Soil Formation - Complete Guide - Factors and Process
Soil Formation Soils are those friable portions of the Earth's surface which can be tilled and are capable of supporting vegetation. Soil forms a superficial layer of variable thickness. By digging down a certain depth unchanged rock material is invariably found. By disintegration and decomposition this rocky material can be converted into soil material. We may take it as certain that at one time in the world's history soils did not exist as we see them now. Their formation has been gradual. Water has been a powerful agent in all ages not only in directly forming soils, but also in the formation of those stratified rocks which when exposed to weathering influences yield by disintegration soil material. Rain-water when it falls upon the earth either soaks into it or flows over its surface. It drains off the surface of land first in little streams. These join and form larger streams, which as they course onwards increase in volume by the inflow of their tributaries. Finally, they