0
Dirt is a mixture of dead plant, bits of rock, and microorganisms. Only the microorganisms are alive.
If you count all the things that live in soil (or dirt as you called it), then yes it is. Even a very small amount of soil has millions of microscopic fungi, animals and plants living in it. Soil also breathes, that is, it takes in oxygen from the air and releases carbon dioxide from the living things that are inside of it.
If you discount all the things that live inside the soil then it is not alive. The minerals that make up soil or dirt are not alive. Most soils in the world are made up of silicon, iron, calcium, and different amounts of different types of pulverized rock depending on how the soil formed and what its parent material or bedrock is. Those aspects of soil are not alive.
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago1. Plants are producers. They produce water and nutrients from the soil and convert them into sugars and energy. "Dirt" (or what should better be termed "soil") only contains minerals, chemicals, and decomposed organic matter. It does not provide anything. Remember, even though soil may contain living fungi and bacteria (primitive types of plant), the soil itself is only the niche for these microscopic organisms.
2. Plants contain cells. A cell is the simplest most basic unit of life (one-celled organisms like the ameba is a classic example). A cell contains organelles that allow it to consume nutrients, repair itself, respirate, and excreet waste. A cell contains DNA and the RNA necessary to reproduce itself. Soil only contains dead cells from organic matter and contains no DNA to reproduce itself.
3. Plants can grow. Under conditions favorable enough for a specific plant, cell growth occurs. Plants respond to the sunlight and convert the energy through photosynthesis. Soil does not grow. Soil can move through erosion or is carried by the wind as dust particles, making it appear that dirt "grows," but this is a moving and settling of soil and not actual growth.
4. Plants can die. All lifeforms on the earth have a mortality rate. When plants, bacteria, fungi, or any plant-like organism does not get conditions suitable for survival, they cease respiration and nutrient uptake, stop growing, and decompose. Soil can only change form (e..g., course clay to fertile), and the form only goes from non-living to non-living. Again, the microscopic organism within the soil can die, but these can be distinguished from soil that does not contain such organisms.
Wiki User
∙ 10y agononliving living things can produce more of the same thing over and over dirt can not
Wiki User
∙ 13y agono
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Is mud a living thing?
No, it isn't. There may be living organisms in mud such as worms. Mud is only made from dirt and water.
What percentage of oxygen is there in a living thing?
It varies from living thing to living thing.
Why is sugar not a living thing?
Sugar is not a living thing, but sugar does come from sugar canes which is a living thing :)
Is a clone a living or non living thing?
In biological terms, a clone is a living thing. For example, Dolly the sheep was a clone, and clearly she was a living thing.
Is an apple seed a living thing?
It is a dormant living thing. Under the right conditions, it becomes an active living thing.
Example of non living thing?
Rocks, dirt, air, clouds, water, etc.
What is an example of a non-living thing in the tropical rain forest?
One example would be rocks or inorganic dirt.
Does dirt have an IQ?
Is dirt a living thing? Does dirt have a brain? No it is not living or have a brain. So no it does not have an IQ.(old answer) True but if you handed dirt an IQ test then it would just decompose. Being no test to grade, the dirt would have an undefined IQ. People assume that all nonliving thing don't have an IQ but really a lot of things do and they are just undefined. For instance: A lamp has an IQ of undefined. It would burn the paper. There would be no test to grade so the IQ is undefined.
Was a man created by sand?
Not entirely, The correct word would be ground (or dirt). The difference is that living thing such as plants (mostly plants, but in THIS case a man) can grow in ground/dirt, where in sand it can not.
What are non living thing?
If you mean non-living things, then they are objects. They are not made up of cells like animals, plants, and humans. Rocks and dirt are non-living, but trees, dogs and humans are not.
Definition of non living things?
some non living things can be rocks soil dirt status computers and TVscomputer, car, table, chair...................
Is a meteor a living or nonliving thing?
They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.They are non-living. They just pieces of ice, dust, dirt or rocks that are burning up in the atmosphere.
Is dirt a person place or thing?
The noun dirt is a thing; a word for a substance.
Why is dirt important?
if they was no dirt we wouldn't be living right now.
Is mud a living thing?
No, it isn't. There may be living organisms in mud such as worms. Mud is only made from dirt and water.
What animal is an abiotic animal?
What do you mean abiotic animal? There is no such thing. All living things,(animals & plants) are biotic, and non-living factors in their environment such as temperature, water, rocks, dirt, etc, are abiotic. So no animals (or plants) can be abiotic.
Is a mountain a living thing?
No. It is just a chunk or elevation of earth or ground, dirt, whatever you want to call it. It has living things and it is an environment where many living things are like birds, snakes, trees ect.They are covered by living things, but they themselves are not alive.
