Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following.
Preparation of soil

Explanation

Preparation of soil: Preparation of the soil is the first step before growing crops. It involves loosening and turning it. The process of loosening and turning the soil is called tilling or ploughing. This has the following advantages: (i) Loose soil has a lot of air trapped in it, which is used by the roots to breathe easily. (ii) Loose soil helps the growth of earthworms and microbes in the soil. They provide nutrients to the soil and aid in further loosening of the soil. (iii) Turning and loosening of soil brings nutrient-rich soil to the top. Plants can then absorb these nutrients more efficiently. Tilling or ploughing is carried out by using a wooden or iron plough which is pulled either by animals or by tractor.