The dominant climatic elements that controls soil development are
Answer Details
The dominant climatic elements that control soil development are temperature and precipitation.
Temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions that break down rocks and minerals, which form the basis of soil. High temperatures speed up these reactions, while low temperatures slow them down.
Precipitation, on the other hand, affects the amount of water available to weather rocks and minerals, and to transport the resulting soil particles. It also affects the leaching of nutrients from the soil. In areas with high precipitation, there may be more leaching of nutrients from the soil, leading to nutrient-poor soils.
Together, temperature and precipitation determine the rate of weathering, erosion, and soil formation. In areas with high temperatures and low precipitation, soil development may be slow due to limited water availability. Conversely, in areas with high precipitation and moderate temperatures, soil development may be rapid, but the soil may be nutrient-poor due to leaching.
In summary, temperature and precipitation are the two dominant climatic elements that control soil development, with temperature affecting the rate of chemical reactions and precipitation affecting water availability and nutrient leaching.