To describe: The first step in the formation of soil.
Answer to Problem 1LC
The formation of soil begins with the process of weathering. The process of weathering involves the physical and chemical disintegration of rock masses that are exposed to the atmosphere and to the action of water percolating down from the surface.
Explanation of Solution
Weathering is “the physical and chemical disintegration of rock particles exposed to the atmosphere and to the action of water percolating down from the surface”. The process of weathering results in the weakening and breaking down of solid rock and fragments of rock masses, which ultimately results in the formation of soil.
Soil – Soil is the zone of plant growth. It is a “thin layer of the surface consisting of a diverse mixture of weathered mineral matter, dead and decaying organic matter, living organisms, gases, and liquid solutions”. The upper portion of the lithosphere is characterized by its ability to produce and store plant nutrients. The average depth of soil is about 15 centimeters (6 inches). It is staged in a never-ending continuum of physical–chemical–biotic activities.
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