podzol
Type of light-coloured soil found predominantly under coniferous forests and on moorlands in cool regions where rainfall exceeds evaporation. The constant downward movement of water leaches nutrients from the upper layers, making podzols poor agricultural soils. Podzols are very acidic soils.
The leaching of minerals such as iron and alumina leads to the formation of a bleached zone, which is often also depleted of clay.
These minerals can accumulate lower down the soil profile to form a hard, impermeable layer which restricts the drainage of water through the soil.
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