Agronomy
Ncsu's agronomy program
Our Program
Weathering Agents
Soil compostion/ soil horizon
Rate of soil formation
The age of a soil is generally considered to be the length of time in years since the land surface became relatively stable, thus enabling soil development to proceed.
Remote sensing
Importance of soil
Soil is important because we use soil to grow plants and plants help us breath. Soil is just as important as water. Uses of soil-Soils modify the atmosphere by emitting and absorbing gases (carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and the like) and dust.Soils provide habitat for animals that live in the soil (such as groundhogs and mice) to organisms (such as bacteria and fungi), that account for most of the living things on Earth.Soils absorb, hold, release, alter, and purify most of the water in terrestrial systems.Soils process recycled nutrients, including carbon, so that living things can use them over and over again.Soils serve as engineering media for construction of foundations, roadbeds, dams and buildings, and preserve or destroy artifacts of human endeavors.Soils act as a living filter to clean water before it moves into an aquifer.
Common misuses of soil and the consequences
A more significant problem is the growing number of situations where human misuse of the soil has led to pollution or contamination. Meaning the our air is dirty and that so is some parts of our soil which can lead to diseases.