An important factor influencing the productivity of any ecosystem is the nature of its soils . Soils are vital for the existence of many forms of life that have evolved on our planet. For example, soils provide vascular plants with a medium for growth and supply these organisms with most of their nutritional requirements.
Plants are the basis of virtually all terrestrial food chains .
Soil itself is a much more complex phenomenon than most people realize. It is certainly not just fine mineral particles or dirt. A true soil is the product of a living environment. The formation of a soil is also influenced by climate, topography, parent material, and time. The following items describe some important features of a soil that help to distinguish it from mineral sediments.