Various definitions of soil
“Soils are applied solely to those superficial or nearly superficial horizons of rock, that have been more or less modified naturally by the interaction of water, air and various kinds of organisms, either living or dead; this being reflected in a certain manner in composition, structure and color of such formations. Where these conditions are absent, there are no natural soils but either artificial mixtures or rocks.” – Dokuchaev.
“Soil may be defined as the collection of natural bodies that has been synthesized in profile form from variable mixture of broken, weathered minerals and decaying organic matter, which supplies, when containing the proper amounts of air & water, mechanical support & substance for plants” (Braby 1974)