Soil Education
The 12 Soil Orders
Every soil on Earth fits into one of twelve great families. From frozen Gelisols to volcanic Andisols and the dark, fertile Mollisols that feed the world — tap any soil to explore how it forms, where it's found, and how well it grows.
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How much of the planet each covers
Share of Earth's ice-free land surface. Tap a bar to open that soil's profile.
Approximate figures from USDA NRCS soil survey data.
Test your soil smarts
Five quick questions — pick an answer to see if you got it right.
Which of these is under your feet?
A real soil test tells you your soil's order, texture, and exactly what it needs to grow more.
Test your soil →