Contents: Preface. 1. Soil: An Introduction. 2. Properties of Soil. 3. Essential Plant Nutrients. 4. Soil Horizon Development. 5. Soil Horizon Layers. 6. Horizons and Characteristics Diagnostic for Mineral Soils. 7. Kinds of Organic Soil Materials. 8. Weathering of Rocks and Minerals. 9. Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes. 10. The FAO/UNESCO System of a Small Scale Soil. 11. Soil Classification for the Needs of Regional Planning. 12. Soil Forming Processes: Additions of Organic Matter. Bibliography. Index. Soil are vital, fragile, finite natural resources that are essential for the sustained production of food and fiber. Good physical and chemical properties supply the right environment and sufficient nutrients to the organisms for optimal biological activity. This in turn improves the physical and chemical properties through improved soil structure and nutrient cycling. This book is divided into twelve chapters which mainly cover introduction, properties of soil, essential plant nutrients, soil horizon development and layers, horizons and characteristics diagnostic for mineral soils, organic soil materials, weathering of rocks and minerals, classification of soils and soil farming processes. This book would be highly useful for students, teachers and researchers of soil science, agricultural chemistry, agronomy, geology, ecology, microbiology and environmental sciences.