1. Parent Material
- provides minerals ➡️ Ca, Mg, K, Fe, Al, etc
- Weathering of parent material
- environment ➡️ composition of soil
- Base
- Ca
- Mg
- K
- Acids
- Fe
- Al
↪️ based on the nature of the oxide in aq. medium ↪️ these ions need Colloids to hold them to the soils
Also refer: Red Soils | Sodic Soils
2. Processes
- 2.1. Colloids
- 2.2. Processes
3. Plants & Animals
Also refer: Utility of Humus in Soil Structure
4. Climate
- rate of soil formation
- humus formation
- Climate controls the rate of Weathering ➡️ rate of soil formation
- Ambient / optimum climatic conditions for humus formation
5. Time
- rate of soil formation
6. Topography
- extent of Soil Erosion
- determining the thickness of soil layers
