Soil

About

Earth's soil is a complex mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that supports plant and soil life. As a three-state system of solids, liquids, and gases, soil develops through climate, terrain, organisms, and parent materials interacting over time. It serves four critical functions: providing a medium for plant growth, storing and purifying water, modifying Earth's atmosphere, and creating habitats for soil organisms. Soil ecologists regard soil as an ecosystem due to its complexity and internal connectedness.