Soil Formation: Horizons and Factors

This lecture explores the process of soil formation, focusing on the concept of soil horizons and key factors influencing soil development. Topics include the distribution of soils worldwide, the accumulation of clay and oxyhydroxides, and extreme cases like Podzols. The instructor discusses the role of climate, biological activity, topography, parent material, and time in shaping soil properties. Examples of humus-rich soils like Histosols and Mollisols are presented, along with mechanisms of Fe and Al transport in organic complexes. The lecture also covers nutrient-limited soils and the impact of small organic molecules on soil formation.