Factors affecting soil formation: climate (prime factor, movement of water through soil, temp, evapotranspiration), organisms (including people, surface vegetation, impacts= land use and irrigation), relief (altitude can affect microclimate, solar warming, slope angle and drainage, run-off and soil erosion), parent material (eg sandy, coarse texture= well drained, whereas clay= waterlogged. Granite= slow weathering and shallow profile, sandstones= red soils, granite= low nutrients, clay- fertile, humus complex)