Briefly explain the soil formation process. Add a note on soil profile.
Answers
Each soil forms as a unique expression of five soil-forming factors (climate, vegetation, topography, parent material, and time) that work through soil processes. These soil processes can be considered in the following four groups: additions, losses, transformations, and translocations.
Formation of Soil;
The soil has taken thousands of years to form. Soil formation takes place in the following ways:
Big rocks break down into smaller rocks by continuous action of wind and rain. It takes many years for these rocks to break down into smaller rocks.
Rocks are mainly broken by two types of weathering- physical weathering and chemical weathering. A number of natural force, called agents, work to break down the parent rock into tiny particles of soil. These agents include wind, water, the sun’s heat, and plants and animals.
These pieces get further broken down to form sand and silt and, ultimately, into finer particles and the process continues. This process is very slow. It takes thousands of years to form a just 1cm layer of soil. These fine particles form the top layer of the soil.
Soil Profile;
The soil is found in layers, which are arranged during the formation of soil. These layers called horizons, the sequence of layers is the soil profile. The layers of soil can easily be observed by their color and size of particles. The main layers of the soil are topsoil, subsoil and the parent rock. Each layer has its own characteristics.
These features of the layer of soil play a very important role in determining the use of the soil. Soil that has developed three layers, is mature soil. It takes many years under a favorable condition for the soil to develop its three layers. At some places, the soil contains only two layers. Such soil is immature soil.
Horizons of the Soil
Soil consists of the following horizons:
1. Horizon A or Topsoil
It is also called the humus layer, which is rich in organic material. This layer consists of decomposed material and organic matter. This is the reason, the topsoil has a dark brown color. The hummus makes the topsoil soft, porous to hold enough air and water. In this layer, the seeds germinate and roots of the plants grow. Many living organisms like earthworms, millipedes, and centipedes, bacteria, and fungi are found in this layer of soil.
2. Horizon B or Subsoil;
Just below the topsoil lies another layer called subsoil or horizon-B. It is comparatively harder and compact than topsoil. It is lighter in color than the topsoil because there is less humus in this layer. This layer is less organic but is rich in minerals brought down from the topsoil. It contains metal salts, especially iron oxide in a large proportion. Farmers often mix horizon-A and horizon-B when ploughing their fields.
3. Bedrock or Horizon C;
Bedrock is also known as parent rock and lies just below the subsoil. It contains no organic matter and made up of stones and rocks, so it is very hard. This layer represents a transition zone between the earth’s bedrock and horizon A and B.