What Is Soil? Image: T. Loynachan Soils-1-1

Soil is a layer of unconsolidated material on the Earth’s surface in which plants grow. Image: Louis Maher Image: Professional Soil Classifiers Assoc. of Alabama Soils-1-2

Soil is a mixture of mineral grains from the Earth, decomposing organic matter, and voids filled with air or water. Image: Professional Soil Classifiers Assoc. of Alabama Soils-1-3

Soil is the Earth material that links living things (biosphere), air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), and the solid Earth (geosphere). Image: Bruce Molnia Soils-1-4