| Regolith | Weathering of parent material to give a layer of loose broken rock. |
| Parent material | The supply of minerals comes from underlying rock, which have different rates of weathering. It controls depth, texture, drainage, and quality of the soil. |
| Topography | The relief of land. |
| Biota | Organisms - Plants and bacteria, fungi, and animals all interact in the nutrient cycle. |
| Peds | Individual soil particles. |
| Soil texture | How fine or course the mineral matter is in the soil. |
| Soil nutrients (bases) | Chemical elements in the soil that come from rainwater, fertilizer, parent rock, decaying organic matter and clay. |
| Soil moisture | Level of moisture in the soil - important because it influences upward and downward movement of nutrients and water in the soil. |
| Translocation | Includes numerous processes but is primarily the downward movement of water or materials in soil. |
| Leaching | Where soluble material is removed in solution. |
| Cheluviation | When iron and aluminum sesquioxides are removed due to chelating agents. |
| Illuviation | Material re-deposited in the lower horizons. |
| Zonal soils | Are classified on a global scale and have climate as the major determining factor. They are mature, have distinct profiles and clear horizons. |
| Azonal soils | More recent than zonal soils, and soil forming processes have not been in operation for long. Horizons are unclear and they are not linked with climate and vegetation. |
| Intrazonal soils | Soils found within the climate belt. |
| Calcomorphic/calcareous soils | Develop on limestone. |
| Hydromorphic soils | Water content is always high. |
| Halomorphic soils | Saline due to high salt level. |
| Podsol | Develops if precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. |
| Podsolisation | Intensive leaching. |
| Brown earths | Moderately or well-drained soils, found where precipitation exceeds potential evapotranspiration, and particles move downward through the soil. |
| Lessivage | Removal of fine clay particles from soil. |
| Salinisation | Soluble salts moved upwards through the soil as a result of capillary action. |