Soils

Sometimes referred to as dirt, soil is a very important substance. People could not live on Earth without soil. Your life, and the lives of many land organisms, depends on it. Soil is a thin layer that covers solid rock and is found in almost every area of the world. In soil, reactions occur between solid rock, water, and air. Plant roots grow into the soil and anchor the plant in place. The plants then leech nutrients and water from the soil. Think of all the wonderful things that plants give the Earth. Soil also needs to be managed properly in order to make sure it is not deprived of nutrients needed to support plant life. In this topic, you will learn about soil formation and composition.

Essential Questions

• What is the composition of soil?
• How does soil form?
• How is soil conserved to stop erosion?