The article discusses different levels of detail needed for studying soil in agriculture, from basic farmer knowledge to complex simulation models. Monitoring soil physical conditions is crucial for model accuracy, especially at higher levels of detail. Simple, accurate methods like the crust-test infiltrometer are recommended for measuring physical parameters in soil. Pedotransfer functions can help relate available soil data to simulation parameters. Geostatistics can assist in developing efficient sampling schemes based on spatial heterogeneity. Field work is needed to better understand soil heterogeneity, which is not covered by existing models. Overall, the study emphasizes the importance of accurate soil data for effective agricultural development.