Grade 11

LEARNING MODULE 2nd

Quarter Prepared by: Jean B. Julian MAED, LPT

MODULE 6: Water, Soil and Me

Nov, 3-

Let connect with God first before starting the lesson. Please say a short prayer as
you start to read the devotional.

CARE for the SOUL

Good Soil
By: Joel Vande Werken
https://today.reframemedia.com/devotions/good-soil
Scripture Reading — Luke 8:4-15

“Other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
— Luke 8:8

Good soil makes a huge difference in the amount of harvest a farmer can expect.

Jesus told a story that reflects the farming practices in his time. A farmer would sow by hand,
scattering seed in the field as he walked along. Not surprisingly, a portion of the seed fell in places
too poor to produce a crop. But some seed, Jesus tells us, sent its roots down deep and produced a
hundredfold harvest—ten times the commonly expected harvest of that day!

This story forces us to look at the condition of our own hearts. While we would like to think of
ourselves as good soil, most of us know how the busyness of life, as well as the heartaches and fears
we face, can choke and wither and snatch our faith away.

Yet Jesus reassures us with an amazing truth: good soil exists as well. It’s almost as if he points us
to a patch of such soil amid the rocks and weeds of the world. Jesus’ challenge can also be a word of
encouragement as we hear and respond to the story of salvation in Christ. In unexpected places, God
can produce a bumper crop of righteousness.

May all of our hearts be good soil, ready and willing to respond to God’s Word.

Prayer
Lord, let my heart be good soil, open to the seed of your Word.” Break through the poor soil of our
sinful condition, and allow our hearts to produce a rich harvest for you. Amen.

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Can you remember your childhood days playing with the soil? Can you hear your parents say ‘Don’t
play with it, it’s dirty? But still, children continued to play with it, because its fun, right? Well, soil is a
precious commodity not just for children and other people but for farmers as well. But, why should
we be concern about the soil?

Soil is Mother Earth’s thin dynamic skin which serves as foundation for our natural living world. Dirt,
on the other hand is that dead, disintegrated mineral part of wind-eroded soil and by itself can never
sustain life. Soil is much more than dirt! But when we treat soil as dirt, digging it for our immediate
needs and economic gains without regard for its continuous health, conservation and protection, then
tons of natural soil will end up as useless dirt. It is time to look at our actions and strengthen our
personal connection to the very soil that supports the very ground we stand on.

The statement from then US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, “The nation that destroys its soil
destroys itself.” kick-started the soil conservation programs against the devastating problems of
great dust storms and floods. This powerful warning assert that human actions globally impact soil
resources. It is no wonder that scientists and environment authorities under the United Nations‟ Food
and Agriculture Organization declared 2015-2024 as the International Decade of Soils and published
on 2015 the report “Status of the World’s Soil Resources” that shed light into the soil threats
challenging soil functions and resources.

The goal of this lesson is to help you understand soil degradation issues. You will take a look at soil
science, soil matters and the growing trend in human activities that affect soil resources and its life-
sustaining functions. Through this unit, you will explore global and local uses of soil in agriculture and
urban developments through a simple soil aggregate model. Finally, the lesson introduces the
concept of soil sealing and some soil health principles as groundwork for you and your family to
identify current practices and apply sustainable approaches to soil use at home or in the community.

EC. After going through the lesson, you are expected to:

1. Identify soil functions and soil threats,

2. Compare healthy soil from a degraded soil,
3. Identify human actions that can have significant impacts on soil health, and
4. Plan a soil conservation and protection project that improves soil quality and quantity.

PRE- Assessment

Choose the letter of your choice.

1. Soils act like _________, soaking up water and limiting run-off.

A. Filters B. Faucets C. Sponges D. Supermarket
2. Soils act like __________, providing air, water, and nutrients to soil organisms.
A. Buffers B. Faucets C. Strainers D. Supermarkets
3. Soils act like __________, providing refuge to macro and micro-organisms in soil.
A. Hotels B. Faucets C. Sponges D. Supermarkets
4. Soils act like __________, regulating the quality of air and water flowing into soil pores.
A. Filters B. Buffers C. Faucets D. Supermarkets
5. Why is soil erosion by rushing waters considered a great soil threat?
A. The soil volume is reduced in eroded areas and increased in deposited areas.
B. Water changes the physical composition of the soil affecting soil management.
C. The soil’s chemical composition is enhanced changing soil texture and structure.
D. Water carries topsoil and nutrients, then deposits it to receiving areas as pollutants.
6. Which soil management practices build up healthy soils?
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 A. Application of fertilizers and pesticides against crop pests.
B. Constant clearing of vegetation from weeds for cleaner rows
C. Regular cultivation and tilling of fields for greater agricultural yield.
D. Use of diverse cover crops, planned crop rotation, and mulch tillage.
7. What is the threat to soil when farmlands are converted into built-up areas with concrete
foundations for houses, roads, offices and malls?
A. Soil sealing B. Soil pollution C. Soil acidification D. Soil compaction
8. Which component of the soil is crucial for soil health?
A. Air B. Water C. Organic matter D. Mineral particles
9. What soil threats can possibly occur during a construction of a school building?
A. soil compaction, soil contamination, soil erosion, and soil sealing
B. soil contamination, soil nutrient imbalance, soil salinization, and waterlogging
C. soil nutrient imbalance, soil acidification, soil pollution, and soil biodiversity loss
D. soil acidification, soil compaction, soil biodiversity loss, and soil organic carbon loss
10. How do organic matter help maintain soil health?
A. It regulates the humus part of the soil making it dark and fertile.
B. It greatly helps micro-organisms to provide air and food for the plants.
C. It gives more space for pore spaces to exchange air, water and nutrients.
D. It biologically binds minerals and creates interconnected pores in structured soils.

Let’s begin the lesson by gathering ideas about the soil. You will also learn about.
Please read properly and click on the links below to better understand the topic.

EC1. Identify soil functions and soil threats

In the previous modules, you have learned about earth consisting of four subsystems
across whose boundaries matter and energy flow. At the overlapping boundaries of
the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere is the critical zone of soil. It is here where
air, water, minerals and life intersect and interact. You also studied the importance of common rock-
forming minerals, and how these rocks undergo earth processes to offer mankind with natural
resources and energy supply.

Over the past 150 years of man’s interaction with soil, soil concept and principles has increased with
studies on soil horizons, soil-forming factors, soil processes, soil fertility, soil conservation, soil
system, soil cover, soil quality, soil health, soil degradation, sustainable soil management and much
more.

At present, soil as a dynamic and finite resource is defined as the unconsolidated mineral or organic
material on the immediate surface of the earth formed from a parent rock material through
processes that show the effects of climate, macro and micro-organisms, the topography of its
location on land, and of formation time (SSSA, 2015).

Figure 1. What are the components of an idealized soil?

https://opened.cuny.edu/courseware/lesson/769/student/?task=2
1.) 40-50% inorganic mineral particles
a. rock particles too big to be soil (gravel, stones, boulders),
b. sand as large soil particles,
c. silt as medium soil particles, and
d. clay as small soil particles
2.) ~ 50% empty pore spaces in soil filled with either
(a) air that allows exchange of CO2 and O2 gas for the respiration of organisms or
(b) water for uptake by plant roots and living soil organisms

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3.) 0–10% biological organisms or parts of biological organisms (living or dead) from macroscopic
plants and animals to the microscopic bacteria, archaea, and fungi. Included here are the animal and
microbial waste products in different stages of decomposition breaking down into humus.
The soil organic matter is the most important component because of its influence on the physical,
chemical and biological properties of a healthy soil as it carries out its different soil functions.

Click this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_YXEh0eQD4 to know more about the soil and its
importance.

What is the role of soil to our ecosystem? What are some of the threats that the soil face
today? Read the table below and also watch and read the websites provided so that you can grasp
the functions of soil.

Click on this sites to learn more about soil functions :

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5nvzKTuQsM Soil function explained
2. http://www.fao.org/3/a-bc591e.pdf Status of World’s Soil Resources
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykgEwEOA25w Status of World’s Soil Resources
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpBfe7RusIk Threats to soil quality

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Soil services are basically determined by the soil properties texture, mineralogy, and soil organic
matter (Palm et al. 2007). Soil texture and mineralogy are dependent on the parent rock materials
which change very slowly over time. While the soil organic matter (SOM) changes easily due to
human-induced impacts. So the management of SOM is critical to sustainable soil management
because of its quick response to changes and our ability to use and manipulate it.

In the 2015 “Status of the World‟s Soil Resources” report, FAO identified the top 10 soil threats to
global soil functions as:

1. nutrient imbalance 6. soil erosion

2. soil acidification 7 soil organic carbon (SOC loss
3. soil biodiversity loss 8. soil salinization
4. soil compaction 9 soil sealing
5. soil contamination 10. soil waterlogging

In the Philippines, 11.45 million hectares or 38% of the total land area are vulnerable to human
induced soil and land degradation. Ten million hectares of this land area were degraded by water
erosion and the rest due to physical deteriorations, chemical deteriorations, and then by wind
erosion.

Soil degradations result to reduced soil functions and lower ability to support ecosystem services
needed for human survival and well-being. Minimizing or stopping significant soil degradation is
important for the sustainable maintenance of soil services. This is more cost-effective than restoring
degraded soils. Conversely, the arrangements of the solid parts and pore spaces of soil is called soil
structure. Clumps of soil particles held together by varied organic substances are called soil
aggregates. Well-structured aggregates of soils indicate a healthy soil.

EC2 Compare healthy soil from a degraded soil

Healthy Versus Degraded Soils

Soil takes thousands of years to naturally form a few centimeters thick of soil cover. Yet in just a few
minutes we can lose volumes of it to natural and human-induced soil threats like soil erosion, soil
contamination, soil compaction, soil sealing, waterlogging and through unsustainable land use/land
take/land conversion practices. With increased population, the demands on what arable land is left
has continued to increase. Human settlements and urban infrastructure expanded. Residential and
recreational areas extend further into rural areas where prime farm land gets converted into other
land uses.

Those who rely on their land are taking actions to improve the health of their soil. Key actions are
not to disturb the soil by practicing sustainable solutions like the no/reduced till, crop rotation,
composting or leaving crop residues on the soil, and providing a living cover crop of diverse plants
and animals, above and below the soil surface.

When the solid parts – sand, silt and clay particles – stick together as aggregates, the soil has a good
combination of solid parts and pore spaces. Well-structured soils have both large macropores (>0.08
mm) and small micropores within interconnected networks of pores. This allows rapid infiltration and
easy movement of water and air. These pores also provide a refuge or habitat for soil organisms.
Thus, healthy soils are well-structured. Plowed or tilled soils have loose particles that easily erode,
clog pores, seal surfaces, and can be compacted.

The undisturbed soil on the top layer of a lawn or field that has not been tilled for years form stable
soil aggregates and hold together when immersed in water. The disturbed soil on the top layer of a

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field or construction site is unaggregated having no stable form, it readily falls apart during erosion.
Runoff waters are muddy. Eroded sediments settle in layers sealing off fine pores.

Figure A Figure B

The stable aggregate of

baked bread (flour + water + yeast + heat +
The unaggregated flour particles got detached by
empty pores) acted like a sponge allowing water
water resulting to a cloudy runoff. The flour “soil”
to soak straight down to the bottom of the bread
model’s surface got sealed as eroded fine
aggregate “soil” model. The runoff is clear and is
particles settled down in layers, sealing the flour
minimal. The yeast microorganism activated the
surface. Much of the water just runoff to lower
rise of a structure. It
areas while the layers under the wet surface
represents the organic matter that exude or give
remained dry. The mineral particles (represented
off carbon rich “snots, slimes and organic glues
by the uncooked flour) on its own and without
like the sticky protein “glomalin”. These bind
contact of binding agents remained
mineral particles into a soil aggregate. The
unaggregated. It has no structure and strength
kneading and baking of bread stand for the
against water and wind and can easily crumble to
formation processes.
bits that we can call as dirt.

The same principle happens with tilled or plowed land. Pores collapse and soil breaks apart in poor
soil structures. Much of the water that falls on cultivated soil surface move individual soil particles
into empty pores. The soil gets sealed, making it difficult for water to seep into the soil but easier to
runoff to other lower areas. On the other hand, water flowing past aggregate soil structures soaks
deep, gets filtered and stored in the unplowed soil.

Holding capacity of aggregated and unaggregated soil. Soils (b)

compacted by vehicular or foot traffic changes the soil composition by
decreasing the percentages of organic matter, soil air, and soil water
in the soil. These results to a higher bulk density for minerals but
with lower available water capacity (AWC) of the soils limiting the
infiltration of water so the excess water runs off and can cause
waterlogged areas where water accumulates in depressed areas that
does not drain water well

Do the Slake Test for Real Soils. The test compares two clods or chunks of real topsoil submerged
in water. See for yourself how well and how long tilled and untilled identical topsoil chunks will hold
together as aggregates under water. Hook wire screen holders inside two waterfilled glasses.
Submerge the soil clods on separate water-filled glasses at the same time. Watch and see for
yourself which soil holds together and which one falls apart. You can test your own soil at home. With
the slake test as shown in the video below.

Click on this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gBtSyD_NoA Slake test: the difference

between a healthy and an unhealthy soil.

EC3 Identify human actions that can have significant impacts on soil health,

Humans actions do have significant impact to soil health. Activities to improve our way of living left in
such a way tremendous damage to soil health, activities like mining, farming, building houses, roads
and buildings, forest fires, building dams and rivers and etc. All these leads to soil erosion.

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Soil erosion by water is the greatest threat to soil productivity and one of the largest source of
water pollution. The productive topsoil layer is usually the first to be eroded and the organic matter
disintegrated. When water erodes contaminants like fertilizers, pesticides and soil particles away into
other water sources, the soil will be deposited as a pollutant sediment.

Soil erosion can damage or wash away human structures like roads and weakened building
foundations or cause landslides on steep slopes. It can also uproot or damage vegetation and crops,
covering plants with eroded soil and field residue. Mulch tillage, crop residues, and cover crops help
hold the soil in place and filter out fertilizers and pesticides.

Aside from that, soil sealing is one of the growing human activity that threatens soil health.
Converting green spaces for areas like houses, offices, factories, roads and other structures degrades
the soil by covering productive land with hard layers of concrete and asphalt that prevent the
production of plants or animals. This will contribute to great water runoff.

Soils in urban areas can be natural soils (weathered by underlying bedrock or deposited by water,
wind or ice) or anthropogenic soils (formed in human-deposited material or fill) to modify landscape
or improve undesirable soil properties for specific human activities.

Urban soil fill materials can be any or a combination of (a) human-moved natural soils, (b)
construction debris, (c) waterways dredged materials, (d) coal ash, and (e) municipal solid waste.
Moving and using anthropogenic soils generally lead to topsoil removal, digging deep, overturning
and mixing subsoil and topsoil. This alter soil properties and predicting soil behavior in urban areas
become difficult (USDA-NRCS, 2005).

What can we do in order to at least minimize these effects?

There are so many ways to help conserve our soil here are some 10 ways according to Chris Dinesen
Rogers. You can click this website https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/10_Ways_to_Conserve_Soil
for details.

1. Practice no-till farming

2. Use Terrace Farming
3. Practice Contour Farming
4. Reduce Impervious surfaces
5. Plant a rain garden
6. Use a Rain Barrel
7. Plant Windbreaks
8. Restore Wetlands
9. Plant Buffer Strips Along Stream bank
10.Re-establish Forest covers

End of Acquire

So, you have gathered ideas about the condition of your soil
today. You have learned that the health of the soil also
means the health of our nation since food comes from them.
You also learned that human activities have greater impact
to soil resulting to soil degradation. In order to help restore
soil health you can proceed to the following activities.

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 You have studied soil health and soil erosion and ways how to preserve and conserve
soil. This section will help you learn more on how to apply those things that you have
learned in your different activities and choices in life.

EC4. Plan a soil conservation and protection project that improves soil
quality and quantity.

Activity 1: Oh My Soil – A simple Household Soil Site Survey

(Adapted from KidsGardening.org, 2018)
What kind of soil conditions do you have at home?

Inventory of Existing Features.

Sketch your home or dwelling space area from a bird’s-eye view on a bond paper. Outline the
property lines and all existing features (where applicable) like the fence, house, pathways, sitting
area, laundry area, garden area, water source, septic tank, storm drain, rain water collecting area,
waste area, etc. Label your sketch as “My Soil-landscape”. Then below your sketch make a
summary of the soil site. You can make a table with the labels stated under soil summary.
Make sure that the locations in your sketch ahs the same name in your soil site summary.
You can have 2 bond papers for this if your work will not be contained in one bond paper
only.

Summary of Soil Site.

Locate areas with healthy soils and areas with degraded soils. Look at the ground or
containers and check out your soil. Observe, record notes and make labels on:
 soil locations (indoor, own backyard, adjacent vacant lot, or community garden),
 soil containment (ground, raised bed, containers),
 soil conditions (no vegetation, sealed, polluted, compacted, waterlogged, etc.), and
 types (natural or anthropogenic soils).

QUESTIONS:
Q1. What are the existing indoor or outdoor plant materials (flowers, herbs, vegetables,
shrubs, trees, etc.) and landscape beds (if there is any) in your site?
Q2. What do you consider are the top two soil-related problem areas in your home soil
site?
Q3. What lesson/realization have you learned after doing this activity?

One of the ways you can help protect and conserve soil is through Household gardening.
Household Gardening – Green Gigs for Urban Home Soils
There are reasons for soil management at home:
(a) Humanitarian reasons – for adequate domestic supply of nutritious food
(b) Economic reasons – for livelihood out of growing and producing food
(c) Stewardship reasons – for sustainable use, conservation and protection of soils
(d) Environmental reasons – for safe water, clean air, productive soils and secure areas
(e) Aesthetic reasons – for enjoyable and invigorating green spaces

Potential home garden products are legume tree crops (malunggay), fruits, vegetables, spices,
herbs, hanging or potted plant decors, compost, etc. Potential home green space technologies are
rain gardens and rain water harvesting systems.

Click on the following sites to see some examples of home gardening.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYsmauK8Oko
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TJ2WpRHyNg
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/828099450209483756/

Your goal in this section is to apply your learning to real life situations.

ACTIVITY 2 My Soil Saving Green Digs

Now that you have an initial soil site analysis at home, design a plan to adopt an existing or
to create a future green space at home. Apply at least two soil-water conservation practices. Take a
picture of the space before and after. And place it in number 2.
1. Describe two soil-water conservation practices you will use in your “green dig” plan.
A.
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
B.
_________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
2. Picture of your green space at home where you applied the conservation practices.

3. Write a paragraph to justify why you have chosen the two practices and their locations.
Discuss the benefits of your adopted home green space. Then write your short reflection here.

CARE for the SOUL

POST ASSESSMENT

Write the letter of your choice in your answer sheet. This will be recorded so I did not put
answer key below.
1. What is the threat to soil when farmlands are converted into built-up areas with concrete
foundations for houses, roads, offices and malls?
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 A. Soil sealing B. Soil pollution C. Soil compaction D. Soil acidification
2. Soils act like _________, soaking up water and limiting run-off.
A. Filters B. Faucets C. Sponges D. Supermarket
3. What soil threats can possibly occur during a construction of a school building?
A. soil compaction, soil contamination, soil erosion, and soil sealing
B. soil contamination, soil nutrient imbalance, soil salinization, and waterlogging
C. soil nutrient imbalance, soil acidification, soil pollution, and soil biodiversity loss
D. soil acidification, soil compaction, soil biodiversity loss, and soil organic carbon loss
4. Soils act like __________, providing refuge to macro and micro-organisms in soil.
A. Hotels B. Faucets C. Sponges D. Supermarkets
5. Soils act like __________, regulating the quality of air and water flowing into soil pores.
A. Filters B. Buffers C. Faucets D. Supermarkets
6. Which activity will help freshwater stay clean the most and why?
A. Mixing food and garden waste for composting will save fresh water.
B. Introducing new fish species for an aquaculture project add water purifiers.
C. Leaving crop residues to cover newly harvested cornfields prevents soil erosion.
D. Disinfecting wastewater at the discharge points treats water before infiltration to soil.
7. Why is soil erosion by rushing waters considered a great soil threat?
A. The soil volume is reduced in eroded areas and increased in deposited areas.
B. Water changes the physical composition of the soil affecting soil management.
C. The soil’s chemical composition is enhanced changing soil texture and structure.
D. Water carries topsoil and nutrients, then deposits it to receiving areas as pollutants.
8. Which component of the soil is crucial for soil health?
A. Air B. Water C. Organic matter D. Mineral particles
9. How do organic matter help maintain soil health?
A. It regulates the humus part of the soil making it dark and fertile.
B. It greatly helps micro-organisms to provide air and food for the plants.
C. It gives more space for pore spaces to exchange air, water and nutrients.
D. It biologically binds minerals and creates interconnected pores in structured soils.
10. Which soil management practices build up healthy soils?
A. Application of fertilizers and pesticides against crop pests.
B. Constant clearing of vegetation from weeds for cleaner rows
C. Regular cultivation and tilling of fields for greater agricultural yield.
D. Use of diverse cover crops, planned crop rotation, and mulch tillage.

ADAPTED from
DEPED Earth Sci MODULE 6 Q1 by Marcaida, Judith F.

Answer Key
Pre-Assessment: 1. C 2.D 3.A 4.A 5.D 6. D 7.A 8.C 9.A 10.D
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