ABSTRACT
The earth's surface is covered by three materials in various combinations water rock and soil. The soil is always an important component in the system comprising the lithosphere, the atmosphere and the biosphere. Soil properties reflect the varying nature of the interactions within this system. Observe and record features of the site and the soil surface following standard procedures, for example those given in the Soil Survey Field Handbook. During the second half of the nineteenth century Russian soil scientists led by Dokuchaiev observed that soil properties seemed to be influenced by various soil-forming factors, and expressed these relationships in a quasi-mathematical formula. An understanding of the landscape aids understanding of the distribution of soils. Refer back to the topography, geology and soil maps of the area. Crush the soil using a pestle and mortar or a soil grinding machine and pass through a 2 mm sieve, rejecting roots and stones to give the fine earth fraction.
