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Understanding Soil Formation

Five Factors That Affect Soil Formation. Parent MaterialClimateLiving OrganismsTopographyTime or Weathering. Parent Material. Parent materials are formed by the disintegrations and decomposition of rockThey are classified according to the way they were moved and scattered. Parent Material. Many

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Understanding Soil Formation

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    1. Understanding Soil Formation Prepared by Eric Johannesen Iowa-Grant High School

    2. Five Factors That Affect Soil Formation Parent Material Climate Living Organisms Topography Time or Weathering

    3. Parent Material Parent materials are formed by the disintegrations and decomposition of rock They are classified according to the way they were moved and scattered

    4. Parent Material Many soils have been formed from material originally moved by glaciers Glacial origin soils are classified as… Loess-Blowing soil after the glacier melted Outwash-occurred when glaciers melted Glacial Till-Was not moved by wind or water.

    5. Parent Material Some soils are formed as a result of recent sediments deposited by streams as they flood. This is called Alluvium Alluvium is generally a water-borne material deposited on bottomlands.

    6. Parent Material Bedrock Shale Sandstone Limestone Weathered bedrock can provide soil parent material

    7. Organic Matter Occurs where formerly shallow ponds supported swamp vegetation. The wet conditions slowed decay of the dead plants so the organic matter could accumulate The two types of OM are… Muck Peat

    8. Topography Refers to the slope characteristics of a soil Degree of steepness Length Shape Direction of slope These factors influence the amount of rainwater runoff, or the amount that enters the soil, or collects in small depressions on the soil surface Soils with steep slopes have a higher degree of runoff.

    9. Living Organisms Organisms live in soil Plant Insects Microbes Organisms affect the soil formation The greatest affect on the development of soil is from plants that once grew in it.

    10. Living Organisms Prairie Soils Have a dark and deep surface layer Timber Soils Tend to have a thin, moderately dark layer Other living matter that influences the development Earthworms Animals Burrowing animals

    11. Weathering Two Types of Weathering Physical Weathering Affect of climatic factors such as Temperature Water Wind Chemical Weathering Rainwater is mildly acidic and can slowly dissolve soil minerals Oxygen will also react with the soil

    12. Weathering Climate Refers to rainfall, freezing, thawing, wind, and sunlight

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