Any soil inherits its genetic properties from parent material only , enacted by other factors like climate , organisms, relief and time. Soil fertility is infact the translation of elemental composition of parent material.Good response from Nilay..

The following article published recently may provide you desired information:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28317232

Also may be explored:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25764534

Thank you Sir

Any soil inherits its genetic properties from parent material only , enacted by other factors like climate , organisms, relief and time. Soil fertility is infact the translation of elemental composition of parent material.Good response from Nilay..

The effect of parent material and soil development on nutrient cycling in temperate ecosystems (Biogeochemistry,February 1988, Volume 5, Issue 1, pp 71–97| 

Abstract:The parent material of a soil determines the original supply of those nutrient elements that are released by weathering and influences the balance between nutrient loss and retention. Organic acids and exudates produced by microorganisms and plants enhance the weathering of minerals and the release of nutrients. Nutrients may be stored in organic cycles or as ions adsorbed to clay and organic matter. Nutrients are lost mainly by leaching, both as dissolved ions and when associated with soluble organic components. Soil formation evidently affects these processes and modifies the environment at different depths as soil horizons develop. Strong interactions between mineral and organic colloids occur where most residues are added below ground, as in grasslands, or mixed with mineral soil by faunal activity, as in some forests. These systems tend to be nutrient conserving. The addition of organic residues to the soil surface often results in slow decomposition, the tie-up of many nutrients in biologically resistant humic materials, and the generation of organic acids that are active in leaching and chelation. These soils tend to lose nutrients by leaching and become strongly acidic with time. Leaching is strongest in uplands with net downward flows to deep water tables, and may be dampened or obviated in lowlands with strong upward fluxes due to artesian pressure or capillary rise from a water table that is close to the surface. Pedogenic features such as clayeyBhorizons or duripans may alter water flow. Simonson's concepts that all basic soil-forming processes occur to some degree in all soils are critical to developing models describing soil formation and nutrient cycles.

Effects of different parent material on the mineral characteristics of soils in the arid region of Turkey. (Pak J Biol Sci. 2007 Feb 15;10(4):528-36.)

Abstract : Physical, chemical and mineralogical characteristics of seven soils developed on four different parent materials such as basalt, limestone, marine and alluvium were studied to determine the effect of parent material on the soil characteristics in the arid and semiarid regions in the Southeast Anatolia Region of Turkey. Parent material have affected the morphology and chemistry of the soils. Carbonate contents of the soils are changing between 14.1 and 42.6%. The high carbonate contents of the soils, developed on the basalt rocks, might be attributed to eolian additions from calcareous soils. The red colour of basaltic soils might be associated with the Fe2O3 content of the parent material. Available Fe2O3 content of the basaltic soils was relatively higher than other soils and measured between 0.56 and 2.05%. Available Fe2O3 content of the soils on the marine was very low and changed between 0.26 and 0.37%. Total Fe2O3 content of the basaltic soils was higher than other soils and changed between 4.36 and 6.70%. The total Al2O3 content of the basaltic soils was obtained relatively higher than other soils and changed between 4.92 and 8.72%. The high Al2O3 and Fe2O3 contents of the basaltic soils may be associated with the weathering of basalt rocks. Also analysis of the basaltic rock samples has showed similar mineralogical composition. X-Ray diffraction analysis data showed that smectite was the dominant clay mineral in all the soils. Palygorskite was the second most abundant mineral after smectite. Moreover, some mineralogical properties reflected the traces of climatic changed during the Holocene. The leaching factor were determined as >1 in the Profile PL2 and as < 1 in the Profiles PL1, PL3, PL4, PL5; PL6 and PL7. The low leaching factor (< 1) may be attributed to weathering of parent material. The soils were classified according to Soil Taxonomy as Aridisol, Entisol, Vertisol and Inceptiso

Parent material has a great role on soil fertility , for example, 1. Red soils developed from crystalline granite has poor in organic carbon, N, P and respond well to K-management. 2. Black soil developed from Deccan Basalt are inherently fertile but problem in work-ability and development of subsoil sodicity. 3. Alluvial soil derived from alluvial deposits are rich in plant nutrients but deficient in organic C and N. 4. Laterite soil formed by laterisation process (alkali hydrolysis) are deficient in almost all nutrients but can be managed well and so on....

The characteristic of parent material from which the solio came continue to be manifest in the soil, as explained in the answers given so far. It helps explain the nutrient qualities and the nutrient deficiencies in the soil, and for which corrective steps need to be taken.

Though soils inherit properties from their parent material but other factors like climate , organisms , relief and time also contribute towards defining relationship between parent material and soil properties...

If we go back to the mineral level, is there no rule of thumb to predict some soil properties for example? Nutrient availability, pH, texture...

Even if that is a twisted logic to exclude other factors such as climate and vegetation.

Yes off course , geology- soil properties a classical example . but in nature, these things don't operate like this...For example, with same basalt, red soil classified as Alfisol and black soil classified as Vertisol are formed , any reason..? Where is inheritance of soil properties via-a-his parent material..??

Dr. Srivastava, actually soil is a product of combined interaction of soil forming factors such as climate, biosphere, relief or topography, parent material and time  as  well as soil forming processes such as humification,eluviation/emigration, illuviation/immigration, calcification, decalcification, podzolization, laterization. salinization, alkalization, pedoturbationetc. Parent material is the initial stage of soil system at the zero time of soil formation. The role of parent material in the soil formation is passive as different type of parent material may produce similar soil when active factors ( climate and biosphere) remains the same. The parent material determines the soil properties  such as texture, structure, water holding capacity and clay content. Therefore, it may be possible to develop different soil types from the same plant material and vice-versa.

You have answered my concern , Dr Tarafdar. Parent material alone will not determine the inheritance of soil properties, this is what i want to say ...

Yes, parent material has influence in  soil genesis and soil fertility, and this can be well demonstrated from  soils  developed in humid tropical (HT) environment of India

The genesis of Ultisols alongside acidic Alfisols and Mollisols for the millions of years in both zeolitic and non zeolitic parent materials in Indian humid tropical (HT) climatic environments indicates how the parent material composition influences the formation of Alfisols, Mollisols and Ultisols in weathering environments of HT climate. The critical evaluation of the nature and distribution of parent materials consisting of naturally occurring clay minerals, calcium carbonates, gypsum, gibbsite and zeolites can yield valuable and important information to comprehend the complex factors involved in the pedogenesis of soils formed in the present and past climates. Therefore, the formation and persistence of these soils provide an example

that in an open system such as the soil, the existence of a steady state seems a more useful concept than based on equilibrium in a rigorous thermodynamic sense

 and Jenny’s state factor equation is also essentially valid. This novel understanding provides a deductive check on the inductive reasoning so far made on the formation of soils in tropical humid climate  in the intense weathering environments under HT climate.The fairly well fertility status of these acidic soils are influenced by base rich parent material and they are OC rich   and  do respond to management interventions and support luxuriant forest vegetation, horticultural, cereal crops, tea, coffee and spices ( Pal, D. K. 2017. ‘A Treatise of Indian and Tropical’. Springer International Publishing AG.180pp.)

The name of the book  suggested above : :   Pal, D. K. 2017. ‘A Treatise of Indian and Tropical soils’. Springer International Publishing AG.180pp.

Yes, I think, soil properties depends on the soil forming factors as well as processes. Temperature, water, ice, wind, hydration,oxidation, reduction, carbonation, plant roots, microorganisms, mosses and lichens grown on the exposed rock etc. all has a role to build soil properties.

Anoop sir,

You said that 'Any soil inherits its genetic properties from parent material only , enacted by other factors like climate , organisms, relief and time. '  Some times it may be wrong particulalrly under transported soils.  At some place we have seen black soil  on the surface and sub-surfaces and sandy soil beneath few layers of this black soil. Vice versa also seen.  What are your comments sir?

Dr. Rajkumar, I think, parent material is the initial stage of soil system at the time of zero of soil formation. The role of  parent material in soil formation is passive . However, in the initial stage of soil formation, the soil properties are governed by the nature of parent material but with the time the influence of parent material on soil properties gradually diminishes. In general, it is believed that the parent material determine the soil properties such as texture, structure, water holding capacity and clay content. It may affect the downward movement of water which is important for profile development. Actually soil formation is a natural process which requires thousands of years to develop a mature pedon. So, an extensive period devoted by the nature from the stage of parent material to the stage of formation of mature soil ( A, B, C horizons). In general,  the worm humid climate, flat to gently sloping topography, sandy parent materials are favorable for soil formation.

I agree with Prof. Anoop.

Parent materials were just as needed as at the bare soil/formation stage. We need a range or whole bunch of things to function to form what we called the soil. Dr. Tarafdar has added most of them.

Lets give some weightage to genetics of soil , which can never ever be overlooked. Soil mineralogy in terms of primary and secondary minerals , how do they come from.?? There could some extreme cases of soil genesis , no denial , but how a set soil properties is derived, parent material plays a pivotal role , in addition to all other possibilities of soil forming factors. I agree with such eventualities of soil formation ..

I agree with dr.srinivasan

Good contributions already made here.Thanks all

The parent material of a soil determines the original supply of those nutrient elements that are released by weathering and influences the balance between nutrient loss and retention. Organic acids and exudates produced by microorganisms and plants enhance the weathering of minerals and the release of nutrients. Nutrients may be stored in organic cycles or as ions adsorbed to clay and organic matter. Nutrients are lost mainly by leaching, both as dissolved ions and when associated with soluble organic components. Soil formation evidently affects these processes and modifies the environment at different depths as soil horizons develop. Strong interactions between mineral and organic colloids occur where most residues are added below ground, as in grasslands, or mixed with mineral soil by faunal activity, as in some forests. These systems tend to be nutrient conserving. The addition of organic residues to the soil surface often results in slow decomposition, the tie-up of many nutrients in biologically resistant humic materials, and the generation of organic acids that are active in leaching and chelation. These soils tend to lose nutrients by leaching and become strongly acidic with time. Leaching is strongest in uplands with net downward flows to deep water tables, and may be dampened or obviated in lowlands with strong upward fluxes due to artesian pressure or capillary rise from a water table that is close to the surface. Pedogenic features such as clayey B horizons or duripans may alter water flow. Simonson's concepts that all basic soil-forming processes occur to some degree in all soils are critical to developing models describing soil formation and nutrient cycles.

https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/a_factor_form.aspx

"There are two general rules that we may state about the influence of parent material on soil formation:

• Finely textured parent materials tend to weather into finely textured soils. Coarsely textured parent materials tend to weather into coarsely textured soils.
• Darker minerals tend to yield more fertile soils."

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1468630?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

The Effect of Parent Material and Soil Development on Nutrient Cycling in Temperate Ecosystems

Anderson, 1988