Question

Mention two method by which living organisms influence the formation of soil

Answer 1

Lichens are the living organisms that influence soil formation. They secrete some chemicals to dissolve minerals from rock surface and produce crevices where dust collects and mosses grow, which causes the rock to break up further.

Answer 2

Living organisms help in formation of soil :

1) Plants that grow in the rocks or in the gap between the rocks helps in the formation of soil. As the plants grows the roots of the plant penetrates deeper in the rock breaking it further into smaller particles. These smaller particles are then converted into soil by abiotic factors.

2) Lichens too help in formation of soil. When lichens grow on rocks they release certain chemicals which break the rocks in smaller pieces and these smaller pieces are then converted into soil by other abiotic factors.

The conversion of rocks into soil is a much longer process and isn't completed in a few years. This process takes decades or even more to convert rock into soil.