Module 2 Basic of Soil Genesis

Lesson 1

Soil Formation

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Objectives Introduction
……………………
At the end of this lesson, you
are expected to: Soil is formed from disintegration of rocks (parent
Discuss soil formation materials) with the action of climate and living
organisms, as conditioned by topography, over a
Elucidate how climate, period of time. As soil is formed, various processes
living organism, relief
parent materials and time occur that develop the layers of the soil. In this
affect soil formation lesson, emphasis will be given on the concepts of soil
formation, particularly the five factors that governs
Explain the process of
disintegrations of rocks and the formation of soil and how does these factors
minerals into soil particles. condition the properties of the soil that will be
formed. Upon culmination in this lesson, you will
Key Concepts appreciate the effect of these factors and its
a. Soil Formation relevance in forming the soil that we use today.
b. Soil Development Enjoy and do not forget the dirt while you learn.
c. Weathering
d. Soil Profile
e. Soil Horizon

Section 2.1
an
Connect d Interpret Factors of Soil Formation

Apply the concepts. The soil is formed through the

interconnected action of climate, living organisms, parent
material, topography, and time.

Procedure
 Do a research works on the influence of each factor
in the formation of soils.
 Make a summary.
 From your summary, make a diagram showing the
interrelationship of each factor in forming the soil
Analysis
 Discuss in your own context, how does the soil
form?
 Explain why soils are different, like the case of
Excerpt from:
tropical and temperate areas? Is this related to the [Link]
factors of soil formation? If yes, how and if no, why? [Link]

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Soil Formation

 formation of the soil with special reference to the

processes or soil forming factors responsible for
the development of the true soil from
unconsolidated parent material

Five factors control the formation of soils (concepts of Soil Horizon

Hans Jenny):
The relationship of each of these
 Parent material (texture, structure, chemical factors to each other is seen in the
composition) following sentence:
 Climate (temperature and precipitation)
 Topography "Soil is a product of climate, living
 Biotic (Vegetation and animals) factor or Living organisms, and topography acting
Organisms on parent material over a period of
 Time time."

Soil= f (parent material[p],

climate[c], relief/topography[r],
Parent Material
living organisms[l], time[t])

Soil = f (clorpt)
 The parent material determines the mineralogy
and the nutrition status of the soil.
 Example:
o SiO2 (quartz) – does not contribute to the
fertility status of the soil.
o KAl(Mg,Fe)3Si3O10(OH)2 - (Biotite) –
contributes K, Mg and Fe
General categories of parent materials:
1. Residual/Sedentary
Rocks and minerals that are original to a location
that gave rise to a soil (via physical and chemical
processes)
2. Transported
a. Alluvial – transported by rivers
b. Colluvial – transported by gravitational
action
c. Eolian – wind deposits
d. Lacustrine – lake deposits
e. Marine – sea or ocean bottom deposits

Study
As you read on the factors of soil formation, list the distinguishing features that
significantly affect the formation of the soil.
 Read more on the Nature and Properties of Soil (Brady and Weil, 2017)

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Climate and Living Organisms

 Climate and living organisms are considered the

“ACTIVE FACTORS” of soil formation and greatly
Soil Horizon determine the degree and rate of soil formation.
 Most important climatic parameters are:
Temperature has a direct effect o Temperature
on the amount of organic matter Temperature changes can cause enough
that is produced. Organic matter expansion and contraction to crack hard
production increases as rock.
temperature increases, provided o Precipitation:
there is rainfall for good plant Rainfall affects weathering and the
growth. amount of organic matter production and
As rainfall increase, the decomposition.
possibility of erosion losses
increases. When rainfall Topography
increases, organic matter
production increases provided
 The topography or relief of the location of the
the temperature is high enough
parent material influences the effect of the
for good plant growth.
“active factors”.
 Soil formation is less extensive in steep slopes
where soil disturbance is extensive (erosion) and
degree downward water flow (through the soil
surface) is low.

Time

 Soil-forming processes take time to show their

effects.
 The weathering of rock generally creates only
0.01–0.1 mm of new soil material per year, the
rate of soil formation depending on the
environmental factors
 Time zero in soil formation is a point in time
when a catastrophic event is completed, and
sufficient new material is exposed at the land
surface

Let us now dig

the soil!
Soils have different features because of differences or changes in these five factors.
These different effects show up as different soil horizons and soil profiles.

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Soil Genesis …………………………………………………

 The study of soil formation

 This means interpreting the origin of soil. Soil Horizon
 It is important to understand the beginning of
anything so that you have a foundation for the
future. A thorough
understanding of soil
formation processes is a
Weathering valuable tool to use in
interpreting soils for
specific uses.
 the totality of chemical, physical, and biological
processes resulting in the degradation of the
parent material and the subsequent formation of
the soil.
 breakdown / disintegration and decomposition
of rocks and minerals

Weathering is important because it:

 Produces unconsolidated material (parent
material) from which soil is formed.
 Provides plant nutrients
 Results in the formation of secondary minerals,
the most important group being the clay
minerals.

Note: Rocks are the starting point for the weathering processes

Basic Processes in Weathering:

1. Mechanical/Physical process
a. temperature (expansion and contraction,
freezing and thawing of water)
b. wind effects
c. force exerted by plant roots

2. Chemical process
a. hydrolysis
b. hydration
c. acid solution
d. oxidation-reduction
e. dissolution

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Mechanical/Physical Process

a. temperature (expansion and contraction,

freezing and thawing of water)
b. wind effects
c. force exerted by plant roots

Chemical Process
Rocks undergoing exfoliation, the effect
a. Hydrolysis of thermal differences.
Excerpt from: [Link]
It is due to the dissociation of H2O into H+ and taMPWMTI4/[Link]
OH- ions which chemically combine with
minerals and bring about changes, such as
exchange, decomposition of crystalline structure
and formation of new compounds.

b. Hydration
Chemical combination of water molecules with a
substance or mineral leading to a change in
structure.

c. Acid Solution
Some substances present in the rocks are
directly soluble in water. The soluble substances
are removed by the continuous action of water
Abrasive effects of winds in weathering
and the rock no longer remains solid and form
physically rocks.
holes, rills or rough surface and ultimately falls Excerpt from:
into pieces or decomposes. The action is [Link]
considerably increased when the water is commons/7/7c/Arbol_de_Piedra.jpg
acidified by the dissolution of organic and
inorganic acids.

d. Oxidation-Reduction
The process of addition and/loss absence of
oxygen to minerals. The absorption is usually
from O2 dissolved in soil water and that present
in atmosphere

e. Dissolution
Dissolution equally means leaching. It the
process by which the rocks are dissolved when
Roots of the trees can cause cracks in
exposed to rainwater.
rocks.
Excerpt from:
[Link]
c728x425/upload/56/b0/3c/shutterstock-
[Link]

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Reflections Check Compare and contrast the different factors of soil

formation.
Share your thoughts on the process of weathering and
its importance in the study of soil genesis.

Section 2.2 Application

Think like an Artist! Understand Soil Horizons

Soil Horizon
1. Define soil
5. Explain Why is parent material formation using your own
considered the primary determinant of context.
the soil’s chemical properties?
2. Discuss the five factors of soil
6. Arts in Soil Science formation.
3. Compare and contrast residual
Make a short Scientific Documentary and transported parent material.
(Short Film) that features the
formation of soils in various ecological 4. Differentiate mechanical
systems weathering to chemical
weathering.

References

Brady, N.C. and Weil, R. R. 2017. The Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th edition. Pearson
Education Limited, Edinburgh Gate, Harlow, Essex CM20 2JE, England, 1105 pp.

Recommended Website to Explore

[Link]; [Link]; [Link]

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