Question

Is it necessary to separate the process of soil formation and the soil forming control factors?

Answer 1

Yes, it is necessary because they represent two distinct aspects of pedogenesis:

• Processes of soil formation refer to the actual mechanisms and chemical/physical reactions taking place (such as weathering, humification, leaching, eluviation, and illuviation) that transform raw material into soil.
• Soil-forming control factors refer to the external environmental conditions and inputs (such as climate, vegetation, parent material, and relief) that govern, influence, and dictate how and at what rate those processes occur.