Question

Explain the major factors which are responsible for the formation of soil

Answer 1

1. Parent Material:

The material for soil formation is mainly derived from the rocks and is termed as the parent material by soil scientists. The parent material determines the colouration of the soil, its mineral composition and texture. India possesses a great variety of parent material which is generally categorised into following six classes:

(i) Ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks

(ii) Cuddapah and Vindhyan rocks

(iii) Gondwana rocks

(iv) Deccan basalts

(v) Tertiary and Mesozoic sedimentary rocks of extra peninsular India

(vi) Recent and sub-recent rocks.

2. Relief:

Relief influences the process of soil formation in many ways, the most important being the slope of land. Steep slope encourages the swift flow of water and hinders the process of soil formation. There may even be soil erosion in areas of steep slope. Chambal ravines offer an important example of soil erosion.


3. Climate:

Climate is the single most important factor in soil formation. Most important climatic factors affecting soil formation are the amount and seasonal distribution of temperature and rainfall. Climate controls the type and effectiveness of weathering of the parent material, the quantity of water seeping through the soil and the type of micro-organisms present therein.





4. Natural Vegetation:

Natural vegetation reflects the combined effects of relief and climate. The formation and development of soil is very much influenced by the growth of vegetation. The decayed leaf material adds much needed humus to soil thereby increasing its fertility. The densely forested areas contain some of the best soils in India. There is a close relationship between the vegetation types and soil types in India.

Hope it helps you

Answer 2

Answer:

Soils are formed through the interaction of five major factors: time, climate, parent material, topography and relief, and organisms. The relative influence of each factor varies from place to place, but the combination of all five factors normally determines the kind of soil developing in any given place.