The Scoop on Soil (broadcast Friday, July 11th, 2008)

Soil: Don't call it dirt. Photo courtesy of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Soil may be good for growing things in -- but it's also an important player in climate change. Well-nourished soil can help in carbon sequestration, removing carbon dioxide from the air -- while depleted soil doesn't have the same carbon-grabbing potential. In this segment, we'll talk with a soil scientist about the importance of fertile soil to the planet's environmental health -- and about problems caused by soil mismanagement, the burning of dung for fuel, and other soil issues.