Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil, usually the top six to eight inches. It has the highest concentration of organic matter and microorganisms, and is where most of the Earth's biological soil activity occurs. Plants generally concentrate their roots in, and obtain most of their nutrients from this layer. Topsoil can be measured as the depth from the surface to the first densely packed soil layer known as hardpan. For the heavy metal band see Soil (band) Soil is the layer of minerals and organic matter, in thickness from centimetres to a metre or more, on the land surface. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial unit of length. ... Organic has several meanings and related topics. ... A microorganism or microbe is an organism that is so small that it is microscopic (invisible to the naked eye). ... Earth, also known as the Earth or Terra, is the third planet outward from the Sun. ... Biology is the science of life (from the Greek words bios = life and logos = reasoned account). ... Divisions Green algae land plants (embryophytes) non-vascular embryophytes Hepatophyta - liverworts Anthocerophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses vascular plants (tracheophytes) seedless vascular plants Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongue ferns seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering... For other meanings of root, see Root (disambiguation). ... Nutrients and the body A nutrient is any element or compound necessary for or contributing to an organisms metabolism, growth, or other functioning. ... Depth can describe many different concepts both abstract and concrete, and such concepts can be either qualitative or quantitative in nature. ... In soil science, agriculture and gardening, hardpan is a general term for a dense layer of soil, residing usually below the uppermost topsoil layer. ...

A major environmental concern known as topsoil erosion, occurs when the topsoil layer is blown or washed away. Without topsoil, little plant life is possible.

A variety of soil mixtures are sold commercially as topsoil, usually for use in improving gardens and lawns. This article needs cleanup. ... Part of a garden in Bristol, England A flower bed in the gardens of Bristol Zoo, England. ... A typical lawn A lawn is a cultivated, mowed field planted with grass and sometimes clover and other plants. ...

As one of the layers of soil on the Earth's surface, topsoil is sometimes referred to as the A horizon. The A horizon is the layer of soil near the surface, and is roughly equivalent to topsoil. ...