Nurturing Earth’s Lifeline: The Vital Role of Soil Resources in Human Survival

These are the silent warriors of this complex web of life on Earth, in a way, the soil resources without which, plainly speaking, human life would not be sustainable. It is so vital, and it is involved in everything from agriculture to climate regulation. This essay accounts for the various types of minerals in Kenya, and the indispensable role soil resources play in ensuring human well-being, ecosystem stability, and global sustainability.

Minerals in Kenya and their use 

1. Gemstones: Kenya boasts diverse gemstone deposits contributing to the supply of jewelry and ornamental industries worldwide. It has varieties like ruby, tsavorite, and tourmaline, among others, which are some noble gems famous for their beauty and rarity.
2. Oil: The latent oil potential in Kenya, while still in its infant development stages, has enormous prospects for energy independence, driving economic development, and diversifying revenue streams, thus encouraging growth across sectors(“Kenya: Mining, minerals, and fuel resources,” 2018).
3. Soda Ash is essential as it is a critical ingredient in making glass and detergents and for water treatment for its purification in communities and industries.
4. Fluorspar, found in Kenya in large quantities, plays a critical role in steel production as a flux and is necessary to manufacture hydrofluoric acid, which is crucial in many industrial processes(Lindsay, 2016). Fluorspar is thus central to the industrial development of the country.
5. Diatomite: Kenya is known to have widespread diatomite mining and acts as a natural filter aid in water purification, has an industrial role in improving soil fertility due to the significant silica content, and functions as a principal constituent in producing paints and cosmetics(Lindsay, 2016).
6. The limestone deposits in Kenya form the construction industry’s bedrock, as the vital construction materials are provided, leading to the component in the manufacture of cement in the region, fostering infrastructure development, economic growth, and stability(Lindsay, 2016).
7. Sapphire: Kenyan gemstones highly value sapphires in jewelry and luxury products as they represent sophistication and only class. Apart from their decoration, they are employed in precision instruments. Therefore, it signifies aesthetic appeal and functional flexibility in high-technology industries.

Role of the soil

Soil resources are the base for agriculture, and agriculture is the base for food production worldwide. It provides a substrate for guaranteed crop growth and a consistent food supply to sustain human populations. Besides, the soils lead to creating habitats, which support quite a great diversity of organisms that are key in enhancing the health of the ecosystems and improving agricultural productivity. In addition, soils act as filters and regulators for water flows, supporting a crucial role in water management and, by extension, in accessing clean drinking water and water for irrigation(Brevik et al., 2020). These multifaceted contributions of soil resources are indispensable to human survival in the

Additionally, Soil resources are essential to human beings since they provide them with basic survival and well-being requirements. They are significant reservoirs of nutrients for human health, and, at the same time, they significantly contribute to climate change control by regulating carbon sequestration and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, soil health and sustainability are crucial for ensuring food security and ecosystem stability(Pahalvi et al., 2021). In this context, the soils support agricultural activities that ensure there is land on which to grow food necessary for sustenance. Further, soils filter and regulate water, providing people with clean water. Conservation and proper management of soil resources are vital building blocks of human life, health maintenance for ecosystems, and stability of the planet.

In conclusion, the well-being and sustainability of soil resources lie at the base of human survival and the ecosystems. Appreciation of their multifaceted contribution to food security, climate regulation, and overall well-being sets off on a path to the responsible stewardship of quite possibly the most precious resource on our planet through the judicious preservation and effective management of soil resources that we can ensure the world’s future in years to come.

References

Kenya: Mining, minerals, and fuel resources. (2018,) Retrieved February 18, 2024, from AZoMining website: https://www.azomining.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=143

Brevik, E. C., Slaughter, L., Singh, B. R., Steffan, J. J., Collier, D., Barnhart, P., & Pereira, P. (2020). Soil and human health: Current status and future needs. Air Soil and Water Research, 13, 117862212093444. https://doi.org.10.1177/1178622120934441

Pahalvi, H. N., Rafiya, L., Rashid, S., Nisar, B., & Kamili, A. N. (2021). Chemical fertilizers and their impact on soil health. In Microbiota and Biofertilizers, Vol 2 (pp. 1–20). Springer International Publishing.

Lindsay. (2016, July 24). Kenya’s mining industry: set for a boom? Retrieved February 18, 2024, from Mining Technology website: https://www.mining-technology.com/features/featurekenyas-mining-industry-set-for-a-boom-4958923/