Soils

A soil profileHopefully, your exploration of soil in this topic gave you a better appreciation for this important resource. Soil is much more than just dirt. Soil is a combination of sediments, rock fragments, and organic material called humus. Soil forms from the physical and chemical weathering of bedrock and is enriched by the presence of living organisms. Organized into layers called horizons, this mixture is capable of supporting plant life and is critical to survival on Earth. While the recipe is simple, it requires hundreds to thousands of years for soil to fully develop.