Soil Features- Abiotic

Soils in this biome are rich and easily usable for agriculture.  The rich soil is due to the decaying plant matter that comes from the leaves that die every year, and this adds to the organic matter content of the soil.  Soils are usually deep, or moderately deep, depending on whether glaciers went through the area.  Texture is most always loamy, except for in swamps and lakes.  Erosion becomes a problem in many areas of temperate deciduous forests, especially when the soil is on steep slopes.  The Appalachian Mountain Range, for example contains many steep mountains and foothills which contribute a lot to erosion, especially when the land is cultivated.