Characteristics of Soil

Some of the important characteristics of soil are mentioned below:

• Soil forms at the surface of land.
• Soil is the skin of the earth.
• Life on Earth depends on soil as soil supports plant life.
• Soil is a complex mixture of rocks, minerals, water, air, organic matter and countless organisms that are decaying remains on once living things.
• Soil is a system in which energy and matter from the sun, the atmosphere, and living organisms penetrate and interact.
• The gaps between aggregates or soil particles are known as pores. They are crucial because they permit both the movement of air and water through and the storage of water in the soil.
• The origin of the soil, the length of time it has been forming, and the surrounding conditions all affect the colour of the soil.
• The depth of the soil controls how much water and how far roots can spread. The lowest root-limiting layer is used to measure depth.
• Soil drainage is a way of expressing the frequency and duration of periods in which the soil is saturated. Excess free water in the root zone can kill plants or keep them from becoming established.

Soil is the loose material that covers the Earth’s surface in most parts of the world. It gives plants the nutrients they need to grow and plants give people and animals food to live. Soil also provides building materials, homes for animals, and things we use every day. More than just dirt, soil is a valuable natural resource that serves as the basis for life as we know it on Earth. Rocks, decaying plants and animals, air, and water all makeup soil. By the process of weathering big rocks break down into smaller and smaller pieces eventually, becoming part of soil.