Therearemanydifferentkindsofsoils.Differentsoilshavedifferenttypesofrockandmineralsinthem.Somesoilshavemorewaterinthemthanothers.Somesoilsmighthavemoreplantandanimalmaterialinthem,too.
Differentkindsofsoilsarefoundindifferentpartsoftheworld.ThereareseveralkindsofsoilsfoundintheUnitedStates.Insomeareas,thesoilhasalotofclay.Othersoilsareverysandy.Loamisakindofsoilthathasagoodmixtureofclayandsand.
Insomeplaces,soillayersareverythick.Lotsofplantsgrowinplaceswithathicksoillayer.Indryandwindyplacessoillayersaremuchthinner.Layersofsoilonmountainsarethinbecausegravitypullsthesoildownhill.
Thetypeofsoilinaparticularplaceaffectswhatkindsofplantscangrowthere.