Covering much of the Earth's surface is a fragile skin of soil, vital to the growth and development of nearly all terrestrial life. Today, as we attempt to satisfy the growing needs of modern societies, the world's soils are placed under ever increasing risk from erosion, pollution, and loss of biodiversity, but many of us don't even understand how soil functions or what we can do to help preserve it. This work offers a practical introduction to soils. It covers everything from how it is formed, different soil types and their properties, through to applied aspects such as nutrients and fertilizers.