Soil Formation

Soil forms when weathered

parent material interacts with
environment.

 Soil environment includes:

Climate and weather

Animals
Microbes
Human use
Hazards ( natural and unnatural )
Topographical relief

rates of soil formation

Slow--------------------------------------Fast
~ 1 cm/1000 yr
~
30cm/50yr

Hans Jenny
1941: soil is open system, properties
are functionally related; system
changes when property(ies)
change(s).
Jennys CLORPT equation

s = (cl, o, r, p, t)

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

CLIMATE
ORGANISMS
RELIEF
PARENT MATERIAL
TIME

1. CLIMATE
determines speed, character of
soil development:
type and rate of weathering
living organisms and plants
found in an area

components of climate :
1. Temperature
-for every 10C , biochemical rxn rates
2X

2. Effective precipitation
(water that moves through entire soil
column, including regolith)
-depth of water = depth of weathering
-water moves soluble & suspended
materials

 (Fig. 2.15)

Effective precipitation
-a) seasonal distribution
-b) temperature, evaporation
-c) topography
-d)permeability

a) Seasonal distribution of precipitation:

Location A
600 mm/yr
50mm

Every month

Location B
600 mm/yr
100mm

6 rainy months only

b) Temperature and evaporation:

Location A
hot
High
evapotranspiration
600 mm

Lower effective ppt

Location B
cool
Low
evapotranspiration
600 mm

Higher effective ppt

Topography:

level

slope

concave or
bottom of slope
(receiving)

Permeability:

2. Organisms
plant and animal

(Living plants and animals on and in soil)

-type of vegetation influences soil type
-base pumping
-sources of organic matter
-nutrient recycling
-vegetation prevents erosion

Type of vegetation influences

soil type

Base pumping
Deciduous trees are more effective base pumpers
than conifers .

-deciduous litter is easy to

break down
-cations (bases) are
released so surface soils are
not acidic

-needles are hard to

break down
-basic cations leach
away: soil is acidic

 Macroanimals (insects, mammals,

gastropods, earthworms)
mix, bind soil; create channels for air,
water

crotovinas

 Macroanimals (insects, mammals,

gastropods, earthworms)
mix, bind soil; create channels for air,
water

Microanimals (nematodes,
protozoa)

 Macroanimals (insects, mammals,

gastropods, earthworms)
mix, bind soil; create channels for air,
water

Microanimals (nematodes,
protozoa)
Macroplants (the green plants)
provide organic matter, roots create
channels, adsorb nutrients, release
CO2, stabilize, protect from erosion

 Macroanimals (insects, mammals,

gastropods, earthworms)
mix, bind soil; create channels for air,
water

Microanimals (nematodes, protozoa)

Macroplants (the green plants)
provide organic matter, roots create
channels, adsorb nutrients, release
CO2, stabilize, protect from erosion

Micro plants (fungi, bacteria,

actinomycetes, algae)
decomposers

3. Relief/Topography
important for rate of runoff,
erosion, drainage

Flat valley floors and flat ridge tops: soil

accumulates; (deepening>removal)
Slopes: (removal> deepening)

 Vertical Zonation
soils, climate, vegetation change with
elevation

4. Parent Material
Determines texture, types of
weathering, mineral make-up

weathering
Physical (Mechanical): disintegration of
parent material; increases surface area:
surface area increases by same factor as
particle size decreases

Chemical (Biogeochemical) : primary

minerals are broken down and
secondary minerals are formed

 Physical:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chemical (biogeochemical):

Freeze/thaw 1. Hydrolysis: minerals react with H2O

Exfoliation
H+ replace soluble parts; OH combine with mineral cations
Abrasion
Salt wedging 2. Hydration: mineral combines with
H 2O

3. Oxidation: mineral combines with

O2 (lose electron)
Reduction: loss of O2 (gain electron)
4. Carbonation: oxides combine with
acids to make carbonates
5. Complexation: organic acids form
organic complexes with metal
cations

Freeze / Thaw

 Physical:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chemical (biogeochemical):

Freeze/thaw 1. Hydrolysis: minerals react with H2O

Exfoliation
H+ replace soluble parts; OH combine with mineral cations
Abrasion
Salt wedging 2. Hydration: mineral combines with
H 2O

3. Oxidation: mineral combines with

O2 (lose electron)
Reduction: loss of O2 (gain electron)
4. Carbonation: oxides combine with
acids to make carbonates
5. Complexation: organic acids form
organic complexes with metal
cations

2. Exfoliation

 Physical:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chemical (biogeochemical):

Freeze/thaw 1. Hydrolysis: minerals react with H2O

Exfoliation
H+ replace soluble parts; OH combine with mineral cations
Abrasion
Salt wedging 2. Hydration: mineral combines with
H 2O

3. Oxidation: mineral combines with

O2 (lose electron)
Reduction: loss of O2 (gain electron)
4. Carbonation: oxides combine with
acids to make carbonates
5. Complexation: organic acids form
organic complexes with metal
cations

3. Abrasion (wind, water,

ice)

wind

water

ice

 Physical:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Chemical (biogeochemical):

Freeze/thaw 1. Hydrolysis: minerals react with H2O

Exfoliation
H+ replace soluble parts; OH combine with mineral cations
Abrasion
Salt wedging 2. Hydration: mineral combines with
H 2O

3. Oxidation: mineral combines with

O2 (lose electron)
Reduction: loss of O2 (gain electron)
4. Carbonation: oxides combine with
acids to make carbonates
5. Complexation: organic acids form
organic complexes with metal
cations

4. Salt Wedging

5. Time
Amount of time soil has been
exposed to weathering and soil
forming processes influences soil
properties.
Jennys staircase
Ohio/Ky.

4 soil forming processes:

(pedogenic)
Transformation

4 soil forming processes:

Transformation
Translocation

4 soil forming processes:

Transformation
Translocation
Addition

4 soil forming processes:

Transformation
Translocation
Addition
Loss