Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation - Class 5 Science - New St. Mery English School 

Soil is one of the most important natural resources on Earth. It helps plants grow, provides food for us, and supports all living things. But sometimes soil gets carried away by wind, water, or human activities. This wearing away of the soil is called soil erosion. Soil erosion makes the land less fertile and can even lead to floods and loss of crops.

To protect the soil, we use different methods. These methods are called soil conservation. Soil conservation helps to save the soil from being washed or blown away. It also helps to keep the land healthy for farming and for future generations.

In this chapter, you will learn what soil erosion is, its causes, and how we can protect the soil through different conservation methods.

Soil Erosion and Soil Conservation - Class 5 Science - New St. Mery English School

What is Soil?

Ans:- The top layer of earth where plants grow is called soil. It contains many things such as small pieces of rock, air, water, humus and living organisms.

How does soil form?

Ans:- soil is formed when rocks breakdown into tiny pieces due to continuous drying, heating and cooling by the sun, rain and wind. this is called weathering. this repeated weathering over thousands of years break the rock into small pieces and thus, soil is formed. soil formation is very slow, long and continuous process.

What factors does the colour of soil depend on?

Ans:- The colour of soil depends on the minerals present in rock by which soil is formed. 

What is weathering?

Ans:- Breaking of rocks into small particles by rain, wind and the sun is called weathering.

Write five importance of soil.

Ans:- The five importance of soil are

1- Soil provides suitable conditions for plant's growth

2- All types of plant food are produced in soil.

3- Soil helps in the storage of underground water.

4- Forests grow in soil which help in bringing rain.

5- Soil provides shelter to various animals such as ants, earthworms, rabbits etc.

What is Soil Erosion?

Ans:- Soil erosion is the process of removal, wearing away, or washing away of the top layer of soil by natural forces like wind, water, or human activities.

Causes of Soil Erosion

1. Heavy Rainfall – washes away soil.

2. Strong Winds – blow loose soil.

3. Floods – carry away soil with water.

4. Deforestation – cutting trees removes roots that hold soil.

5. Overgrazing – animals eat plants and expose soil.

6. Poor farming methods – loosen and expose soil.

Effects of Soil Erosion

1. Loss of fertile soil

2. Decreased crop production

3. Formation of deserts (desertification)

4. Loss of plants and trees

5. Water pollution due to soil mixing in water bodies

How to Prevent Soil Erosion

1. Planting trees (afforestation)

2. Terrace farming

3. Contour ploughing

4. Building embankments

5. Avoiding overgrazing

Soil Conservation

Soil Conservation means protecting the soil from being damaged, lost, or washed away. It includes all the methods that help save soil, improve soil quality, and prevent soil erosion.

Write five ways by which we conserve soil.

Ans:- The five ways by which we conserve soil are

1- By afforestation

2- By building bunds or embankments along river banks

3- By growing plants in farm lands

4- By avoiding overgrazing

5- By step farming in Hilly areas

What is Afforestation?

Ans:- Growing of trees on large scale is called afforestation.

What is reforestation?

Ans:- Reforestation is the process of growing trees again in a place that once had a forest.