O and R are not soil. A, B, and C are soil

O, A, B, C, and R horizons

Poorly developed, small A, soil erodes into the valley.

PLANTS

WEATHERING

Weathered rock, water, air, Organic matter (humus), and minerals

Texture, Pore space, Chemistry, Fertility, and Water retention

COLOR

Plants- Provide humus for the soil

Animals- loosen and mix soil to add air and water

Microorganisims- decompose dead material and add nutrients back to the soil

Clay, because its smaller and able to absorb water more easily.

Mechanical - physically changes a rock: abrasion, ice wedging, plant roots, etc.; Chemical - changes make-up of a rock: acid rain, oxidation (rust), etc.

The cooling of molten rock or magma

Sedimentary and Metamorphic

It breaks the main ingredient (rock) to make the soil.

FASTEST: WET AND WARM

SLOWEST: COLD AND DRY

FARMING

MINING

CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT 

It is non-renewable it takes hundreds to thousands of years to reform. It effects all living organisms directly and indirectly. Plants need it to grow. All other organisms need the plants to eat and breath.

1. The removal of plant coverage leads to soil loss by erosion. Fertilizers harm microorganisms, pollutes the soil, and pollutes water nearby. 

Remove plant coverage that leads to soil loss by erosion. Increases chemical weathering and pollutes the soil.

Remove plant coverage that leads to soil loss by erosion. Soil lost into roads, streams, lakes, oceans, killing fish and other organisms.

Remote sensing

Soil helps sustain life!

Rotating crops on farm land to add back nutrients that were taken away by crops from previous years. 

Planting rows of trees/bushes to act like a fence to keep soil on the farm land. 

Monitor soil quality and take steps to conserve and protect the soil