How do you distinguish between the process of soil formation and soil-forming factors? What is the role of climate and biological activity as two important control factors in the formation of soils?

 Question.

How do you distinguish between the process of soil formation and soil-forming factors? What is the role of climate and biological activity as two important control factors in the formation of soils?

Answer:

The process of soil formation is comprised of different activities that help in soil formation whereas soil-forming factors are different elements that control the process of soil formation.

The following are activities in the process of soil formation:

• Soil is the result of the decay of chemical, physical, and biological activities.
• Soil formation first starts from weathering. 
• Depth of Weathering mantle is the basic raw material of the soil formation process.
• Some special types of bacterial and smaller plants such as mosses and lichens colonized the weathered materials or transported weathered materials.
• Later, dead remains of plants and animals help in humus formation and enrich the soils.
• After that, minor grass and ferns may grow.
• At last, when soil becomes mature and with the prevailing climatic condition, different types of vegetation and wildlife developed on the soil.

Soil forming factors:

There are five basic factors that control the soil formation process.

• Parent Materials
• Topography
• Climate
• Biological activities
• Time

Role of climate in soil formation:

• Climate is a very active factor in soil formation.
• Precipitation provides moisture to the soil which enables chemical and biological activities possible.
• In the moist climate region, excess water helps in the downward movements of some components of soil such as calcium, sodium, magnesium, silica, etc.
• In the dry climate region, evaporation exceeds precipitation, and due to capillary action groundwater reaches to surface and brought up salt with them and leaving salt on the surface.
• The temperature may increase or reduce the chemical and biological activities in the soil. Higher temperatures increase the chemical activities.

Role of biological activities in soil formation:

• Dead plants and animals provide humus in the soils.
• The organism also releases the organic acid in the rocks to help in decomposing the minerals.
• In the cold climate, due to lack of bacterial activities, there is a high in humus accumulation.

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