ICSE Class 9 Answered

(1) Soil provides substratum for the growth of plants.

(2) It contains water and mineral nutrients like sodium, potassium, etc. required by plants.

(3) Soil also provides dwelling place for burrowing animals like rats, snakes and earthworms, which even swallow the mud containing dead organic matter.

(4) In deserts, soil provides support to plants like prickly pear, date palms, etc.

(5) Even water bodies have some soil at the bottom, which required by the organisms living there.