Which of the following is NOT a soil forming factor in CLORPT?

• A. Climate
• B. Time
• C. Sunlight
• D. Parent material

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is understanding the CLORPT framework for soil formation. CLORPT stands for Climate, Organisms, Relief (topography), Parent material, and Time. Sunlight is not listed as a separate soil-forming factor in this framework. While sunlight influences climate and vegetation, its effects are already captured under climate or the biological processes, not as an independent factor. So, Sunlight isn’t a soil-forming factor in CLORPT. The other terms—Climate, Time, and Parent material—are directly part of the framework and each shapes soil development in specific ways: climate sets temperature and moisture regimes, time reflects how long soils have been developing, and parent material determines the mineral starting point and chemistry.