Soil

Great soil groups of Ireland.

Great soil groups of Ireland. Source: Ireland's Environment 2008.

Courtesy EPA

Great soil groups of Ireland.
Courtesy EPA

Great soil groups of Ireland.

Great soil groups of Ireland. Source: Ireland's Environment 2008.

Courtesy EPA

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Soil is made up of a mixture of organic material and minerals and develops over very long periods of time. The organic matter comes from dead plants and many of the minerals come from the rocks underground.

Soil is teeming with life and is essential for food and animal feed production, for growing timber, for protecting groundwater and for storing carbon. It's estimated that 95% of the food on the planet comes directly or indirectly from our soils, so it is vital we protect them. 

From the information available we can say that Irish soil quality is good.  This is partly due to our grassland agriculture and partly because we do not have a history of heavy industry here. Information on soil quality is scarce however, when compared to air and water quality, and this essential resource is often taken for granted.  

There are about 2,000 locations around the country with localised soil contamination such as old mine sites, gas works and abandoned landfills but these are generally confined to small areas.

Explore Irish soils yourself using Teagasc's interactive map viewer.