Soil is the loose, upper layer of Earth’s surface where plants grow. It’s made up of a mix of minerals (like sand, silt, and clay), organic matter (dead plants and animals), water, and air. Over time, rocks break down into smaller particles, and living things contribute decayed material to form soil.

There are different types of soil depending on what it's made of—like sandy soil, clay soil, or loamy soil—and each type affects how well plants can grow in it.