desert soil
noun
: a soil that develops under sparse shrub vegetation in warm to cool arid climates with a light-colored surface soil usually underlain by calcareous material and a hardpan layer
Examples of desert soil in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The parched desert soil couldn’t absorb the excessive rainfall fast enough, which triggered flash flooding.
—
Mary Gilbert, CNN, 25 Oct. 2023
Arizona’s highways funnel rainfall into ditches and thus soften desert soils for pocket gophers, whose tunnels parallel the shoulder like subway lines.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
In fact, desert soil will be added to the concrete mix used for construction so that the structures mimic the color and texture of a traditional abode.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2023
Biocrust restoration recovers and accelerates the growth of microbial communities that are naturally present in desert soils, and creates a living layer that protects soil from wind erosion.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2023
Often, the species came from incredibly specialized habitats like arid desert soils in Namibia, the alkaline Lake Natron in Chad, rock crevices in South Africa, or polluted brooks in Switzerland.
—Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 2 Mar. 2023
Gone, too, were their monumental four-story buildings, ball courts and villages, buried by the very desert soil that once sustained them.
—Jim Robbins, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Hunters shot them up and the stuff soaked 15 feet down into the desert soil.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021
Other times, the group reaches the bottom of a ravine to discover an unexpected oasis, cool trickles of water feeding palm trees that sprout out of the desert soil.
—Jason H. Harper, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2021
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Mary Gilbert, CNN, 25 Oct. 2023
Arizona’s highways funnel rainfall into ditches and thus soften desert soils for pocket gophers, whose tunnels parallel the shoulder like subway lines.
—Ben Goldfarb, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023
In fact, desert soil will be added to the concrete mix used for construction so that the structures mimic the color and texture of a traditional abode.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2023
Biocrust restoration recovers and accelerates the growth of microbial communities that are naturally present in desert soils, and creates a living layer that protects soil from wind erosion.
—The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2023
Often, the species came from incredibly specialized habitats like arid desert soils in Namibia, the alkaline Lake Natron in Chad, rock crevices in South Africa, or polluted brooks in Switzerland.
—Doug Johnson, Ars Technica, 2 Mar. 2023
Gone, too, were their monumental four-story buildings, ball courts and villages, buried by the very desert soil that once sustained them.
—Jim Robbins, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Feb. 2023
Hunters shot them up and the stuff soaked 15 feet down into the desert soil.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2021
Other times, the group reaches the bottom of a ravine to discover an unexpected oasis, cool trickles of water feeding palm trees that sprout out of the desert soil.
—Jason H. Harper, Robb Report, 14 Mar. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'desert soil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1938, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near desert soil
Cite this Entry
“Desert soil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/desert%20soil. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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