Pick up a little soil from another place, far away from any plants. Is it different from the soil that you collected earlier? In what ways?
Soil collected far away from plants is often different from soil near plants.
It may be lighter in colour, drier, harder, and contain less organic matter. There are fewer leaves, roots, and insects in such soil. The smell may be less earthy.
Soil near plants is richer because it contains more decomposing leaves, roots, stems, and living and dead animals like insects.
Explanation
The chapter states that soil is made from rocks that have broken up into tiny pieces, as well as old leaves, roots, stems and living and dead animals like insects. Soil near plants naturally has more organic content from the plants themselves, making it different from soil in areas without plants.
Solution Steps
Soil collected far away from plants differs from soil near plants in several ways
Soil far from plants is lighter in colour, drier, harder, and has less organic matter
Such soil contains fewer leaves, roots, and insects, and has a less earthy smell
Soil near plants is richer due to more decomposing organic material from plants and animals