Tag: soil-nature

Crop field is considered as man-made(anthropogenic or artificial) ecosystem. Natural ecosystem is developed in nature without human involvement, e.g., forest, ocean, etc.

• Abiotic components: These are non living components of environment and consist of two things, materials and energy (that may be light or chemical energy). Materials include water, minerals, salts, atmospheric gases etc.
• Biotic components: These are living components of environment and divided into autotrophic and heterotrophic components. Autotrophic component is the producers or green plants while heterotrophic component includes consumers (primary, secondary and tertiary consumers) and decomposers.

The products of ecosystem processes which have environmental aesthetic and indirect economic value are named as ecosystem services. Soil formation and soil protection are the major ecosystem services accounting for nearly 50% of their total worth. Plant cover protects the soil from drastic changes in temperature. There is little wind or water erosion as soil particles are not exposed to them. The soil remains spongy and fertile. There are no landslides and no floods. The plant cover of natural ecosystem absorbs polluting gases, causes settling of suspended particulate matter, removes CO2 and releases O2. Purified air becomes available. There is no overall depletion of nutrients as the same as repeatedly circulated and recirculated. This keeps the fertility of soil intact.

The temperature of the surface waters varies mainly with latitude. The polar seas (high latitude) can be as cold as -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit), while the Persian Gulf (low latitude) can be as warm as 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
Temperature varies in ponds and lakes seasonally. During the summer, the temperature can range from $4^0$C near the bottom to $22^0$C at the top. During the winter, the temperature at the bottom can be $4^0$C, while the top is $0^0$C (ice).