soil formation
Earth layer development
Soil formation is the process by which rock and organic matter transform into soil through weathering, decomposition, and biological activity.
The process unfolds over centuries or millennia as climate, organisms, topography, and parent material interact.
Soil formation in arid regions proceeds differently than in tropical rainforests.
Also called pedogenesis.
- microbesMicroscopic living organisms
- bedrockSolid stone underground
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- decomposersOrganisms breaking down dead material
- lichensFungal-algal composite organisms
regolith · sediment · carbon sequestration · leaching · hydrolysis · minerals · fungi · freeze-thaw cycles · clay · oxidation · humus · mycorrhizae · root systems · weathering · fertile ground · nutrients · loam · silting
soil formationerosion
Gradual wearing away
soil erosion · soil loss · denudation · wind erosion · water erosion
soil formationsoil depletion
Loss of ground fertility
desertification · nutrient depletion · soil compaction · salinization · acidification