Soil Genesis Soil is the mixture of rock debris and organic materials which develop on the earths surface.

It is biological and chemical composition. Suitable for plant growth. Pedogenesis is the science and study of the processes that lead to the formation of soil and first explored by the Russian geologist Vasily Dokuchaev.

In 1941 the Swiss scientist Hans Jenny, gave formula for soil genesis: Soil = f(C, PM, R, O, V,) x time (where C = climate, PM = parent material, R = relief/topology, O = fauna, V = flora). Climate: regulates soil formation. Soils are more developed in areas with higher rainfall and more warmth. The rate of chemical weathering increases by 2-3 times when the temperature increases by 10 degrees Celsius. Climate also affects which organisms are present, affecting the soil chemically and physically (movement of roots). If humid, more loss of soil due to erosion (Eg. Meghalaya). Tundra Lack of humus, poor soil; Desert arid soil; Flood Alluvial. Parent Rock: Chemical changes during soil formation depend on what minerals and rocks are present. Example: Calcium-rich soils generally form from calcium-rich rocks (like limestone) but not from calcium-poor rocks like granite. Topography: Loose soil stays in place in flat areas, allowing more thorough physical and chemical alteration of its grains. On steep slopes, the soil moves downhill before complete alteration can occur. Marginality depends on slope. Eg. Ganga deposits. Living things: Plant roots physically break rocks into small pieces. Coniferous forests have acidic leaf litter and form what are known as inceptisols. Mixed or deciduous forests leave a larger layer of humus, changing the elements leeched and accumulated in the soil, forming alfisols. Prairies have very high humus accumulation, creating a dark, thick a horizon characteristic of mollisols. Burrowing animals mix the soil and help aeration. Three species of land snails in the genus Euchondrus in the Negev desert are noted for eatinglichens growing under the surface limestone rocks and slabs (endolithic lichens). They disrupt and eat the limestone. Their grazing resulting in the weathering of the stones, and the subsequent formation of soil. TIME: When bedrock is exposed at the surface, chemical, biologic, and physical processes combine to produce a thin soil layer. Over time, the processes extend vertically downward, developing soil horizons whose position and thickness change over time. A variety of mechanisms contribute to soil formation, including siltation, erosion, overpressure and lakebed succession. A specific example of the evolution of soils in prehistoric lake beds is in the Makgadikgadi Pans of the Kalahari Desert, where change in an ancient river course led to millennia of salinity buildup and formation of calcretes and silcretes. Classification and Distribution Zonal (Older) system of Classification This system links the distribution of various soil type to the distribution of climate and vegetation. It is through the works of Dukuchaiey Masbut (USA) that the zonal system of classification evolved. According to this system, there are three major classes of soil types (i) Zonal soils are characterized by the dominant influence of climate. Zonal soils are by far the most important and widespread soils. These are exhibiting a mature and well-developed soil profile indicating the fullest play of various soil-forming factors.They develop on well- drained areas, on parent material which has ramained in the original place for a sufficiently long time to have been affected by various soil- forming processes. Ex. Black and laterite soil (ii) Intra-Zonal soils, on the other hand, have some local factor like moisture or parent rock having the dominant influence. The intrazonal soils occur within broad zonal types on poorly draining sites. On regolith where soluble salt contents are high. Soils of bog areas and alkali flats are examples of intrazonal soil. All of them have distinct profile characteristics. Found at the same place of weathering but not over original rocks, but formed after metamorphcation. Ex. Red soil. Basalt is the origin forms gneiss Red soil is formed by weathering of gneiss (Metamchphication) (iii) Azonal soil lack well-developed soil profiles which may be due to non-availability of sufficient time for them to develop fully or due to the location on very steep slopes which prohibits profile