Final answer:
Under the term 'land use,' soil is included as it is the medium for plant growth and a critical element in agriculture and ecosystems. Applying pesticides is an agricultural action, not a component of land.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term land use refers to the various ways in which human beings utilize the land and its resources. Included under land use are activities such as agriculture, forestry, urban development, and recreation. When examining the following options, soil (D) is an essential component of land use because it is the medium in which many terrestrial plants grow, and it plays a critical role in agriculture and ecosystem functions. Option E, applying pesticides, while an action associated with agricultural land use, is not itself a component of land but rather an action taken upon the land.