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Podsolisation
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<h2 id="the-a-horizon">The A Horizon</h2> <p>In podsolisation, chelating agents break down clay and release minerals such as iron and aluminium. When iron and aluminium are hydrated they become sesquioxides. The sesquioxides are translocated from the A Horizon, a zone of out-washing, to the B Horizon, a zone of illuviation. Many bases such as <a href="/facts/Calcium/hf252CC0">calcium</a> and <a href="/facts/Potassium/FWPwS7Rj">potassium</a> are also <a href="/facts/Leaching_(pedology)/K1VtSsXB">leached</a> from the zone along with organic matter and <a href="/facts/Silica/A3WILp6J">silica</a>. Often minerals like <a href="/facts/Quartz/4n86tE2G">quartz</a> and silica are left behind in the A horizon. What is significantly different about podsols in comparison to other soils is that the bottom of A horizon is known as the AE horizon, which is an eluviated area which has lost sesquioxides. It tends to be an ash gray colour.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="the-b-horizon">The B Horizon</h2> <p>The B Horizon has dark layer where minerals, organic matter and bases are being illuviated (washed in/accumulated). Below this is a red/orange layer of iron and aluminium sesquioxides deposit. Some bases remain in the soil, though others may be lost by <a href="/facts/Throughflow/r9Ueut5u">throughflow</a>. In many podsols, Iron Pans are created. This can cause water logging which may then saturate the A horizon leading to <a href="/facts/Mottling/vJm9uHhN">mottling</a> or a gleyed podsol. </p><p>Also useful: <a href="/facts/Soil_chemistry/fBA3Vz5w">soil chemistry</a> </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Encyclopedia of Soils in the Environment, 2005 <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Rode A. A. To the problem of the degree of podzolization of soils // Studies in the genesis and geography of soils. M.: Acad. Sci. USSR, 1935. P. 55-70. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Fritz., Scheffer (2010). Lehrbuch der Bodenkunde. Schachtschabel, Paul., Blume, Hans-Peter (16. Aufl ed.). Heidelberg: Spektrum, Akad. Verl. ISBN 9783827414441. OCLC 506415938. <a href="9783827414441" target="_blank">9783827414441</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>