There are many different organisms that live in the soil.
- The organisms that can be seen with the naked eye are called macro-organisms. Examples are earthworms, termites and ants.
- Organisms that cannot be seen with the naked eye are called micro-organisms. Examples are bacteria.
Some of the organisms living in the soil are beneficial while others are harmful. Examples of beneficial soil organisms include;
1. Bacteria and fungi.
They cause decay and humus formation. Some bacteria makes the soil rich in nitrate. They fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil.
They create burrows to that help to aerate and drain the soil.
They fertilizes the soil as they contain nitrogenous waste. Worms also pull leaves into the soil, which decay and produce humus.
3. Termites and ants
They create tunnels that helps to aerate the soil.
EXPERIMENT TO SHOW THE PRESENCE OF LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE SOIL
APPARATUS
two conical flask, rubber corks, two soil sample, two muslin bags, strings, lime water and heater.
PROCEDURE
- Label the conical flask as A and B.
- Label the muslin bags A and B.
- Label the two soil sample A and B.
- Heat sample B well in other to kill living organisms found in it.
- Insert both samples into the muslin bag respectively.
- Attach a string to both bags.
- Pour into the conical flasks lime water.
- Suspend the bags into the conical flasks respectively and cork the flasks with the rubber corks.
- leave the experiment to stay up to 4 hours
OBSERVATIONS
1. After 4 hours, the lime water in conical flask A turned milky. This is because when living organisms respire, they give out carbon (IV) as a by product. When carbon (IV) oxide dissolves in lime water, it turns it milky.
2. The lime water in flask B remained clear. This is because all the living organisms where destroyed during heating.
Conclusion
Soil contains living organisms
CONCLUSION
Living organisms live in the soil.
IMPORTANCE OF LIVING ORGANISMS IN THE SOIL.
1. They help improve soil aeration.2. They help improve soil structure.
3. They help improve the soil fertility.
4. They help improve soil drainage.
5. They facilitate the decomposition of organic matter in the soil.
Click on the link below to listen to the audio part of the lesson..... 👇👇
https://drive.google.com/f. Livingorganismsinthesoil/view?usp=drivesdk
END OF LESSON EXERCISE
1. Mention four examples of living organisms that are harmful to the soil.
ASSIGNMENT
Draw any two living organisms in the soil and label their parts
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