LTER Controlled Vocabulary jporter 2018-09-19 2018-09-19 21:33:33 en soilsoils A mixture of sand and organic material, used to support plant growth.,# {{uncountable}} The unconsolidated mineral or organic material on the immediate surface of the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land plants.,# {{uncountable}} The unconsolidated mineral or organic matter on the surface of the earth that has been subjected to and shows effects of genetic and environmental factors of: climate (including water and temperature effects), and macro- and microorganisms, conditioned by relief, acting on parent material over a period of time. A product-soil differs from the material from which it is derived in many physical, chemical, biological, and morphological properties and characteristics source:wiktionary 2011-01-14 17:12:332011-03-27 17:02:52