Global Soil Change

Among the soil order in the soil taxonomy, entisol is the least developed mineral soil. It only
contains ochric epipedon, without significant of diagnostic subsurface horizon, albic might present.
Entisol could be formed from any parent materials and might be found in various climatic conditions,
but mostly form in a place where soil development is restricted (ex. steep slope on hard bedrock).
This condition occurs when parent materials does not have enough weathering time to form
distinctive profile. Due to its low fertility, vegetation are less likely to grow on entisol.
In particular environment, entisol might transforms into different soils. In the permafrost regime,
with the present of organic deposits on its surface, entisol might be developed into gelisol. The
formation of gelisol requires millions of year, since cold temperature significantly decreases the
materials weathering rate. Moreover, in the area with seasonal variation in precipitation and
temperature, entisol might be developed to form vertisol. The climatic condition is favor to form 2-1
clay minerals due to shrink/swell processes. Furthermore, if it is in organic rich area and
waterlogged, entisol will form histosol; while in the volcanic region, with abundant volcanic ash
parent materials, andisol is developed.
In more favorable profile development environment, entisol might transform into inceptisol. The
profile of inceptisol is slightly developed with the present of insignificant B horizon. Depend in which
environment the soil is formed, further development of inceptisol could lead into different soils. In
the desert, with dry climate of arid region, aridisol is formed. Primary minerals become the major
constituent of this soil, since water as the main medium for the chemical weathering does not
present. Next, in the moist climate of prairie or grassland, mollisol is developed. Mollisol is the most
fertile soil with high content of organic deposit and high percentage of base saturation (>50%).
Furthermore, in humid region of conifer forest, with nearly level topography, and shallow water
table, acidic soil development known as spodosol is favorable. While in moist deciduous forest, the
soil eventually forms alfisol.
In favorable condition for continuous weathering might occur, such as warm and humid region,
either vertisol, andisol, mollisol, spodosol, or alfisol, will developed into ultisol. The soil major
characteristic is the present of 1-1 clay with low percentage of base saturation (<35%). Finally, in
much favorable weathering region, such an area with high precipitation in tropical rain forest, the
highly weathering soils comprises of high sesquioxide contents, will form oxisol.