Editing Soil science (section)

{{Short description|Study of soil as a natural resource on the surface of Earth}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
[[File:Soil sci.jpg|thumb|A soil scientist examining horizons within a soil profile]]

'''Soil science''' is the study of [[soil]] as a [[natural resource]] on the surface of the [[Earth]] including [[soil formation]], [[soil classification|classification]] and [[Soil survey|mapping]]; [[Soil physics|physical]], [[Soil chemistry|chemical]], [[Soil biology|biological]], and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and [[Soil management|management of soils]].<ref name=":0">Jackson, J. A. (1997). Glossary of Geology (4. ed.). Alexandria, Virginia: American Geological Institute. p 604. {{ISBN|0-922152-34-9}}</ref>

The main branches of soil science are ''[[pedology]]'' ― the study of formation, chemistry, morphology, and classification of soil ― and ''[[edaphology]]'' ― the study of how soils interact with living things, especially plants. Sometimes terms which refer to those branches are used as if synonymous with soil science. The diversity of names associated with this discipline is related to the various associations concerned.  Indeed, engineers, [[agronomy|agronomists]], [[chemist]]s, [[geologist]]s, [[physical geography|physical geographers]], [[ecologists]], [[biologist]]s, [[microbiologist]]s, [[forestry|silviculturists]], [[public health|sanitarians]], [[Archaeology|archaeologists]], and specialists in [[regional planning]], all contribute to further knowledge of soils and the advancement of the soil sciences.<ref name=":0" />

Soil scientists have raised concerns about how to preserve soil and arable land in a world with a growing population, possible future [[Water scarcity|water crisis]], increasing per capita [[List of countries by food energy intake|food consumption]], and [[land degradation]].<ref>{{cite journal | display-authors = 1 | author = H. H. Janzen | author2 = P.E. Fixen | author3 = A. J. Franzluebbers | author4 = J. Hattey | author5 = R. C. Izaurralde | author6 = Q. M. Ketterings | author7 = D. A. Lobb | author8 = W. H. Schlesinger | name-list-style = amp | date = 2011 | title = Global Prospects Rooted in Soil Science | url = https://www.soils.org/publications/sssaj/articles/75/1/1 | journal = Soil Science Society of America Journal | volume = 75 | issue = 1| page = 1 | doi = 10.2136/sssaj2009.0216 | bibcode = 2011SSASJ..75....1J | doi-access = free }}</ref>