It takes a thousand years to form a single inch of soil. It is a fragile layer on the surface of the land - yet essential to all life on Earth. But where did soil come from and how was it made? Gardening expert Chris Beardshaw reveals the secrets locked within soil. Traveling around in his specially-equipped mobile soil lab, he delves down into dirt to uncover its deepest secrets. He looks into the distant past to reveal the almost miraculous way soil first formed, and takes a tantalizing glimpse into the future, to reveal soil as a commodity more precious than oil or gold.

Encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on November 25, 2014. Learn360 is distributed by Infobase for Films for the Humanities & Sciences, Cambridge Educational, Meridian Education, and Shopware.

The Science of Soil: Introduction(2:29) -- Nutrient Replenishment (3:31) -- Mycelium (1:43) -- Wood Decay Fungi (1:55) -- Ecosystem Engineer (2:22) -- Earthworms (3:31) -- Complex Interconnected Structures (1:32) -- Soil Experiment (1:38) -- Scolly's Cross, Aberdeenshire (2:04) -- Soil Profiles (4:27) -- Ideal Soil (1:37) -- Physical Weathering (3:08) -- Chemical Weathering (1:45) -- Lichen's Role in Soil Development (1:53) -- Impacting Soils (3:23) -- East Anglia Fens (2:46) -- Disrupting Soil Balance (2:12) -- Soil Crisis (2:21) -- Water Erosion (2:09) -- Removing Energy from Rain (3:16) -- Soil Review (0:57) -- Credits: Deep Down and Dirty: The Science of Soil (0:48).