Question

the first stage in soil formation is weathering?

Answer 1

Answer:

Soil formation begins with the physical and chemical breakdown of the earth's rocks, caused by atmospheric agents. These processes, known as weathering, chip away rock fragments and thus modify its inherent physical and chemical characteristics

Three phases can be distinguished in a soil:

Three phases can be distinguished in a soil:free phase (minerals and organic material, among which living organisms)

Three phases can be distinguished in a soil:free phase (minerals and organic material, among which living organisms)liquid phase (water and the therein dissolved nutrients)

Three phases can be distinguished in a soil:free phase (minerals and organic material, among which living organisms)liquid phase (water and the therein dissolved nutrients)gasous phase (e.g. oxygen of importance for the respiration of roots)

Answer 2

Explanation:

Abstract

Investigations in Alpine soils indicate that mineral weathering is much faster in ‘young’ soils (< 1000 yr) than in ‘old’ soils (∼ 10,000 yr). However, little is known about the initial s of weathering and soil formation, i.e. during the first decades of soil genesis. In this study we investigated rock-forming minerals weathering at very early stages of soil formation. Due to the continuous retreat of the Morteratsch glacier (Upper Engadine, Swiss Alps), the proglacial area offers a full time sequence from 0 to 150 yr old surfaces. A low slope and the absence of glacier which might have interrupted soil formation processes, contributed to the choice of the Morteratsch proglacial valley for this case study. The "