from erosion due to non-sustainable farming
practices, creating the Dust Bowl and leading to widespread poverty and migration
to the west coast. Planting cover crops in the fall can help maintain the soil through
the winter months, reducing the amount of erosion. In addition, rotating the crops
planted can help return nutrients to the soil to prevent its degradation.
Farming
•Farmers often add nutrients to their soils in the form or organic or artificial
fertilizers to make crops grow better.
•The three primary macronutrients are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium
(K); all are required in relatively large quantities by plants.
•Alluvial soil is rich and fertile soil formed by the depositional action of the rivers.

•Overtime farming practices can lead to the loss of soil.

2. Overgrazing Animals - Grazing animals are animals that live on large areas of
grassland. They wander over the area and eat grasses and shrubs. They can remove
large amounts of the plant cover for an area. If too many animals graze the same
land area, once the tips of grasses and shrubs have been eaten, they will use their
hooves to pull plants out by their roots
3. Deforestation - Deforestation is another practice that can greatly increase the
rate of erosion in a region. One of the most important barriers to erosion is plant life,
as long-lived trees and other species put down roots that literally help hold the soil
together. Logging kills these plants, and even if the operation plants new trees to
replace the old ones, the younger plants require years to put down the kind of root
system that once protected the soil. Timber companies utilize a variety of different
techniques, such as partial clearing and replanting, to prevent soil degradation and
erosion in their work zones.

4. Mining operations are major contributors to erosion, especially on a local level.

Many mining techniques involve shifting large amounts of earth, such as strip mining
or mountaintop removal.
These operations leave large amounts of loose soil exposed to the elements, and they
often require large amounts of water, which can exacerbate the erosion process. Even
once the mining operation is completed and the company replaces the earth, it lacks
the established vegetation that helped it maintain its coherency before removal, and
until plants can re-establish themselves, erosion will continue to be a problem.
Strip and open pit mining.

•Involves removal of plants which cause more exposure to air and water and
speed up the process of chemical weathering.
5. Development and Expansion - Urban and suburban development can also
exacerbate erosion, especially if the developers ignore the natural state of the land.
Construction of a building often begins by clearing the area of any plants or other
natural defenses against soil erosion. In addition, some landscapers replace natural
ground cover with plant species unsuited to the climate, and these plants may not
be as effective at preventing erosion.
Construction and development.
•To make various buildings and sites people need to dig up soil. These can
lead to flooding or can fill up lakes and reservoirs.

6. Recreational activities, like driving vehicles off-road or hiking - Humans also

cause erosion through recreational activities, like hiking and riding off-road vehicles.
An even greater amount of erosion occurs when people drive off-road vehicles over
an area. The area eventually develops bare spots where no plants can grow. Erosion
becomes a serious problem in these areas.

Soil Quality is the capacity of a soil to function for specific land uses or within
ecosystem boundaries. This capacity is an inherent characteristic of a soil and varies
from soil to soil. Such indicators as organic-matter content, salinity, tilt, compaction,
available nutrients, and rooting depth help measure the health or condition of the
soil-its quality-in any given place.
For example, organic-matter content, biological activity, acidity, and salinity are
related to the ability of a soil to store and cycle nutrients for plant growth. Soil tilt,
compaction, and available water capacity reflect the ability of a soil to regulate and
partition the flow of water. Texture, such as loam or clay, is an important soil
property in the support of buildings and roads. An enhancement of soil health or
quality could be measured by an increase in organic matter content in cultivated
soils over the years, which would reflect the soil's ability to cycle nutrients.
Indeed, soil quality is directly linked to food quality and quantity. Soils supply the
essential nutrients, water, oxygen and root support that our food-producing plants
need to grow and flourish. They also serve as a buffer to protect delicate plant roots
from drastic fluctuations in temperature.
How does soil quality benefit us?
High-quality soils ensure that the primary agricultural lands are sustained for future
generations. Soils of high quality are essential for the production of a bountiful
supply of safe food and fiber. Healthy food translates to a healthy people and a
healthy nation. High-quality soils support:
• clean water by transforming harmful substances and chemicals to nontoxic
forms, cycling nutrients, and partitioning rainfall to keep sediments and
chemicals out of lakes and streams;
• clean and healthy air by keeping dust particles out of the air and cycling other
gases;
• healthy plant growth by storing nutrients and water and providing structural
support through a receptive rooting medium; and
 • storage of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide in the form of organic
matter in the soil.
The primary benefit of enhanced soil quality is the protection of a finite resource.
Maintenance and enhancement of soil quality maintains maximum efficiency in crop
productivity over time by enhancing nutrient cycling and encouraging site-specific
application of nutrients and pesticides. It protects water and air quality and
preserves the beneficial functions of the soil in specific ecosystems.

How soil can be conserved and protected for future generations?

1. Plant trees -We all know that roots of trees firmly hold on to the soil. As trees
grow tall, they also keep rooting deeper into the soil. As the roots of trees spread deep
into the layers of soil, they hold it tightly, thus preventing soil erosion. Soil under a
vegetative cover is saved from erosion due to wind as this cover acts as a wind barrier.

2. Build Terraces - Terracing is a very good method of soil conservation. A terrace is

a leveled section of a hilly cultivated area. Owing to its unique structure, it prevents
rapid surface runoff of water. Terracing gives the landmass a stepped appearance,
thus slowing the washing down of soil. Dry stonewalling is a method used to create
terraces in which stone structures are made without using mortar for binding .

3. No-till farming - The process of preparing soil for plowing is known as tilling. No-
till farming is a way of growing crops without disturbing it through tillage. The
process of tilling is beneficial in mixing fertilizers in the soil, making rows and
preparing the surface for sowing. But the tilling activity can lead to compaction of
soil, loss of organic matter in the soil and the death of soil organisms. No-till farming
is a way to prevent the soil from this harm.
4. Contour plowing - This practice of farming on slopes takes into account the slope
gradient and the elevation of soil along the slope. It is the method of plowing across
the contour lines of a slope. This method helps in slowing the water runoff and
prevents soil from being washed away along the slope. Contour plowing also helps in
percolation of water in the soil
5. Crop rotation - Some pathogens tend to build up in soil if the same crops are
cultivated again and again. Continuous cultivation of the same crop also leads to
imbalance in the fertility demands of the soil. To save the soil from these adverse
effects, crop rotation is practiced. It is a method of growing a series of dissimilar
crops in an area. Crop rotation also helps in the improvement of soil structure and
fertility.
6. Maintain soil pH - The contamination of soil by addition of acidic or basic
pollutants and due to acid rains has an adverse effect on the soil pH. Soil pH is an
indicator of the level of nutrients in soil. The uptake of nutrients by plants also
depends on the pH of soil. Maintaining the correct value of soil pH, is thus essential
for soil conservation.

7. Water soil - We water plants, we water the crops, but do we water the soil? We
seldom do. Watering soil is a good measure of soil conservation. Watering the soil
along with plants growing in it is a way to prevent soil erosion caused by wind.
8. Salinity Management - The salinity of soil increases due to excessive
accumulation of salts in the soil. This has a negative effect on the metabolism of
crops. The salinity of soil is detrimental to the vegetative life in it. The death of
vegetation leads to soil erosion. Hence, salinity management is an indirect way of
conserving soil.

9. Promote helpful soil organism - Nitrogen-fixing and denitrifying bacteria are

major constituents of the nitrogen cycle. They live in soil. Bacteria and fungi help
keep the soil healthy. Organisms like earthworms help decompose organic material
in the soil, aid soil aeration and help it maintain porosity. Rodents help soil the same
way. This increases the soil’s absorbing capacity. Earthworms, through soil aeration
enhance the availability of macronutrients. These organisms boost soil fertility and
help in soil conservation.

10. Grow indigenous crops - Planting native crops is beneficial for soil conservation.
If non-native plants are grown, fields should be bordered by indigenous crops to
prevent soil erosion, thus achieving soil conservation.

ACTIVITIES

Activity 1
Answer the following question briefly.
1. Is it possible that the soil goes bad naturally? If so, how? What would happen if soil
becomes less fertile?
2. Soils have many important functions. Perhaps the best appreciated is the function
to support the growth of agricultural and horticultural crops. Aside from these, what
are the other importance of soil? Explain your answer.
3. How soil can be conserved and protected for future generations?

Activity 2
Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.
Conserving and protecting soil for future generations
Activity 3
Unscramble each of the clue words.
Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.

Arable Land

WRAP-UP
Soil health is the foundation of productive farming practices. Fertile soil
provides essential nutrients to plants. Important physical characteristics of soil -
like structures and aggregation allow water and air to infiltrate, roots to explore.
Diverse and active biological communities help soil resist physical degradation
and cycle nutrients at rates to meet plant needs. Soil health and soil quality are
terms used interchangeably to describe soils that are not only fertile but also
possess adequate physical and biological properties to "sustain productivity,
maintain environmental quality and promote plant and animal health".
"Soil quality is how well soil does what we want it to do." In order to grow our
crops, we want the soil to hold water and nutrients like a sponge where they are
readily available for plant roots to take them up, suppress pests and weeds that
may attack our plants, sequester carbon from the atmosphere, and clean the
water that flows through it into rivers, lakes, and aquifers.
Question: Aside from the human activity, what other factor contribute to the loss of
agricultural sustainability in our nation?
TRUE OR FALSE
1. Humans also cause erosion through recreational activities, like hiking and riding
off-road vehicles.
2. 11% of the Earth’s surface is land and only 29% of the globes land surface is
arable.
3. Alluvial land is land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.
4. The process of preparing soil for plowing is known as tilling.
5. Mining operations are major contributors to erosion, especially on a local level.

VALUING
Half of the World’s habitable land is used for agriculture!
For much of human history, most of the world’s land was wilderness: forests,
grasslands and shrubbery dominated its landscapes. Over the last few centuries, this
has changed dramatically: wild habitats have been squeezed out by turning it into
agricultural land.
The expansion of agriculture has been one of humanity’s largest impacts on the
environment. It has transformed habitats and is one of the greatest pressures for
biodiversity.
Within the next 35 years, global population is expected to increase by 9.6 billion.

POPULATION INCREASE = FOOD PRODUCTION INCREASE

Agriculture production methods help facilitate production but aren’t enough.
Reducing our quantity of food wasted is the first step.
And try composting, but don’t focus on it.
Remember what you serve, CONSERVE!

POSTTEST

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate
sheet of paper.
1. The three primary soil macronutrients are
a. carbon, oxygen, water. b. potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen.
c. copper, cadmium, carbon. d. boron, zinc, manganese.
2. The process of changing one steep field into a series of smaller, flatter fields is
called— (like steps)
a. contour plowing b. cover crops
c. no-till farming d. terracing

3. Which is the main causative factor for desertification?

a. Irrigated agriculture b. Overgrazing
c. Tourism d. Developmental activities

4. Land which is suitable for crop production?

a. Community land b. Private land
c. Fallow land d. Arable land

5. This is rich and fertile soil formed by the depositional action of the rivers.
a. Alluvial soil b. Laterite soil
c. Arid Soil d. Peaty soil

KEY TO CORRECTION

a civilize life
first big step toward
purposes
terraces agriculture was the
be used for other 5. True
5. C 5. build discovery of 5. A
wastewater can Message: the
plowing 4. True
Message: treated 10. Erosion
4. D 4. contour 4. D
treatment 9. Farming
rotation 3. False
5. secondary 3. B 8. Irrigation 3. B
3. crop
ponds 7. Food
soil 2. False
4. oxidation 2. C 6. Nutrients 2. D
2. water
treatment 5. Soil
trees 1. True
3. primary 1. B 4. Agriculture 1. B
1. plant
2. aeration 3. Quantity Up
1. sewage Pretest Activity 2 2. Quality Posttest
Wrap
1. Crops
Recap
Activity 3
 References
“10 Ways to Conserve Soil You Won't Believe Actually Work.” Gardenerdy, September
4, 2008. https://gardenerdy.com/ways-to-conserve-soil.

YouTube. YouTube. Accessed July 14, 2020.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Distribution+of+Arable+Lan
d+Sean+Equipaje.

Ritchie, Hannah. “Half of the World's Habitable Land Is Used for Agriculture.” Our
World in Data. Accessed July 14, 2020. https://ourworldindata.org/global-
land-for-agriculture.

“Earth Science.” Google Drive. Google. Accessed July 14, 2020.

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/14DiwRhFXD0wvdJjSiv9QNfVT0
n70v3Uc?fbclid=IwAR167x_EVsjn67g08chsV8k1TItMWQ3wdWCXG43jK7yCx2
cQjUg0jic4kvI.