alleryStart learning →Soil is defined as which layer?
AThe weathered rock beneath the water table
BThe organic mat lying on the forest floor
CThe outer loose layer covering the surface of Earth
DThe mineral crust below the deepest plant roots
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. The outer loose layer covering the surface of Earth
1. Plants obtain their inorganic elements from soil, which serves as the natural medium for land plants.
2. Soil is the outer loose layer that covers the surface of Earth.
3. Its quality depends on chemical composition, on topography, and on the presence of living organisms.
4. Solid rock beneath the soil is bedrock rather than soil itself, so the deeper layers named in the other options fall outside the definition.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 31 "Soil and Plant Nutrition", section 31.2 The Soil_
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