What are the characteristic of Soil

It is commonly conceived as a plane at right angles to the surface. The upper part of a soil profile above the parent material in which processes of soil formation occur and within which most plant roots and soil animals are found is called solum.

A study of the soil profile refers to the identification and description of all the horizons as completely as possible. Different horizons are differentiated on the basis of the characteristics observable in the field, though sometimes laboratory data is also needed for complete description.

In practice, however, a description of a soil profile includes soil properties that can be determined only by inspecting volumes of soil.