This content resource is a section of a chapter from an online textbook provided by PhysicalGeography.net. This section of the Introduction to the Lithosphere chapter provides fundamental information about soils.

PhysicalGeography.net is an educational web portal that focuses on a specific area of knowledge known as Physical Geography. Physical Geography is a sub-discipline of two much larger fields of study - Geography and Earth Sciences. The main purpose of Physical Geography is to explain the spatial characteristics of the various natural phenomena associated with the Earth's hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. (author/ts)

This excellent resource provides the user with a wealth of background information about soils. The information ranges from basic soil components and profiles to earthquakes and volcanoes. Construction, Agricultural, and Engineering and Science career fields are decidedly different, but this website contains information that would be relevant and directly applicable to each one. Agricultural students would learn soil components that aid in and destroy plant growth. Construction students could apply information learned to building structures. And lastly, Engineering students could use this background information in the structural design process. (author/cb)