SOIL Soil has been described as the bridge between the living and non-living portions of the earth. The Earth s crust is made of rock. If its outer portion were not changed in some way, the entire surface of the earth would be bare rock. Only a very few living things could survive under these conditions. Most plants cannot grow without some sort of soil, and no animals can survive without plants.
Humans are no exception.
We are dependent on soil for the production of food , and thus we are dependent on all of the processes that create and maintain soil. Soil forms as rain, wind, ice and a variety of other agents break down the earth's rocks. Collectively, these processes are known as weathering . Soil is composed of portions of the original rock that are combined with several other components that form during the weathering process. Many of these components are essential for the growth of plants.