Soil

soil

Plant supporting mixture made up of sediment, remains and wastes of organisms, water, and air; ecosystem

parent material

Base geologic material in a given location; residual or transported from erosion

bedrock

Continuous mass of solid rock from the Earth's crust

soil horizons

Distinct layers of soil based on color, texture, composition, pH, etc; typically horizontal

soil profile

Cross-section of all soil horizons in a given area; in order from surface to bedrock O, A, E, B, C, R

Soil degradation

The deterioration of soil characteristics needed for plant growth or other ecosystem services

Overgrazing

When too many animals each too much of the plant cover; impeding regrowth

desertification

Loss of +10% of productivity due to erosion, soil compaction, forest removal, overgrazing, drought, salinization, climate change, water depletion, etc.

irrigation

Providing of water other than precipitation to crops

pesticides

Chemicals that kill organisms that attack or compete with valued organisms

Sustainable farming practices

Methods farmers use to mitigate soil degradation; intercropping, crop rotation, cover crops, shelterbelts, tilling/no-till, terracing, contour farming, etc.