Which of these is NOT a factor in soil formation?

The correct answer indicates that temperature is not considered a direct factor in soil formation compared to other elements listed. In soil science, the primary factors influencing soil formation include parent material, climate, and topography.

Parent material refers to the underlying geological material from which soil develops. It significantly impacts the soil's mineral content, texture, and fertility.

Climate is a crucial factor as it affects temperature and moisture levels, both of which influence the rate of weathering of rocks, organic matter decomposition, and soil horizon development.

Topography, or the landscape's shape and features, also plays a role in determining drainage patterns, erosion, and deposition, all of which contribute to the characteristics of the soil developed in that area.

While temperature can influence soil processes like weathering and the rate of organic matter decomposition, it is not typically classified as a primary factor in the fundamental processes of soil formation itself, which are more reliant on the physical and biological forces tied to parent material, climate, and the physical landscape.