What are the physical properties of soil?
Soil forms from rock, which originates from the molten core or magma of Earth s center. Soil is produced from rock through the process of weathering. Weathering is the process by which rock is broken down into tiny fragments through the action of water, wind, gravity, and living organisms. Soil is the substrate upon which many organisms live. Plants obtain their nutrients from soil. Eventually, all plants die. Over time, plant matter will decompose and mix with the soil. This increases the organic matter in the soil. Worms and microorganisms break down the organic matter, causing it to release more nutrients into the soil. What factors influence the ability of contaminants to bind to soil? The organic content of soil plays an important role in the ability of contaminants to bind to the soil. Usually, the greater the organic content of soil, the greater its ability to bind to contaminants. Another factor is particle size. In general, the smaller the particle size of soil, the more conta
