There are many kinds of soil. A group of soil scientists from the U.S. made up a way of grouping soils that is used around the world. This grouping has hundreds of named soil types! All soils, however, are made of just a few main things. Soil consists of fine particles of minerals and rocks, decaying plants, and living plants and animals. You can easily see the larger plants and animals. There are even more tiny plants and animals that you can only see with a microscope.
Soil forms as the solid rock of the Earth, called bedrock, breaks down. It usually takes thousands of years for soil to form from bedrock. In some places, soil forms directly on top of bedrock. In other places, soil forms on a thick layer of loose rock and mineral material. This material, called sediment, has been carried from distant areas by rivers or glaciers.
The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) recently wrote an article based on research published in their journal. Soil contamination is a societal challenge, but adequately testing for contamination is a costly and time intensive process.
The Geo-Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers celebrated the value of soil mechanics with Karl Terzaghi Day on Monday, October 3rd. Terzaghi is credited as one of the fathers of soil mechanics.
Tomorrow, September 15th, 2016 is the last day to enter the American Society of Agronomy/Crop Science Society of America/Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) 2016 Photo Contest. The theme for SSSA's contest is "Soils Sustain Life." Let us know if you're the lucky winner!
The International Resource Panel’s (IRP) working group on Land and Soils released a report outlining tools and policies for utilizing land resources sustainably into the future.
