
Soil - Wikipedia
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific …
Soil | Definition, Importance, Types, Erosion, Composition, & Facts ...
Oct 14, 2025 · Soil is one of the principal substrata of life on Earth, serving as a reservoir of water and nutrients, as a medium for the filtration and breakdown of injurious wastes, and as a …
What is Soil? - Natural Resources Conservation Service
What is Soil? Soils perform vital functions to sustain plant and animal life, regulate water flow, filter and buffer pollutants, cycle nutrients, and provide physical stability and sort. This …
Soil Composition and Types - Geology Science
Nov 4, 2024 · Understanding soil composition and types is essential for sustainable agriculture, land management, and environmental conservation. This article delves deeper into the …
Soils | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov
Aug 1, 2025 · Soils are the foundation of terrestrial systems, storing water and nutrients that support forests, crops, and human societies. Geology, climate, ecosystems, and human …
What Are Soils? | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
In this article readers are introduced to the many facets of soils - their unique characteristics and diversity, the ecosystem services that soils provide, and their use and misuse. Soils are...
What is Soil? - Smithsonian Institution
Plants grow in and from soils, and plants—directly or indirectly—feed almost all life on Earth. Soil-dwellers such as bacteria and fungi recycle once-living organisms into nutrients and soil …
Soil testing for lawns and gardens | UMN Extension
Understand important physical characteristics of your soil including the texture, pH (acidity) and percent of organic matter in your soil. Determine if your soil needs nutrients and choose the …
Soil Composition - Education
Oct 19, 2023 · Soil contains air, water, and minerals as well as plant and animal matter, both living and dead. These soil components fall into two categories. In the first category are biotic …
Understanding Soils | N.C. Cooperative Extension
Soil scientists define soil as a living, dynamic, resource at the surface of the earth. Soil is made up of four different components – minerals, organic matter (both living and dead), water, and air.