Disintegrating rock and weathering products accumulate to begin the soil-forming process. Time, as always in geology, is another critical factor in soil formation. The characteristics of a particular soil depend largely on the length of time it's had to develop. When soils first begin forming, the nature of the parent material overwhelmingly determines the nature of the soil. Over time, parent material becomes more weathered and climate plays an increasingly important role in the soil-forming process.
Climate is perhaps the most important ingredient in soil formation.
The amount of rain and other forms of precipitation and temperature patterns influence everything from the rate of rock weathering to the types of plants that grow on soils. As a consequence, desert, rain forest, and grassland soils develop distinctly different characteristics. Use the back button on your browser to return to previous page.