Which four factors is soil health dependent on?

• A. Structure, organic matter amount, organisms, nutrients
• B. Moisture, color, texture, taste
• C. pH, salinity, temperature, wind
• D. Leaf area, chlorophyll content, stem thickness, root depth

Answer: (A)

Soil health is determined by how well a soil supports plants over time, which comes down to structure, organic matter, the organisms living in it, and the nutrients it can supply. Structure governs how water drains, how air moves, and how easily roots can grow. Organic matter improves that structure, increases water-holding capacity, and helps retain nutrients. The living organisms—microbes, fungi, earthworms, and other soil biota—drive nutrient cycling, help break down organic matter, and contribute to stable soil aggregates. Nutrients provide the essential elements plants need for growth.

That combination best matches the idea that soil health depends on these four interconnected factors. The other options mix properties that aren’t central to soil health: moisture and texture are relevant aspects, but taste is not a soil health measure; color is an indicator but not a determinant by itself; wind isn’t a soil property; and plant traits listed there are characteristics of plants, not of the soil itself.