Yesterday, I defined a few soil terms.  I realized that there are more that could be added to the list, so I thought I would continue on with the same topic and go over a few more definitions.  Here are some more terms that are associated with soil and soil related issues related to gardening.

Erosion:  This refers to the displacement of soil due to wind and water.  In the gardening word, erosion can ware away the topsoil that is necessary for healthy crop production.

Cover Crop:  This refers to a crop that is grown for the purpose of preventing soil erosion by protecting the surface and can also be used to prevent the growth of weeds.

Mulch:  This can be organic or inorganic material that is placed over soil for a variety of reasons.  Mulch is used to prevent erosion, help with moisture retention in soil, prevent weeds, and sometimes to create a desired look to a garden.

Humus:  Refers to organic material in soil that has reached a stable state that is done breaking down.  In gardening, it can be referred to as compost that has broken down most of the material that was added to it.

Green Manure Crop:  This is different then a cover crop.  While cover crops are planted to protect the soil, green manure crops are planted to improve (or repair) soil conditions when the bed is not in use.  The crop is planted for the sole purpose of being tilled into the soil to promote fertility for the next season.