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Agriculture vocabulary · Soil and Land Management

Soil

Meaning in agriculture, with examples

/sɔɪl/nounCore term

In agriculture, soil means: The loose upper layer of the earth, made of minerals, organic matter, water and air, in which plants grow and take up water and nutrients.

In Turkish: toprak

How it is used

Agronomists describe soil by its texture (sandy, clay, loamy), structure, depth, fertility and pH. Common phrases are soil sample, soil test, soil moisture and soil health. 'Dirt' is informal and not used in professional texts.

Example sentences

  1. These heavy clay soils stay wet for a long time after rain.

  2. Take soil samples from at least ten points in the field.

Common collocations

  • soil sample
  • soil moisture
  • soil health
  • sandy soil
  • clay soil
  • topsoilThe upper layer of soil, usually a few tens of centimeters deep, which is darker and richer in organic matter, roots and soil life than the layers below.
  • soil fertilityThe ability of a soil to supply plants with the nutrients, water and conditions they need to grow well and give good yields.
  • soil analysisA laboratory test of soil samples that measures nutrients, pH, organic matter, lime, salinity and texture, used as the basis for fertilizer recommendations.
  • organic matterThe part of the soil formed from decaying plant and animal material; it holds water and nutrients and improves soil structure.
  • soil erosionThe loss of the top layer of soil when it is carried away by water or wind, often made worse by bare ground, slopes and heavy tillage.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Soil and Land Management

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