What is Soil?

Imagine you are starting a garden in your backyard. You begin by examining the top layer of the ground. What is this layer composed of?

• The upper layer of the Earth consisting of broken up rocks, sand, clay, dead plants, microorganisms, animal remains, fungi, and worms.

• A type of rock found deep within the Earth.

• A synthetic material used in gardening.

• The liquid part of the Earth's surface.

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What does soil provide to plants in a garden?

• Acids for growth

• Nutrients, water, and structure to hold onto

• Light for photosynthesis

• Water runoff and pollution

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While gardening, you notice a difference in the texture and quality of the material in your garden. What is the difference between soil and dirt?

• Soil and dirt are the same things.

• Soil is alive with microorganisms and dirt is essentially dead soil.

• Dirt contains more nutrients than soil.

• Dirt is more valuable than soil.

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Why are earthworms important to soil?

• They are good food for birds.

• They aerate the soil with tunnels and contribute to its nutirents.

• They make the soil look darker.

• They decrease the soil's nutrient levels by tunneling through.

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Imagine you are starting a garden and are curious about soil formation. How long can it take for an inch of good quality soil to form naturally?

• 1 year

• 100 years

• 500 - 1,000 years

• 10 years

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What is the role of no-till soil in the environment?

• It makes the soil less healthy.

• It helps replace soil nutrients and reduces runoff.

• It decreases the amount of water stored underground.

• It increases soil runoff and pollution.

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While testing the soil in a garden, a gardener wants to understand its acidity or alkalinity level. What does 'pH' stand for in this context?

• Physical Hardness

• Potential of Hydrogen

• Plant Health

• Phosphorus Hydroxide

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Imagine you are preparing a garden, which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the soil you would want?

• Contains the right mix of pH and nutrients

• Retains the correct amount of water

• Holds together during hard rain

• Contains a high level of pollutants

While gardening, what would you consider as organic matter to improve soil health?

• Plastic and synthetic materials

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• Artificial fertilizers

• Plants and animal parts that are decomposing

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Imagine a community garden in your local neighborhood. Why is the soil in this garden important for the water cycle?

• It has no effect on water.

• It increases water pollution.

• It acts like a filter protecting groundwater and aquifers.

• It makes water taste better.

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