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Soil Science Society of America
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Contact: Hanna Jeske, Associate Director of Marketing and Brand Strategy, 608-268-3972, hjeske@sciencesocieties.org

Soil: more than meets the eye

Exploring dynamic interactions underfoot

Oct. 3, 2016 - Are you unaware of what is underfoot? Soil is all around us and easy to ignore. However, locked inside is a dynamic ecosystem of amazing complexity. The Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) October 1st Soils Matter blog post explains how soil’s physical, chemical, and biological activities make soil more than dirt.

Frost blister on soil in AlaskaBlog author Mary Tiedeman, a scientist at Florida International University, explains. “All soils ­­are comprised of a few basic ingredients. These include minerals, organic materials (both living and dead), and pores filled with water and gas. When combined and subjected to external forces (such as gravity and climate), soil particles react with one another.”

“The importance of these soil particle reactions is tremendous! They contribute to the overall health and functionality of soil systems. In the short term, physical, biological, and chemical activities work in tandem to squeeze soil materials together, pull them apart, and transport them to different locations. They contribute to nutrient cycling and to the creation and decomposition of soil organic matter. Over hundreds, thousands, or millions of years, soil processes even contribute to shaping entire landscapes.”

Scientists are working to understand the many processes at work in soils. By learning more we can be better stewards of this precious resource for future generations.

To read the entire blog post, visit https://soilsmatter.wordpress.com/2016/10/01/in-what-way-is-the-soil-dynamic-rather-than-a-lifeless-static-body/ .

Follow SSSA on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SSSA.soils, Twitter at SSSA_Soils. SSSA has soils information on www.soils.org/discover-soils, for teachers at www.soils4teachers.org, and for students through 12th grade, www.soils4kids.org.

The Soil Science Society of America is an international scientific and professional society with its headquarters in Madison, WI. Our members are dedicated to advancing the field of soil science in relation to food production, environmental quality, sustainability, waste management and wise land use. We work at universities, government research facilities and private businesses across the United States and the world.