We all take it for granted, but the soil under our feet sustains our ecosystem and keeps us alive! So what is it actually made from?
What is soil?
Soil is more than just a layer of brown muddy stuff under the grass. It’s a complex, diverse and dynamic natural system that interfaces between air, water, earth and life itself, sustaining humanity by allowing our food to grow. Soil remediation is now one of the biggest priorities for the modern world, along with soil conservation and management, as this precious mantle becomes increasingly challenged by pollution.
What is soil made out of?
Soil is made from five elements – soil organic matter, minerals, gas, living organisms and water. The minerals in soil are categorised into three different sections, silt, clay and sand. Soil mineral profiles are hugely diverse and have their own distinct properties. For example, smectite is a clay mineral that expands and contracts with huge power as its moisture content changes. Add water to dehydrated smectite and it could knock over a building. Quartz is most commonly found in soil. and the organic matter that is most treated in soil remediation is a mix of animal, plant and microbial materials in different stages of composition.
What does soil colour tell us?
The higher the level of organic material in soil, the better it is for agricultural purposes. Soil remediation companies such as Soilfix will assess the colour of soil as part of their work, and it can range from common brown, through to yellow, grey, white, red, black and even blue and green.
What are the challenges for soil in the modern world?
Pollution is damaging our soil and soil erosion is occurring in much of the world, driven by factors that include human influences and climate change. These represent huge challenges for global soil remediation, to ensure we don’t lose this precious and life-sustaining resource. It takes up to 1,000 years to create just a couple of inches of topsoil, so this mandate for the entire world’s ecosystem cannot be ignored.