Final answer:
Salt wedging is a process associated with freeze/thaw cycles (D), where water containing salt expands upon freezing within rock crevices, causing the rock to crack and break apart over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Salt wedging is most closely associated with freeze/thaw cycles (D). This process occurs when salty water seeps into cracks in rocks, and as the temperature drops and the water freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the surrounding rock. Over time, this repeated freezing and thawing causes the rock to fracture and ultimately break apart, contributing to physical weathering in cold climates where such cycles are common.
The concept of salt wedging is a type of physical weathering specifically tied to the action of water, differing from chemical weathering, which involves the chemical transformation of minerals in the rock. It is distinct from the effects of plant roots or capillary action, which involve water movement related to plants, and typically occurs in more arid environments or as part of the plant's uptake system respectively. Salt wedging is also unrelated to the generally accelerated organic and chemical decomposition of soil found in humid climates.