What role does soil perform in nature?

Answer 1

Soil is the interface between the mineral and the vegetal and animal worlds.

Trees and plants retrieve minerals from the underground via their root system.

In turn, insects and animals feed on these plants, and return these nutrients to the top soil after dying, in a positively sustainable life cycle, adding more top soil over the centuries.

The minerals deep underground are slowly degraded upwards and contribute to the making of the terroir, which is what makes some regions unique for agriculture, especially wine, pasture (and therefore cheese), and specific plants such as the green lentils of Le Puy in France, which grow on a reddish volcanic soil and whose origin, label and cultivation methods follow strict requirements.

Answer 2

Soil plays a crucial role in nature by providing a medium for plant growth, storing and cycling nutrients, filtering and purifying water, and supporting a diverse ecosystem of organisms that help break down organic matter. It also helps regulate the Earth's climate by storing carbon and influencing the water cycle.