Grows our food
About 95% of the food we eat depends on soil. Healthy soil holds the nutrients and water plants need to thrive.
Soil Education
Why Soil Matters
Soil is more than dirt. It grows almost everything we eat, cleans the water we drink, and quietly stores huge amounts of carbon. Here's why the ground beneath your feet is one of the planet's most important resources.
Tell me about my soil
Get a quick picture of the soil where you grow. Use your location, or enter a ZIP code.
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🇺🇸 US only for now — soil lookups currently cover United States locations.
What healthy soil does for the planet
Filters our water
As rain moves through it, soil traps pollutants and recharges groundwater — acting like a giant natural water filter.
Stores carbon
Soil holds more carbon than the atmosphere and all plants combined. Healthy soil keeps that carbon in the ground, not the air.
Teems with life
A single handful of soil can contain billions of microbes, fungi, and insects that recycle nutrients and keep plants healthy.
Prevents erosion
Roots and soil structure hold the land in place. Healthy soil resists washing and blowing away, protecting farms and rivers.
Recycles nutrients
Soil breaks down dead plants and organic matter, returning nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients back to new growth.
Meet the 12 soil orders
Not all soil is the same. Explore the twelve great soil families — from volcanic Andisols to the fertile Mollisols that feed the world.
Explore the soil orders →Curious about your own soil?
A real soil test tells you exactly what your ground needs — and how to improve it.
Test your soil