Terrain and Soil
The soil is the world's memory. Every flood, every drought, every generation of roots—it remembers them all.
— EdenThe ground beneath every plant and creature is not just decoration—it's an active participant in the ecosystem. Different soils hold water differently, provide different nutrients, and favor different kinds of life.
Understanding Soil Types
Eden features six primary soil types, each with distinct characteristics:
Detailed Comparison
| Soil Type | Water Retention | Typical Moisture | Fertility | pH | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | High (0.8) | 70% | High | 6.5 | Plants that need consistent moisture |
| Sandy | Low (0.3) | 30% | Low | 6.0 | Drought-resistant plants |
| Loam | Medium (0.6) | 60% | Very High | 6.8 | Most plants (ideal balance) |
| Silt | Medium-High (0.7) | 60% | Medium | 6.5 | Plants that like steady moisture |
| Peat | Very High (0.9) | 80% | High | 4.5 | Acid-loving plants |
| Chalky | Low-Medium (0.4) | 40% | Low | 8.5 | Alkaline-loving plants |
Soil Properties
Every piece of ground has four key properties that affect what can live there:
💧 Water Retention
How much water the soil can hold. Think of it as the soil's "bucket size."
- High retention (clay, peat): Water sticks around longer
- Low retention (sandy, chalky): Water drains quickly
This affects how often plants need rain and how long moisture lasts after rainfall.
💦 Moisture
The current amount of water in the soil. This fluctuates constantly based on:
- Recent rainfall
- Evaporation (affected by temperature)
- How much plants are drinking
- The soil's retention capacity
Moisture can never exceed the soil's water retention capacity—extra water either floods or drains away.
🌱 Fertility
How rich the soil is in nutrients. Affected by:
- The base soil type
- Plant life (living plants slowly improve fertility)
- Decomposition (dead things return nutrients)
- Extreme conditions (floods and droughts can reduce fertility)
⚗️ pH Level
The acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Most plants prefer near-neutral (7.0), but some specialize:
- Acidic (below 7): Peat soil is naturally acidic (4.5)
- Neutral (around 7): Most soils hover here
- Alkaline (above 7): Chalky soil is naturally alkaline (8.5)
Plants have genetic pH preferences. A mismatch between preference and reality slows growth.
How Soil Changes
Soil isn't static. These properties shift based on events:
After Rain
- Moisture increases (up to retention capacity)
- Excess water may flood or drain to neighbors
- Some nutrients may wash away in heavy rain
- pH may shift slightly
During Drought
- Moisture decreases through evaporation
- Plants struggle to drink
- Fertility may decrease if plants die
- Soil can become compacted
Over Time (With Plants)
- Living plants slowly improve fertility
- Root systems improve soil structure
- Dead plant matter decomposes, adding nutrients
- A healthy plant community improves its own environment
The greenest meadows were once bare stone. Patience wrote them into being, one root at a time.
— EdenMatching Plants to Soil
Plants have genetic preferences for moisture and pH levels. When a plant's preferences match its environment:
- Growth is faster
- Energy production is higher
- Reproduction is more successful
When there's a mismatch:
- Growth slows
- The plant may survive but not thrive
- Offspring that inherit better-matching traits will outcompete
This is how adaptation happens. Over generations, a plant population in acidic soil will trend toward acid-loving genetics.
What You'll See
- Thriving plants: Fast growth, full size, producing pollen
- Struggling plants: Slow growth, smaller, may not reproduce
- Dead plants: Conditions were too harsh
Special Terrain
Beyond basic soil, you may encounter:
Water Bodies
- Lakes and ponds: Standing water, habitat for some species
- Rivers: Flowing water, carries things between pods
- Swamps: Saturated ground, unique ecosystem
Rock and Stone
- Exposed rock: Very little can grow here
- Rocky soil: Thin soil over stone, challenging conditions
Elevation Effects
- Low areas: Collect water, may flood
- High areas: Drain faster, may be drier
- Slopes: Water runs downhill
Reading the Landscape
As a Witness, learn to read what the soil tells you:
| What You See | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Dense, varied plant life | Good fertility, appropriate moisture |
| Sparse vegetation | Poor conditions or recent disturbance |
| One dominant plant type | That species is well-adapted here |
| Many dead plants | Recent stress (drought, flood, disease) |
| New growth after bare ground | Recovery in progress |
The barren hillside is not a failure. It is a story of fire, of flood, of patience waiting to be rewarded.
— EdenContinue learning: