Summary

In this section, you learned the following:

1. How weathering and erosion contribute to soil formation
2. How different processes alter rocks
3. The different types of soil
4. The different types of soil profiles

Synthesis

Wow, who knew soil was so complex and involved? It is easy to see how soil is an important resource and why soils are different from one place to another. The processes involved in soil formation are very slow. It takes anywhere from 200–1,000 years (depending on your location) for just one inch of soil to form. With the importance of soil and the time it takes to form, soil is a resource that is just as important as clean water and air. Watch this six minute video as a review of the topics we learned in this section. (Just ignore the bad jokes.)