Final answer:
Soil is differentiated from its parent material through a combination of weathering, biological activity, and time, resulting in a soil profile with distinct layers that support plant and animal life.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soil is distinguished from its parent material by the processes of soil formation, which include weathering, biological activity, and time. While parent material is the mineral or organic matter from which soil develops, soil itself is a dynamic, living system that evolves over time to acquire unique characteristics, such as distinct layers called horizons. Weathering and biological activities transform parent materials into soils with different textures, structures, and nutrient contents. The soil profile consists of multiple layers, with the O and A horizons rich in organic matter contributing to plant growth, and the B and C horizons reflecting more of the original characteristics of the underlying bedrock or transported deposits.
Parent material can be solid rock like bedrock, particulate matter like volcanic ash, or organic matter like that found in bogs. Over time, soil forming factors including climate, organisms, topography, and time interact to develop distinct layers within the soil, enhancing its capacity to support plant and animal life. The parent material may become less recognizable as the soil matures due to this continuous process of change and development governed by the surrounding environment and biological activity.