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Soil Functions
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Introduction to Soils Soil serves multiple essential functions, including supporting plant growth, providing habitat for organisms, recycling nutrients, and managing water supply and purification. It is composed mainly of mineral matter, water, air, and organic matter, with formation influenced by factors like parent material, climate, topography, organisms, and time. Soil is structured in layers, from the organic-rich O horizon to the unaltered R horizon. Key soil properties—such as texture, porosity, and permeability—affect water movement and retention, which vary across different soil types like alluvial, black, and lateritic soils. Understanding these characteristics is vital for effective land management.