What are the four major components of soil?

The four major components of soil include air, minerals, organic matter, and water, making this choice the most accurate. Each component plays a crucial role in soil health and function.

Air is essential for various biochemical processes occurring in the soil and supports the respiration of plant roots and soil organisms. Minerals provide essential nutrients and contribute to the soil structure. Organic matter improves soil fertility and water retention and supports a diverse ecosystem of microorganisms. Water acts as a solvent for nutrients, facilitating their uptake by plants and aiding in soil structure maintenance.

In contrast, while other options mention some aspects of soil composition, they do not cover the fundamental components as comprehensively. The other combinations tend to emphasize specific particle sizes or the presence of certain nutrients without adequately representing the full spectrum necessary for defining soil when considering its ecological and agricultural significance. Thus, air, minerals, organic matter, and water encompass the critical elements that define soil.