pedogenético

Pedogenético refers to the processes involved in soil formation. It is a fundamental concept in soil science, explaining how unconsolidated mineral or organic materials at the Earth's surface are transformed into distinct soil layers, or horizons, over time. These processes are influenced by a variety of factors, including climate, parent material, topography, organisms, and time.

The primary pedogenetic processes include additions, losses, transformations, and translocations. Additions involve the accumulation of organic matter from decomposing plants and animals, or the deposition of mineral sediments. Losses occur through leaching of soluble materials by water, erosion by wind or water, or volatilization of elements. Transformations involve the chemical and physical changes to soil components, such as the weathering of minerals into clay, the decomposition of organic matter into humus, or the oxidation or reduction of iron compounds. Translocations describe the movement of materials within the soil profile, such as the downward movement of clay particles to form an illuvial horizon, or the upward movement of salts by capillary action.

The interaction of these processes over extended periods leads to the development of distinct soil profiles, each characterized by a unique sequence of horizons. Understanding pedogenetic processes is crucial for agriculture, environmental management, and geological studies, as it helps in classifying soils, predicting their behavior, and assessing their suitability for various uses. The study of pedogenesis helps scientists to reconstruct past environmental conditions and to predict how soils might evolve in the future under changing climatic or land-use scenarios.