Digging deep: Discovering the wonders of soils

Of all the world’s natural resources, soil is often overlooked even though it is the cornerstone of life. The earth is covered by layers of soil, composed of minerals, organic matter, and living organisms and serves as a record of geological and climactic history. Soils affect many areas of our lives; we depend on it to grow our food and support the buildings we live and work in. Human activities that damage soils disrupts the delicate balance that sustains life. It is important to have an understanding of soils to determine their future uses and to manage soils wisely.