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The removal of material from a soil layer is called eluviation. The transport of the material may be either mechanical or chemical. The process of deposition of illuvium is termed illuviation. [1] It is a water-assisted transport in a basically vertical direction, as compared to alluviation, the horizontal running water transfer.
Eluviation occurs when precipitation exceeds evaporation. A soil horizon formed due to eluviation is an eluvial zone or eluvial horizon. In a typical soil profile, the eluvial horizon refers to a light-colored zone located (depending on context and literature) either at the lower part of the A horizon (symbol: Ae) or within a distinct horizon ...
It is a mechanism of soil formation distinct from the soil forming process of eluviation, which is the loss of mineral and organic colloids. Leached and eluviated materials tend to be lost from topsoil and deposited in subsoil. A soil horizon accumulating leached and eluviated materials is referred to as a zone of illuviation.
The eluviation of chelate compounds is the downward movement of soil chelates. The eluviation of chelate compounds can be affected by: Acidity. Organic acids produced under acidic conditions can increase the solubility of metal elements such as iron and aluminum, thereby enhancing soil eluviation. Iron and aluminum are easily leached at low pH.
Iron oxides and clay minerals accumulate as a result of weathering. In soil, where substances move down from the topsoil, this is the layer where they accumulate. The process of accumulation of clay minerals, iron, aluminum, and organic compounds, is referred to as illuviation. The B horizon has generally a soil structure.
[16] [17] In medium-textured soils, clay is often washed downward through the soil profile (a process called eluviation) and accumulates in the subsoil (a process called illuviation).
In addition, the top facets lose materials such as mineral salts when these are washed out by rain , while the bottom facets gain materials when these are washed in (illuviation). [ 10 ] [ 11 ] A catena can form on various underlying or parent materials and in different climates. [ 10 ]
The subsoil is the depth where these weathering products accumulate. The accumulation of clay minerals, iron, aluminum, and organic compounds is called illuviation. Whereas the topsoil tends to be the depth of greatest physical, chemical, and biological activity, the subsoil is the depth of most deposition.