How does soil form?
Soil forms through rock weathering, organic matter accumulation and long-term interactions among life and the environment.
How it works and key principles
Factors and horizons: Parent material, climate, topography, organisms and time shape soil. Rainfall and temperature affect weathering, while roots and microbes influence organic cycling. Organic-rich upper and distinct mineral horizons can develop, though profiles vary by location.
Evidence, examples and limits
Functions and protection: Soil supplies plants with water and nutrients, hosts organisms and filters water. Erosion, compaction, salinization and contamination can degrade it. Formation rates vary, but productive topsoil should not be assumed easy to replace; vegetation cover and careful land management help.
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