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Soil science
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<p>Soil science is the study of <a href="/facts/Soil/5Ddpr3QM">soil</a> as a <a href="/facts/Natural_resource/w9WXxMx3">natural resource</a> on the surface of the <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a> including <a href="/facts/Soil_formation/sJty93z9">soil formation</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_classification/gru7kDvL">classification</a> and <a href="/facts/Soil_survey/sYpCQzz2">mapping</a>; <a href="/facts/Soil_physics/Jkl25Abd">physical</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_chemistry/fBA3Vz5w">chemical</a>, <a href="/facts/Soil_biology/IS502pyK">biological</a>, and fertility properties of soils; and these properties in relation to the use and <a href="/facts/Soil_management/T3Jt7MBT">management of soils</a>. </p><p>The main branches of soil science are <i><a href="/facts/Pedology/T7rCuFBJ">pedology</a></i> ― the study of formation, chemistry, morphology, and classification of soil ― and <i><a href="/facts/Edaphology/jKujwjll">edaphology</a></i> ― the study of how soils interact with living things, especially plants. Sometimes terms which refer to those branches are used as if synonymous with soil science. The diversity of names associated with this discipline is related to the various associations concerned. Indeed, engineers, <a href="/facts/Agronomy/8pvE8bmm">agronomists</a>, <a href="/facts/Chemist/N09K7Bdm">chemists</a>, <a href="/facts/Geologist/vGc0tBHB">geologists</a>, <a href="/facts/Physical_geography/NByHKLCQ">physical geographers</a>, <a href="/facts/Ecologists/46ATB6HN">ecologists</a>, <a href="/facts/Biologist/yJJGXyKR">biologists</a>, <a href="/facts/Microbiologist/cqEyJwNK">microbiologists</a>, <a href="/facts/Forestry/puvod5MV">silviculturists</a>, <a href="/facts/Public_health/4563Kre9">sanitarians</a>, <a href="/facts/Archaeology/K3Q5P38R">archaeologists</a>, and specialists in <a href="/facts/Regional_planning/ekKMfNP9">regional planning</a>, all contribute to further knowledge of soils and the advancement of the soil sciences. </p><p>Soil scientists have raised concerns about how to preserve soil and arable land in a world with a growing population, possible future <a href="/facts/Water_scarcity/YN3qIwmv">water crisis</a>, increasing per capita <a href="/facts/List_of_countries_by_food_energy_intake/9nXXJfMN">food consumption</a>, and <a href="/facts/Land_degradation/e6xbPpFl">land degradation</a>. </p>