Soil

Soil lies in between the rocky or nonrocky crust of the lithosphere below and the atmosphere above.  Besides, it is surrounded by other soils or pool of water all around.  As such the location of soil in general truly represents an interface of two main diversities.  This situation represents an attractive ground to invite a huge concentration of biological species which decline sharply above and below (in the media of lithosphere and atmosphere) but show gradual or abrupt changes in their surroundings where they merge into other soils or the pools of water called as oceans.

Under our foot, hiding either under grasses and forest canopy or being quite exposed to the atmosphere, this soil humbly and continuously serves enormous span of lives (microbes, plants and animals including homo-sapiens).  These soil-microbes and plants not only help us grow our food, but also in many cases serve us by producing medicines and antibiotics to safeguard us from various diseases.

In addition, soil also serves as a base for huge and small structures (like buildings and roads) as well as a hiding ground for commercial waste products.

It also works as a natural filter to purify usable water and is a huge medium for consuming solar energy through its green plants for the production of biomass.  These plants exist on the land as well as in ocean.

THE LAND AND THE OCEAN

When we look at the landmass, we can never ignore its immediate counterpart "ocean."  These both together are the complete global arrangement of the planet "Earth."  In general one third of the Earth's surface is land and the other two third is ocean.  A negligent observer may find as haphazard arrangement of the land and the ocean on the earth's surface.  But this is not true.  The entire continents occupy the space on landmass in certain geometrical pattern and the arrangement is tetragonal.  Land and ocean both contribute to enhance the world's economy and are rich in natural resources.  However, there are various important differences in the continents and the oceans, which need to be recognized:

1. The oceans form one continuum, and the continents are separate masses.
2. The oceans have ridges located in the middle and the continents have elevated Mountains particularly along the coast.
3. The oceans have deep trenches whereas continents don't have trenches so deep.
4. Volcanoes and lava-flows are more widespread in ocean floors than on the Continents.
5. Photosynthesis (which is a basic process for green plants to manufacture food) takes place more in extent in the ocean than on the land surface. This, in recent years, has created greater interest in the ocean's resources for food-supply.

Land has always been different in appearance to different persons.  To a young child, it is a playground; to a poet, an attractive topic; to a patriot, it is a symbol; to the farmers, a direct means of their livelihood; and to an architect, it is a space to build houses on.  Besides, land may have deposits of iron ore, as in Southern India; coal, as in the states of Bihar and Assam (India); and oil, as in the Middle East countries of the world as well as in Texas and Arkansas (USA).  Hence land in its complete sense is a natural asset where opportunities exist independently for all mankind.

The vast amount of landmass, which lies around us, is one of the basic resources for the rapidly growing human needs.  With vast scientific knowledge, we have been able to replace various commodities for higher efficiency, but we have never been successful in replacing the needs of our land.  Total replacement of land will be impossible even in the future.  Hence the knowledge of land mass is quite essential, so that it may be handled adequately.  In recent years, this has been very essential, where population has been increasing at a rapid rate in the world and especially in the South East Asia.  Even with almost stable population growth in USA