soil
Let an agent handle soil by type, properties, health, use, contamination and protection.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent handle soil by type, properties, health, use, contamination and protection.
The upper layer of the Earth surface made of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms, formed by weathering and biological activity, and classified into types such as histosols, loams and urban soils.
What it is for: Growing plants and food, storing carbon and water, supporting ecosystems and foundations.
It can be test soil properties; improve soil health; prevent erosion; assess contamination.
Distinguishing features
Living, layered mixture
Forms very slowly
Varies by climate, rock and time
Can be eroded or contaminated
What it looks like
Layers of brown, black, red or grey material with roots and organisms.
How it is recognised
Texture: sand, silt, clay, loam
Horizons in a soil profile
Classification such as WRB or USDA
Related models
is a kind of - category
supports - function
is threatened by - process
is classified by - scheme
In practice
Families and kinds
mineral soils
organic soils such as histosols
agricultural soils
urban and made-ground soils
soil types under WRB
Standards and regulation
EU Soil Monitoring Law
Contaminated land regimes
ISO soil quality test standards
Failure modes and hazards
Erosion and compaction
Contamination from industry
Loss of organic carbon
Also called
+67
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Type Which soil.
Classification guides use.
Class
WRB or USDA.
Class
Soil type.
- What soil type is it, under which classification? provenance
- What is its texture? measurement
Profile
Horizons.
Profile
Soil profile.
- What horizons does the profile show? definition
- How deep is it? measurement
Properties Testing.
Tests guide management.
Chemistry
pH and nutrients.
Chemistry
Soil chemistry.
- What are its pH and nutrient levels? measurement
- From which lab? provenance
Organic matter
Carbon.
Organic
Organic matter.
- How much organic carbon does it hold? measurement
- Is it changing? measurement
Management Soil health.
Management protects soil.
Health
Practices.
Health
Soil health.
- Which practices improve soil health here? action
- What evidence supports them? provenance
Erosion
Protection.
Erosion
Erosion control.
- Is the soil at risk of erosion or compaction? boundary
- How can it be protected? action
Contamination Pollution.
Soil can be polluted.
Assessment
Testing.
Assessment
Contamination assessment.
- Could the soil be contaminated, for example on former industrial land? boundary
- Who should test it? action
Gardening
Food growing.
Gardening
Growing food.
- Is it safe to grow food in this soil? boundary
- What precautions help? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should soil types be separate entries?
- How should soil maps be linked?
- How should soil health indicators be recorded?