The Science of Soil: Exploring Soil Solids and Pore Spaces
Soil is a complex and dynamic mixture of minerals, organic matter, water, and air that forms the foundation of life on Earth. It is a vital component of ecosystems and plays a critical role in supporting plant growth, nutrient cycling, and carbon storage. To understand soil and its functions, it is important to look at its components, specifically soil solids and pore spaces. Soil Solids : Soil solids are the inorganic and organic materials that make up the bulk of the soil. The inorganic portion of soil solids is made up of mineral matter , which includes sand, silt, and clay particles . These particles differ in size, shape, and surface area, which affect their ability to hold and exchange nutrients and water. Clay particles, for instance, have a high surface area and can hold onto nutrients and water more tightly than sand particles. The organic matter in soil solids is composed of dead and decaying plant and animal materials. It is an essential component of healthy...