Soil
Development
Department of Geography
Representati
ves
Maryam
Syed
Rimsha Bibi
What is soil development?
Soil develop, or weathering, is the amount of change that has occurred
since the material was originally deposited. In order to get change,
energy is put in, materials are added or taken away. Rainfall moving
through the soil may carry away calcium; plant growth may add organic
material to the soil; biological as well as physical interactions change
the soil structure; clays may accumulate or break down.
DEFINITION: Soil is the loose surface material that covers most land.
The organic and inorganic
material on the surface of
the earth that provide
medium for plant growth.
COMPOSITION OF SOIL
SOIL PROFILE AND SOIL HORIZON
A soil horizon makes up a distinct layer of
soil. The horizon runs roughly parallel to the
soil surface and has different properties and
characteristics than the adjacent layers
above and below. The soil profile is a vertical
section of the soil that depicts all of its
horizons. The soil profile extends from the
soil surface to the parent rock material.
FACTORS FORMING SOIL
Scientists attribute soil formation to the following factors:
Parent material, climate, biota (organisms), topography
and time.
SOIL FORMATION PROCESS:
Soil minerals form the basis of soil. soil
formation also called PEDOGNESIS.
depends on weathering.
weather mantle is basic input for soil.
HUMUS ACCUMULATION: PLANTS AND DEAD
REMAINS OF ORGANISN HELPS IN HUMUS
ACCUMULATION.
Transformations: The chemical weathering of
sand and formation of clay minerals,
transformation of coarse OM into decay
resistant organic compounds (humus).
Translocations: Movement of soil constituents
(organic or mineral) within the profile and/or
between horizons.
SOIL STRUCTURE
Soil structure describes the arrangement of
soil particles and soil aggregates. Soil
structure is an important physical property
that refers to arrangement of soil particles
and pore space between them.
These particles bind together to
form aggregates, also called peds, which
can vary in shape and size.
STRUCTURE
TYPES OF SOIL BASED ON CLIMATE
1: CLAY
2: SILT
3: SAND
4: LOAM
5: CHALK OR PEAT
SAND: CONSIST of larged sized and pores. water can easily flow
from pores. less capacity to absorb water. less plant growth.
85% of sand and 15% other material presence. desert soil,
banks of rivers and seas.
CLAY: particles are very small and interconnected to one
another. less number of pores and less air. if clay becomes dry it
is very hard.
playgrounds and bank of rivers. less plant. large capacity to
absorb water.
SOIL IN PAKISTAN:
1:Alluvial soil: found primarily in indus river plains
covering areas of punjab, sindh, and part of kpk.
rich nutrients. fertile land.
major crops: wheat and cotton
1:Loess soil: found in northern punjab and part of
kpk. fertile and suitable for growing vegetables.
3:Desert soil: thar (sindh) and cholistan desert (punjab)
low fertility
limitef agriculture activities.
4:MOUNTAIN SOIL: Found in northern areas
(gilgit-baltistan, north kpk)
suporting crops like maize
and fruits.
END
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