Living organisms include vegetation, microorganisms and invertebrates. Vegetation influences the fertility of soils. Places with dense vegetation cover are common in the formation of humus dense soils.
Microorganisms and invertebrates determine the nature of soil. Bacteria fixes nitrogen into root noodles of plants. Roots of plants modify the soils by adding more porosity. They also improve on soil depth and aeration.
Human activities can change the nature of soil. Grazing, cultivation and use of fertilizers may lead to changes in the nature of soils in the affected areas.
Relief is the general appearance of the landscape. The nature is the slope determines the type of soil in an area. Soils on top of hills are heavily leached. In plains and valley bottoms, soils are deep and fertile. Undulating and well drained uplands lead to the formation of well developed soils with clear profiles. Poorly drained or marshy areas lead to the formation of poor soils.
The duration taken by soils to form influences it's characteristics. Where soil formation has taken a longer time, the soils are generally deep and well developed. However, this is dependent on factors such as climate, relief and parent rock. Soils is classified as mature, immature and young according to the time it has taken to form.
Faimus answered the question on March 16, 2018 at 19:31
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