The soil: Integration of mineral and organic components

The purpose of this article is to explain the fundamental principles of Soil Science, to define the soil, and to present the functions of soils in our Ecosystem. Soil properties influence how soils function in an ecosystem and how they can best be managed to protect the environment and the same time produce food to support society. A soil is a three dimensional natural body. In fact, the four major components of soil are: mineral matter, organic matter, air and water. These components interact with each other to determine the nature of a soil. The relative proportions of these components greatly influence the behaviour and productivity of soils. A soil is the product of both destructive and synthetic processes. Formations of colloidal particles (clay and humus) are examples of synthesis. For most soil colloids, electronegative charges predominate. These charges attract ions of an opposite charge to the colloidal surfaces. The adsorbed cations are subject no exchange with other cations held in the soil solution (cation exchange). Toxic element thus released can be absorbed by plants. Toxic elements become part of the food chain: soil--> plant--> animal--> human. I present the hypothesis for the origin of life, the peptide formation processes on the clay mineral surface (montmorillonites) and the decisive role played by the catalyst Cu(II), as an amalgam of ideas provided by Rode, Bujdak, Le Son and others. The capacity of soils to produce food is being degraded, even as the number of people needing food is increasing. A fundamental knowledge of Soil Science is a prerequisite to meeting the many natural resource challenges that will face humanity in the 21(st) century. The basic principles of biology, chemistry and physics can be used to minimize the degradation and destruction of one of our most important natural resources.