Soil and Soil Forming

Processes
By HO Puising

Soil and Pedogenesis

Soil as a Dynamic Body
Physical and Chemical Properties of
Soils
Soil Profile
Factors affecting Soil Formation
Soil Forming Processes Pedogenesis
World Pattern of Soil

Soil as a Dynamic Body

Soil is a dynamic layer in which
many complex chemical, physical
and biological activities are going on
constantly.
Soils become adjusted to conditions
of climate, landform and vegetation,
and will change internally when
those controlling conditions change.

Soil Matters
Solid
Organic and Inorganic

Water
Complex chemical solution from precipitation,
runoff, seepage and groundwater

Air
Pore spaces air or water
Field Capacity
The percentage of water remaining in the soil 2 or
3 days after the soil has been saturated and free
drainage has practically ceased

Physical and Chemical

Properties of Soils

Soil Colour
Soil Texture
Soil Structure
Colloids, Bases and Acidity
Soil Water

Soil Colour
Black much humus
(Cool climate) temperate grassland

Light little humus

(Hot climate) - Desert

Reddish feric compounds

(Well drained) - TRF

Greyish or bluish reduced ion

compounds
(Poorly drained) - Swamp

Soil Texture
Name of Grade

Diameter (mm)

Coarse gravel
Fine gravel
Coarse sand
Medium sand
Fine sand
Very fine sand
Silt

Above 2
1.0 - 2
0.5 - 1
0.25 - 0.5
0.1 - 0.25
0.05 - 0.1
0.002 - 0.05

Clay

Below 0.002

Soil Texture

Soil Texture
Ratio of sand, silt and clay
Soil Texture
Water-retention
properties
Loam textures are the best for plant
growth

Soil Texture

Soil Structure

Soil Structure
Individual soil particles aggregate
together in lump or peds.
Important for the ease of
cultivation
Crumb structure: best for seed
germination

Soil Colloids, Bases and Acidity

Colloids
Inorganic: chemical properties of clay
(Clay minerals)

Organic: Humus

Bases
Clay minerals which are negatively
charged.
This is neutralized by the attraction
to their surface of positivelycharged ions (cations) of minerals.
Calcium (C), magnesium (Mg),
potassium (K) and sodium (Na) Bases

Bases
Bases are recycled to the soil by
the decomposition of plants and
animals.
Bases can be replenished by
artificial supply fertilizer
Bases are essential as nutrients for
plant growth.

Acidity

Acidity is measured on the pH scale.

Soil Water
It is a complex chemical solution.
It is a dilute solution of such
substances as bicarbonates,
sulfates, chlorides, nitrates,
phosphates and silicates of
calcium, magnesium, potassium,
sodium and iron..

Soil Profile
Layer-like
horizons of
differing texture,
colour and
consistency
Soil horizons
Regolith
Bedrock

Soil Profile
Horizon A
Zone of eluviation

Horizon B
Zone of illuviation

Horizon C
Weathered
material

Horizon D
Unweathered rock

Factors affecting soil formation

Passive Formers
Parent materials
Topography/ Landform
Time

Active Formers
Climate
Biotic factor

Passive Formers
Parent Material

Topography / Landform

Time
The clear horizons are absent or poorly
developed in young soils

Active Soil Former - Climate

Moisture
Chemical and biological activities
Excess precipitation eluviation and
illuviation
Excess evaporation capillary action

Active Soil Former - Climate

Temperature
Chemical reaction
Bacterial activities
Rate of decomposing

Active Soil Former - Climate

Wind: Minor factor
Increase evaporation
Reallocation of soil (removal and
accumulation)

Active Soil Former Biotic Factor

Vegetation
Provide humus, bind soil and
counteract percolation by
transpiration
Maintain fertility
Different types of vegetation require
different proportions of bases.
Tree: little calcium and magnesium
Grass: much calcium and magnesium

Active Soil Former Biotic Factor

From bacteria to large animals
Mechanical
Eg. Burrowing by earthworms
Eg. Excavation by man

Chemical
Eg. Organic acid

Soil Forming Processes

Weathering
Physical, chemical and biological

Soil genesis
Additions, losses, transformation,
translocation

Refer to CUHK Powerpoint

Oxisols and Aridisols

Refer to CUHK Powerpoint
Soil Formation Factors with special
reference to Oxisols and Aridisols

World Pattern of Soil

Zonal Soil
Well developed and reflect the
influence of climate as the major factor

Azonal Soil
Immature or poorly developed soil

Intrazontal Soil
Well developed by the local factors
dominant

World Pattern of Soil