6th Grade · Science · Activity · shared by Luke Morgan
Explore nitrogen fixation in legumes with this free 6th Grade Science activity. Learn about plant-bacteria partnerships and essential nutrients.
The Soil Power Countdown
Healthy soil is a bustling ecosystem filled with life and moving parts. Below is a Topic Snapshot that explores the living things underground, the chemical cycles that sustain them, and a technique farmers use to keep the earth healthy. Read the snapshot carefully to prepare for your countdown.
Under the ground, many small creatures work hard to keep up soil health . Earthworms act like tiny builders by digging tunnels through the dirt. These holes let fresh air and water reach the roots of plants. Small fungi also live here and grow long threads that help plants drink water. Even smaller bacteria live in the dirt and have the job of breaking down old leaves into food for the ground.
These living things are part of the carbon cycle . In this path, carbon moves from the air into plants and then back into the soil. Another big process is the nitrogen cycle . This change turns a gas from the air into a special food that helps plants grow tall and strong. Special soil microbes and bacteria carry out this process to feed the plants. To keep the ground healthy, many farmers use a smart method called crop rotation .
This way of farming means planting different kinds of crops in the same spot each year. By changing what they grow, farmers can stop the soil from losing all its good food. Crop rotation relies on healthy soil organisms and active chemical cycles to naturally restore the nutrients that different crops use up. This also stops bugs from making a home in the fields. This plan keeps the land rich and full of life so it can grow food for a very long time.
3 things you learned today about soil organisms, chemical cycles, and farming:
2 interesting facts or connections you made between the living organisms and the cycles: