Standard Top Soil

One of the most important components of top soil is the organic matter found within—also known as humus. Humus occurs when plant and animals die and decay. These remains eventually mix with the soil around them and turn into a dark, dense material. Humus can take years to naturally occur, because animals and plants take a while to decompose. 

Humus helps top soil become more fertile for plant growth, because it is rich in chemicals like nitrogen, and is porous enough to allow air and water in. 

Top soil also contains several minerals necessary for plant growth. Minerals like Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium build up in this layer of soil and interact with plant roots. 

You will often see some of these most important minerals listed on commercial top soil in NPK levels (Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K)).

Along with the remains of dead animals, there are millions of living organisms found in top soil. Microorganisms like bacteria and fungi decompose organic materials, recycle soil nutrients, and bind soil together to help with water retention. 

Earthworms are also important to top soil health because they eat and process organic matter. Insects and arthropods also live in top soil and add to the structure of the ecosystem. 

Overall, top soil is a complex material that involves millions of moving parts, and all of these components create a fertile landscape for plant growth.

Loam is one of the most fertile types of top soil, because it consists of a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. Loamy top soil is found in warm climates, but can also be created artificially.

Sandy top soil is any top soil that mainly consists of sand. It’s not very nutrient-dense, but can be very useful in adding air and lightness to dense soil.

Clay top soil is the densest type of soil. It contains a lot of nutrients, but lacks air flow. Mixing clay top soil with other types of soil makes it easier for a variety of plants to grow.

Silt is another very fertile type of top soil. Unlike loam, silty top soil is very fine in texture, and lightweight. Silt contains a lot of nutrients, but its lightness can make it vulnerable to washing away.

You’ve probably seen hundreds of plastic bags of top soil at local garden stores every spring. This is because top soil is one of the best ways to grow plants at home. Backyard vegetables, fruit, flowers, and more all thrive with fertile top soil.

Whether you do your own landscaping or hire a professional, you need top soil to create beautiful plant-rich landscapes. Top soil is great for growing trees, bushes, ornamental plants, and more. It’s also ideal for growing weeds, which can make landscaping with top soil tricky.

Top soil is also crucial for agriculture. Farmers and food-growers need top soil for vital crops like corn, soy beans, oats, barley, onions, and just about every other plant you can think of. 

Soil test kits are a common way to test top soil quality. These kits reveal pH levels, nutrient levels, and other biological properties. 

You can also tell if top soil is good quality by observing it. Are there a lot of earthworms present? Does it keep its shape when you press down? Does it retain water after rain? All of these are good signs of healthy top soil.

Top soil is also crucial for agriculture. Farmers and food-growers need top soil for vital crops like corn, soy beans, oats, barley, onions, and just about every other plant you can think of. 

Compaction occurs when soil becomes pushed too close together, making it hard for air and water to move through. Compaction is common with high pedestrian traffic, construction, and repetitive freezing and thawing of the ground. 

Top soil is also vulnerable to contamination, both from human involvement and natural causes. Things like improper waste disposal, overuse of plant chemicals, and foreign compounds from construction projects can all pollute soil.

Sometimes top soil looses nutrients over time as well, which is why it’s important to monitor and maintain it. Storms can wash nutrients away, dry spells can deplete soil, and overfarming can remove crucial microorganisms.