Why Some Soils Vary Over Space and Time?

Soils are greatly affected by the space which they are situated within. Many factors can greatly vary over a small space and this is why soils differ so much from place to place. One of the most influential factors in soil formation is climate. If precipitation is high then this will affect the amount of air in the soil. Very wet soil has little air within it and therefore supports different plant life and as a result different animals will live there. The plant and animal life also greatly influences the type of soil. This is because the O horizon is composed of dead and decaying plant materials and often animal remains. The inorganic materials which the soil is composed of, e.g. the rocks, can vary greatly in size. They vary from large pebbles to small particles of sand or clay. …