An Introduction to Soil Concepts and the Role of Soils in Watershed Management

Soil is a non‐renewable dynamic natural resource that is essential to life. Water movement, water quality, land use, and vegetation productivity all have relationships with soil. This article introduces many important soil concepts including development, classification, properties (physical, chemical, and biological), quality, and conservation. A general understanding of soil concepts and these interwoven relationships is essential to making sound land management decisions.