explain the factors affecting soil formation
Answers
Answer:
Explanation:
Factors Affecting Soil Development. Soil research has shown that soil profiles are influenced by five separate, yet interacting, factors: parent material, climate, topography, organisms, and time. Soil scientists call these the factors of soil formation. These factors give soil profiles their distinctive character.
Answer:
Factors affecting soil formation are:
1.Parent rock material – Underlying rocks which contain minerals and make up the bulk of soil are called the parent rocks. Parent rocks influence the color, texture, chemical properties, minerals content and permeability of soil.
2.Relief – The elevation and the nature of the slope influence the rate of weathering and drainage of water. Thus, flat areas have thicker layer of soil as compared to steep slopes
3. Climatic conditions – Climatic conditions exert both indirect and direct influence on soil formation. Seasonal distribution of temperature and rainfall determine the type and effectiveness of weathering of rocks and humus formation.
4.Plant and animal organisms – Plants and microorganisms help to convert young soil into mature soil. Dead plants provide humus which is consumed by others form of life, like bacteria.
5.Time – A body of soil is considered mature if soil forming processes have acted over a sufficient period of time and the soil has developed a distinct soil profile.
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