SOIL FORMATION:the process of soil formation is knew as WEATHERING and weathering is the process of breaking down of rocks in order to form smaller pieces which are later changes to soil,it takes a long period of years for the rock to move from the beneath to the sub soil level.as you all know that TIME is a among the factor that affect soil formation.it can take place in many ways...chemical method ,physical method,and biological method.

<h2>Soil Formation</h2>
<p>Soil formation is the consequence of a combination of biological, physical, and chemical processes. Soil should ideally contain 50 percent solid material and 50 percent pore space. About one-half of the pore space should contain water, and the other half should contain air. The organic component of soil serves as a cementing agent, returns nutrients to the plant, allows soil to store moisture, makes soil tillable for farming, and provides <a data-lesson="biology-203-glossary-9" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="cell-metabolism" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/cell-metabolism/biology-203-glossary-9">energy</a> for soil microorganisms. Most soil microorganisms—bacteria, algae, or fungi—are dormant in dry soil, but become active once moisture is available.</p>
<p>Soil distribution is not homogenous because its formation results in the production of layers; together, the vertical section of a soil is called the <strong>soil profile</strong>. Within the soil profile, soil scientists define zones called horizons. A <strong>horizon</strong> is a soil layer with distinct physical and chemical properties that differ from those of other layers. Five factors account for soil formation: parent material, climate, topography, biological factors, and time.</p>
<h2>Parent Material</h2>
<p>The organic and inorganic material in which <a data-lesson="introducing-the-soil" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="soil-plant-nutrition" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/soil-plant-nutrition/introducing-the-soil">soils</a> form is the <strong>parent material</strong>. Mineral soils form directly from the weathering of <strong>bedrock</strong>, the solid rock that lies beneath the soil, and therefore, they have a similar composition to the original rock. Other soils form in materials that came from elsewhere, such as sand and glacial drift. Materials located in the depth of the soil are relatively unchanged compared with the deposited material. Sediments in rivers may have different characteristics, depending on whether the stream moves quickly or slowly. A fast-moving river could have sediments of rocks and sand, whereas a slow-moving river could have fine-textured material, such as clay.</p>
<h2>Climate</h2>
<p>Temperature, moisture, and <a data-lesson="pollination-by-wind" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-reproduction" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-reproduction/pollination-by-wind">wind</a> cause different patterns of weathering and therefore affect soil characteristics. The presence of moisture and nutrients from weathering will also promote biological activity: a key component of a quality soil.</p>
<h2>Topography</h2>
<p>Regional surface features (familiarly called “the lay of the land”) can have a major influence on the characteristics and fertility of a soil. Topography affects <a data-lesson="water-and-life-2" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="biology-foundations" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/biology-foundations/water-and-life-2">water</a> runoff, which strips away parent material and affects plant growth. Steeps soils are more prone to erosion and may be thinner than soils that are relatively flat or level.</p>
<h2>Biological factors</h2>
<p>The presence of living organisms greatly affects soil formation and structure. Animals and microorganisms can produce pores and crevices, and plant <a data-lesson="root-modifications" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-form-and-physiology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-form-and-physiology/root-modifications">roots</a> can penetrate into crevices to produce more fragmentation. Plant secretions promote the development of microorganisms around the root, in an area known as the <strong>rhizosphere</strong>. Additionally, <a data-lesson="leaf-arrangement-and-leaf-form" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="plant-form-and-physiology" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/plant-form-and-physiology/leaf-arrangement-and-leaf-form">leaves</a> and other material that fall from <a data-lesson="nutritional-adaptations-of-plants" data-subject="biology" data-tutorial="soil-plant-nutrition" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/biology/soil-plant-nutrition/nutritional-adaptations-of-plants">plants</a> decompose and contribute to soil composition.</p>
<h2>Time</h2>
<p>Time is an important factor in soil formation because soils develop over long periods. Soil formation is a dynamic process. Materials are deposited over time, decompose, and transform into other materials that can be used by living organisms or deposited onto the surface of the soil.</p>

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Soil Formation

Biology studies life and living organisms. Biology can be divided into different sections that cover the morphology, physiology, anatomy, behavior, and so on of living organisms.

Biology

Explore the chemical composition of plants, essential nutrients for plant growth, soil composition and formation, nutritional adaptations of plants like nitrogen fixation and symbiosis, and the properties of insectivorous plants in this tutorial.


Soil Formation

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