Final answer:
Soil factors like climate, organisms, topography, soil composition, and management practices play crucial roles in rangeland productivity, influencing everything from plant growth to carbon sequestration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Soil factors affecting rangeland productivity include climate, organisms, topography, soil composition, and proper management. These elements dictate the local soil environment and contribute to weathering and mixing of the soil over time. Climate impacts temperature and moisture, which influence plant growth and net primary productivity.
The biological presence, such as microorganisms and plant roots, influences soil structure and nutrient cycling, with plant residues enriching organic matter content. Topography affects water runoff and erosion, influencing soil depth and fertility. Soil chemical composition, determined by parent material, plays a crucial role in plant growth, as does the interaction between soil and vegetation. Proper management, including rotational grazing, helps maintain soil health, biodiversity, and can mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration.