{"thcode":2,"term":{"code":1080,"name":"soil resources","parent":777,"scope":"Natural resources of unconsolidated fragmented rock, humus, and mineral matter that cover the surface of the earth."},"uf":[{"name":"soil pollution","usewith":{"code":769,"name":"contamination and pollution","parent":1174,"scope":"Introduction of harmful substances into the environment by human action or natural processes."}}],"bt":[{"code":777,"name":"natural resources","parent":1174,"scope":"Stocks of anything naturally occurring that have a beneficial use for man including economic, nutritional, recreational, aesthetic, and other benefits."},{"code":1174,"name":"topics","parent":1,"scope":"Themes, subjects, and concerns for which USGS information resources are relevant."},{"code":1,"name":"Categories","parent":null,"scope":"Thematic terms for categorizing information resources.  This thesaurus is intended to support finding and understanding scientific information."}],"nt":[{"code":2268,"name":"biological soil crusts","parent":1080,"scope":"Communities commonly found on the soil surface in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, these consist of mosses, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, and microfungi, which weave together and adhere to the soil to form a matrix that lessens erosion, supports nitrogen fixation, and retains moisture. These organisms are important to the functioning of ecosystems and to the organization of plant and soil communities."}],"rt":[{"code":312,"name":"economic geology","parent":464,"scope":"Scientific study of the formation, location, and use of marketable geologic materials including fuels, metals, minerals, and water."},{"code":1078,"name":"soil chemistry","parent":437,"scope":"Branch of chemistry concerned with the elements and compounds that make up soils. Includes chemical processes involving soils."},{"code":1081,"name":"soil sciences","parent":291,"scope":"Earth sciences dealing with the origin, classification, physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils."}]}