Soil Formation Essay

In Alberta, there are four dominant soil orders. Luvisolic, Gleysolic, and Solonetzic orders can all be found in different areas of the province. However, the most dominant order in Alberta is the Chernozemic. The Chernozemic order is developed mainly under grassland vegetation and is generally too dry for continuous tree growth. It can be found in the mid and Southern parts of the province excluding land West of Calgary and is often considered a terrific soil for agricultural growth. Among the Chernozemic order, there are four different great groups. These groups are: brown, dark brown, black, and dark gray. Even though these groups have different qualities, they are all impacted by the same factors of soil formation. In the following paragraphs, these factors will be discussed.

The first factor in soil formation is time. The longer or shorter amount of time it takes too form, the different qualities the soil will have. The parent material for the chernozemic order was deposited by glacial till around 10,000 years ago. This means that the soil has been forming ever since then. Time also affects the soil because minerals found in soil will eventually deteriorate and are replenished by others. Also, over time, wind and water can pick up and move soil components away from or to an area. Although it may not seem like an important component, time plays a major role on the formation of Chernozemic soils.

Topography, or the surface shape of the land, has a direct affect on the formation of soils. The biggest determination of this is whether the soil is in high or low lying areas. In low lying areas, water will sit without being able to drain. This has a direct impact on the formation of the soil. In higher areas, wind and water will cause erosion on the top layers of the soil. In Alberta, the topography of the land is excellent for soil formation. The flat lands of the prairies eliminate the affect of drainage and erosion which makes the Chernozemic order excellent agricultural soil.

The third factor in soil formation is the climate of the area. This is potentially the biggest factor in soil formation. Temperature, precipitation, wind, and the growing season