A type of earth that develops in arid, or dry, climates: Desert soils develop under sparse shrub vegetation in warm to cool arid climates with a light-colored surface soil usually underlain by calcareous material and a hardpan layer.

Desert soil is a soil variety typically found in arid climates, usually with little leaching and minimal humus content.

Desert soil is referred to as an "aridisol" in the nomenclature of the United States Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.