# What is soil?

Soil consists of four parts: 

 ![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/ee7befcd-66b9-43b1-b9eb-0bf46273c5ca/e9bb80a0-80fd-4d93-a7f1-bd2bc9f98dd2/Picture%201.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261101%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261101T050000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=7d38f1e666d37c61291c96ef94d434a79d8c92d0cb149cc294e34b3597f69afc&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)


## Mineral matter

Mineral part of soil consists of different size particles of sand, silt and clay. 

 ![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/ee7befcd-66b9-43b1-b9eb-0bf46273c5ca/d6a67630-5f0d-4afb-9060-95339639b675/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261101%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261101T050000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=d6bca056f7b136423f4efe69325214120cc749a9f4dbcb4459999b65151f1fab&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject)

## Organic matter

 ![](https://outline-production-attachments.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/uploads/ee7befcd-66b9-43b1-b9eb-0bf46273c5ca/04557672-22d9-4834-a096-8c11f778c2d6/image.png?X-Amz-Algorithm=AWS4-HMAC-SHA256&X-Amz-Content-Sha256=UNSIGNED-PAYLOAD&X-Amz-Credential=AKIA4EOUDTOVUICLPZ4P%2F20261101%2Fus-east-1%2Fs3%2Faws4_request&X-Amz-Date=20261101T050000Z&X-Amz-Expires=86400&X-Amz-Signature=2f6be21920d3e311c410893459b53e90534f7c5f787c394fb984a2c949798ccc&X-Amz-SignedHeaders=host&x-amz-checksum-mode=ENABLED&x-id=GetObject " =442x311")


1. **Fresh residues:** the active, or easily decomposed, fraction.

* Recently deceased microorganisms, 
* Insects, 
* Earthworms, 
* Old plant roots, 
* Crop residues, 
* Recently added manure


2. **Living organisms:**

* Archae
* Bacteria
* Actinomycetes
* Fungi
* Algae
* Protozoa
* Springtails
* Mites
* Nematodes
* Earthworms
* Ants


3. **Decomposing organic matter:** The part of organic matter which is in a state of physical breakdown and  biochemical transformation of complex organic molecules into simpler organic and inorganic molecules.
4. **Stabilised organic matter:** Carbon that is protected from decomposition, through micro-aggregation, or an intimate association with silt and clay particles.

## Water

H2O

## Air

78,09% nitrogen; 20,95% oxygen; 0,93% argon; 0,04% carbon dioxide.

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**Documents**

- [What is soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/what-is-soil-gRuZM4zZR6)
- [Soil Microbes / Microbial Biomass < 5% soil mass](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/soil-microbes-microbial-biomass-5-soil-mass-qg38xBHeSj)
- [Functions of the Microbial Biomass](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/functions-of-the-microbial-biomass-TSEVOVTRuS)
- [What are SOM and SOC?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/what-are-som-and-soc-w0gOjdsBo2)
- [How to score your soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-score-your-soil-Oyv3RohGUy)
- [How to increase SOM?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-increase-som-YSKc4fav2d)
- [How to calculate from SOC % to t/ha?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-calculate-from-soc-to-tha-ccMWIj01CD)
- [How long will it take for the soil to be "full" of carbon?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-long-will-it-take-for-the-soil-to-be-full-of-carbon-IQ9NTVfbSY)
- [How to maintain the organic matter level in soil?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-maintain-the-organic-matter-level-in-soil-e4Tu2KRJUf)
- [Agronomical Benefits of increasing SOM](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/agronomical-benefits-of-increasing-som-QZzWrYXd8d)
- [Choosing cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/choosing-cover-crops-byZi137O0k)
- [Common cover crop species](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/common-cover-crop-species-hjBpvpwnpF)
- [How to do cover crop mixes?](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/how-to-do-cover-crop-mixes-3upeHsTZo1)
- [Establishment methods of cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/establishment-methods-of-cover-crops-Ah2i9bkmxw)
- [Termination methods of cover crops](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/termination-methods-of-cover-crops-JURSvNl1cr)
- [Residue management](https://eagronom.getoutline.com/s/96e3c8d3-79b7-4af0-89ec-a283ee06eb8b/doc/residue-management-rU53bPH69y)