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Topsoil is composed of mineral particles and organic matter and usually extends to a depth of 5-10 inches (13–25 cm). Together these make a substrate capable of holding water and air which encourages biological activity.
Soil biology is the study of microbial and faunal activity and ecology in soil. Soil life , soil biota , soil fauna , or edaphon is a collective term that encompasses all organisms that spend a significant portion of their life cycle within a soil profile, or at the soil- litter interface.
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, liquids, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from soil by restricting the former term specifically to displaced soil. Soil measuring and surveying device
Soil carbon sequestration is a major property of the soil, also considered as an ecosystem service. [24] Only when it becomes stable and acquires its multi-century permanence, mostly via multiple interactions with the soil matrix , molecular soil humus should be considered to be of significance in removing the atmosphere's current carbon ...
Soil that is healthy is fertile and productive. [29] But soil erosion leads to a loss of topsoil, organic matter, and nutrients; it breaks down soil structure and decreases water storage capacity, reducing fertility and water availability to plant roots. Soil erosion is, therefore, a major threat to soil biodiversity. [30]
Biological soil crust in Natural Bridges National Monument near Sipapu Bridge. Biological soil crusts cover about 12% of the earth's landmass. [7] They are found on almost all soil types, but are more commonly found in arid regions of the world where plant cover is low and plants are more widely spaced.
A soil scientist examining horizons within a soil profile. Soil science is the study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of the Earth including soil formation, classification and mapping; physical, chemical, biological, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and management of soils.
Soil peds should be described when the soil is dry or slightly moist, as they can be difficult to distinguish when wet. [1] An artificially formed aggregate of soil particles can be called a clod. [2] There are five major classes of macrostructure seen in soils: platy, prismatic, columnar, granular, and blocky. There are also structureless ...