SOIL ORIGIN and DEVELOPMENT

• SOILS are a SLOWLY RENEWABLE resource

It takes 100’s to 1000’s of YEARS for SOILS to

DEVELOP…

…but they do GROW, CHANGE, and DEVELOP over

TIME
 ROCKS, MINERALS and NUTRIENTS
• ROCK (solid bedrock of earth’s crust) is broken down to
PARENT MATERIAL (smaller rocks) and through the process
of WEATHERING is further broken down to SOIL

– ROCK – Solid bedrock which is a mixture of MINERALS of

DIFFERENT KINDS and PROPORTIONS 

– MINERALS – PURE INORGANIC ELEMENTS or COMPOUNDS

of a DEFINITE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION usually
CRYSTALLINE in form  

– NUTRIENTS – Dissolved IONS in water called the SOIL SOLUTION

 ROCKS

• Rocks are classified into 3 types

• IGNEOUS ROCK – created by the COOLING and
SOLIDIFICATION of MOLTEN ROCK
– LAVA (extrusive) & MAGMA (intrusive)
• SEDIMENTARY ROCK – deposits of MUD and SAND
(through wind and water erosion) that are CEMENTED
together by CHEMICALS or PRESSURE
• METAMORPHIC ROCK - formed when either IGNEOUS or
SEDIMENTARY ROCK is subjected to GREAT HEAT &
PRESSURE
 SOIL FORMATION
• SOIL is formed from the
WEATHERING of ROCK

– PHYSICAL WEATHERING

• FRACTURING due to
expansion and contraction

– Frost Wedging - freezing

and thawing of water
– Heating and cooling
 SOIL FORMATION
– PHYSICAL WEATHERING

• EROSION or wearing down of

rock

– Water
– Wind
 SOIL FORMATION
• WEATHERING of ROCK

– CHEMICAL WEATHERING

• DISSOLUTION - Water
DISSOLVES minerals into
SOLUTION
 SOIL FORMATION
– CHEMICAL WEATHERING

• HYDROLYSIS – Water reacts

with minerals in rock create NEW,
SOFTER COMPOUNDS
 SOIL FORMATION
– CHEMICAL WEATHERING

• OXIDATION – O2 reacts with

minerals in rock to form NEW
COMPOUNDS
 SOIL FORMATION
• WEATHERING of ROCK

– PLANTS ….can also PHYSICALLY and

CHEMICALLY WEATHER ROCK

• ROOT WEDGING – Plant roots

PHSICALLY force open cracks by
ROOT GROWTH

• LICHENS – exude acid which

CHEMICALLY WEATHERS rock