Soil

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-025965",
  "term": "Soil",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. Complex mixture of inorganic minerals (mostly clay, silt, and sand), decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms.\n\n2. Unconsolidated earth material composing the superficial geologic strata (material overlying bedrock) consisting of clay, silt, sand or gravel size particles as classified by the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, or a mixture of such materials with liquids, sludges or solids which is inseparable by simple mechanical removal processes and is made up primarily of soil by volume based on visual inspection.\n\n3. Particles of unconsolidated mineral and/or organic matter from the earth's surface that are located outdoors, or are used indoors to support plant growth.\n\n4. Complex mixture of inorganic minerals (i.e., mostly clay, silt, and sand), decaying organic matter, water, air, and living organisms.\n\n5. A natural body comprised of solids (minerals and organic matter), liquid, and gases that occurs on the land surface, occupies space, and is characterized by one or both of the following: horizons, or layers, that are distinguishable from the initial material as a result of additions, losses, transfers, and transformations of energy and matter or the ability to support rooted plants in a natural environment.\n\n6. All loose, unconsolidated earth and organic materials above bedrock that support plant growth.\n\n7. All vegetation, soils and other ground media, including but not limited to, sand, grass, gravel, and oyster shells. It does not include concrete and asphalt.\n\n8. Unconsolidated earth material composing the superficial geologic strata (material overlying bedrock), consisting of clay, silt, sand, or gravel size particles as classified by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, or a mixture of such materials with liquids, sludges or solids which is inseparable by simple mechanical removal processes and is made up primarily of soil by volume based on visual inspection. Any deliberate mixing of prohibited hazardous waste with soil that changes its treatment classification (i.e., from waste to contaminated soil) is not allowed under the dilution prohibition in § 268.3.\n\n9. Impacts on the loose top layer of the Earth's surface, consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with decayed organic matter (humus), and capable of retaining water, providing nutrients for plants, and supporting a wide range of biotic communities.\n\n10. All unconsolidated materials normally found on or near the surface of the earth including, but not limited to, silts, clays, sands, gravel, and small rocks.\n\n11. All unconsolidated materials above bedrock. This is the meaning of the term as used by early geologists and in some recent geologic reports, and has been vigorously advocated by Legget (1967, 1973). It is the common usage among engineering geologists (see, e.g., compaction; soil mechanics). In recent years the approx. syn. regolith has come into wide geological use [Original source: https://www.mindat.org/min-50966.html].",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Nearshore Terrestrial Ecosystems Glossary; Nearshore Ecosystems Glossary",
    "Land Disposal Restrictions Glossary",
    "Exposure Factors Handbook: Glossary",
    "Greenhouse Gas Emissions; Greenhouse Emissions Glossary",
    "USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service Soil Taxonomy A Basic System of Soil Classification for Making and Interpreting Soil Surveys (1999)",
    "USGS Geology in the Parks Glossary",
    "40 CFR 761.123 (CFR 2013)",
    "40 CFR 268.2 (CFR 2013)",
    "Resilience and Adaptation in New England (RAINE) Glossary",
    "40 CFR 192.11 (CFR 2019)",
    "Federal LCA Commons Elementary Flow List for Life Cycle Assessment"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/soil/"
}