soil- +

In physical geography, the science dealing with the geographical distribution of various soil types: In his book about soil geography he was reading for class, Thomas found out that there were many different kinds of soils located in various parts of the world, or even in his own country.

The branch of microbiology that deals with micro-organisms found in the earth: Soil microbiology includes the functions of the tiny soil creatures, and their effects on the growth and maintenance of plant life.

Soil water: Soil moisture is water that is stored in, or at, the continental surface and subject to evaporation.

A section through the soil showing the different layers from the surface soil to underlying bedrock: Jack read about soil profile for his class and found out that it referred to the various strata existing from the top of the ground to the bottom rock.

The ability of a given area or type of soil to provide functions of value to humans: The soil quality of a piece of land determines the amount of biomass production, water filtration, biodegradation of pollutants, or soil carbon sequestration (technologies that can separate and store carbon dioxide in reservoirs of earth other than in the atmosphere).

The scientific study of the formation, properties, distribution, and classification of soil as a natural resource: Part of his geology classes included a seminar on soil science which involved many different aspects of earth.

The extent to which soil aggregates are developed, and their sizes and shapes: Soil structure comprises the grouping or order of soil elements in different combinations with various forms, sizes, and degrees of attachments to each other.

A field and laboratory examination of soil: A soil survey includess a systematic study of the description, classification, and mapping of soils in a given area.

The distribution of particles or elements in a mass of soil: Soil texture depends on the size of the mineral particles which also control aeration and drainage.

An instrument that creates a photographic representation of the heat of a designated underground area: A soil thermograph consists of a sensing element that transmits data to a remote recording device.

An apparatus suited to take the temperatures of the soil: A soil thermometer is an instrument, commonly a mercury-in-glass thermometer, that is used to measure the temperature of soils at a great depth.

A taxonomic unit in soil science: Soil types are those that share a specific set of accurately defined properties for a certain soil type.

Water in the zone of aeration immediately below the ground surface.

1. To make something dirty: The children were always soiling their clothes when they went out into the yard to play.

The farmer soiled his hands and pants with oil and grease while he was repairing the tractor motor.

2. To become dirty: Mary was told that the fabric would soil easily and that the other material would not soil nearly as much.