Factors that affect soil formation

Parent material
Climate
Topography
Biological factors
Time

Parent material
The parent or source material is important in soil formation because its chemistry
and type will determine the soil that will be formed.

climate
Temperature, rainfall and moisture affects the pattern and intensity of soil-forming
processes such as weathering, leaching, transportation, and distribution.

Topography
The gradient of the slope affects water flow and erosion. Soil that form in steep
slopes tend to be thinner because of the higher rates of erosion.

Biological factors
Organisms such as plants, animals, microorganisms, and humans affect soil
formation.

time
The formation of soil is a long and continuous process which may take hundreds to
thousand of years depending on the climate and environment.

Soil texture
It is defined as the relative proportion of the particle sizes in the soil– silt, clay
and sand.
Clay
Silt
Sand
Loam is the ideal soil for agricultural purposes.

LOAM
Loam soils generally contain more nutrients, moisture, and humus than sandy soils,
have better drainage and infiltration of water and air than silt and clay-rich soils, and
are easier to till than clay soils

Soil profile
The sequence of soil horizons from the surface to the underlying bedrock.
O horizon (organic horizon)
A horizon (surface horizon)
E horizon
B horizon (Subsoil)
C horizon (substratum)
R horizon (regolith)

SOIL PROFILE- the sequence of soil horizons from the surface down to the
underlying bedrock.
3 major horizons: A, B, C

Organic horizon (O)

- composed of loose or partly decayed organic matter.

Surface horizon (A)

- composed of mineral matter mixed with some dark organic humus.