(Soil cover): refers to vegetation, including crops, and crop residues on the surface of the soil. The various farming practices can be used in order to reduce soil degradation. Maintaining the cover of the soil during winter is one of such practices that reduce soil erosion and the loss of particulate pollutants (i.e. those attached to soil) including nutrients, plant protection products and faecal microbes. This practice also increases soil organic matter. Agricultural land with no plant cover or where there are just plant residues on the top is especially vulnerable to nutrient leakage.

Source: EUROSTAT

the top layer of the Earth’s crust situated between the bedrock and the surface. The soil is composed of mineral particles, organic matter, water, air and living organisms;

Source: EURO-Lex

(Environment): Water, including sediment, air, soil, wild species of fauna and flora, and any interrelationship between them, as well as any relationship with living organisms.

Source: EURO-Lex

(unpolluted soil): soil that is removed from the upper layer of the ground during extractive activities and that is not deemed to be polluted under the national law of the Member State where the site is located or under Community law;

Source: EURO-Lex

Soil is a three-dimensional body performing a wide range of socio-economic and ecological functions. It is a complex media formed by a porous matrix, in which air, water and biota occur together with the fluxes of substances and fluids between these elements. Alteration of soil processes leads to changes in the functioning of ecosystems, and many environmental problems which become apparent in other media actually originate within the soil.

Source: EEA Glossary

The top layer of the land surface of the earth that is composed of disintegrated rock particles, humus, water and air.

Source: EEA Glossary