Soil is the upper most layer of earth crust, and it supports all terrestrial life.

It is the interface
between the lithosphere and the atmosphere, and strongly interacts with biosphere and the
hydrosphere. composed of both rock particles and organic matter (humus) - the remains of plants
and animals in various stages of decomposition. The humus serves as food for many living
organisms. Within the soil is a large population of animals, plants. Soil physics is the study of the
solid, liquid and gaseous phases of soils, and their interactions. Soil texture, structure and bulk
density reflect how soil mineral and organic particles combine to form the soil matrix and pore
spaces. Pore spaces hold gases and water. Soil physics is the study of soil physical properties and
processes, including measurement and prediction under natural and managed ecosystems. The
science of soil physics deals with the forms, interrelations, and changes in soil components and
multiple phases. The typical components are: mineral matter, organic matter, liquid, and air.
Three phases are solid, solution and gas, and more than one liquid phase may exist in the case of
nonaqueous contamination (Principle of soil physics). Soil physics uses theories, models,
technologies and instruments, and benefits from laboratory and field experiments for a perpetual
evolution and management of soils, not only as a bridge for improving plant production, but also
with regard to their protection and conservation (Soil physics). Soil physics has been applied in
studies of soil erosion, organic matter management, compaction, irrigation, drainage, and crop
water use, agriculture. Soil is a complex three-phase system, solids (soil mineral particles and
organic matter), liquids (the soil solution: water, dissolved nutrients, chemicals, and gases), and
gases (e.g., N2, O2, CO2). One of these three phases called solid is composed by soil particles that
are either mineral (i.e., rocks, stones, cobbles, gravel, sand, silt, clay) or organic (i.e., soil organic
matter) in nature.
Soil physics: development in measurement techniques
Development in instrumentation helped to explain simultaneously processes, satisfy theories and
orient management decisions in agriculture; the transition from laboratory to field measurement has
given rise to new areas of research: field spatial and temporal variations of soil properties (Jury et al.,
1991). Soil physics research was then oriented to agricultural aspects (including, soil structure, drainage,
irrigation.