Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Soil Formation
Rocks are continually being altered by the rock cycle, and this parent material is the basis of soil formation, but
other factors also have an effect on the formation of soil.
Soil formation is based on five factors, each of which plays a role in how and what type of soil is formed in an
area. The five factors include parent material, living organisms, topography, climate, and time.
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Parent material:
The core component of soil is the parent material, which is eroded and weathered from
the existing geologic material in a given area.
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Living organisms:
Living organisms play a role in turning and aerating soil while also aiding in the de-
composition and addition of organic matter. Worms, insects, snails, spiders, fungi, bacteria, gophers,
squirrels, and many other organisms contribute to this process.
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Topography:
Earth's shapes and features, called topography, aid in soil formation by the angles of hills,
valleys, mountains, and other structures. Factors relating to topography include slope, wind exposure,
sun exposure, and water.
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Climate:
Another factor in soil formation is climate because precipitation and temperature affect climate,
and both have an impact on the erosion and weathering of parent material.
