Soil quality

[1][2][3][4] Soil quality reflects how well a soil performs the functions of maintaining biodiversity and productivity, partitioning water and solute flow, filtering and buffering, nutrient cycling, and providing support for plants and other structures.

Unlike water or air, for which established standards have been set, soil quality is difficult to define or quantify.

[7] Each of these categories comprises several indicators that provide insight into overall soil quality.

[8] The physical category of soil quality indicators consists of tests that measure soil texture, bulk density, porosity, water content at saturation, aggregate stability, penetration resistance, and more.

[7] Biological measures include diversity of soil organisms and fungi.