Soil provides essential nutrients to all land plants, including water and mineral nutrients. Soil is the product of the living environment and is influenced by climate, topography, parent material, and time. These rocks were transformed by glaciers, wind, rain, and organisms into soil. In eastern North America, where rainfall is abundant, it can take more than 200 years to form only 2 cm of soil. Clay is the most important soil particle because its structure helps hold nutrients, then available to the plants.
Decomposition occurs through the action of bacteria and fungi.
Earthworms, beetles, and termites mix the humus into the parent material of the soil. However, acidic soils increase the release of ions, such as aluminum, which can poison the soil. Maximum soil fertility occurs when the pH is neutral or slightly acidic. Throughout history, soil water content, fertility, and productivity have been the determining factors for humanity's standard of living. D. Succession on a body of water such as a pond or lake 1.