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Soil is a natural earth material—a complex mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, and water (plus organisms)—that supports plant and soil life. It is commonly defined as a three-phase system: a solid soil matrix (minerals and organic matter), a porous phase that contains gases (soil atmosphere), and a liquid phase that contains water and dissolved substances (soil solution). Some definitions distinguish “dirt” from “soil” by reserving “soil” for material in place that can support biological activity. The scope of soil extends beyond its physical components to include how it forms and functions within the Earth system. Soil develops over time through interacting factors such as climate, relief/topography, organisms, and parent material, and it continually changes through physical, chemical, and biological processes including weathering and erosion. Because of its complexity and internal connectivity, soil is often treated as an ecosystem (the pedosphere) that interfaces with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere. Soil science is commonly divided into edaphology (soil’s influence on living things) and pedology (soil formation, description, morphology, and classification).
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