Soil Types
Podzols
In soil science, podzols (also known as podsols or Spodosols) are the typical soils of coniferous or boreal forests. They are also the typical soils of eucalypt forests and headlands in southern Australia. The name Podzol is derived from the Russian words pod = under and zola = ash.
Characteristics of Podzol soils
- Deep organic layer comprising L (litter), F (fermenting organic matter) and H (humus) forest, less under moorland
- An ash-grey, structure less, silica rich E or elluvial horizon, generally grey in colour
- Humus (Bh) and/or iron/aluminum (Bs) enriched illuvial horizons, generally strong brown colours
- Podzols are generally infertile and are physically limiting soils for productive use.
- They are extremely acid, have high C/N ratios
- are lacking in most plant nutrients, except within the H and upper mineral horizons, where they are used for arable cropping
- Long-term fertilization is required. They are also used for rough grazing and for forestry or recreation.
Their formation is based on a succession of processes, including:
- The movement of soluble metal-humus complexes (iron and aluminum) out of the surface layer(s) to greater depth and formation of a grey, silica-rich horizon.
- Subsequent accumulation of humus and iron/aluminum oxides in the subsoil.
Latosols
Characteristics of Latosols;
- Presence of a thin humus layer due to intense bacterial activity
- Upper layer /A-Horizon contains much aluminum and Iron oxides
- Reddish in colour due to the concentration of iron aluminum oxides after intense leaching
- Great depth due to rapid weathering of the underlying rock and the C-Horizon
- Highly pervious
- Deficient in plant nutrients due to excessive leaching
- Soft when first exposed but soon become hard
- Horizons in the soil profile are not distinct
- Form in savannah and equatorial areas within relatively heavy rainfall that facilitates leaching
- Form above the water table where there is constant
In soil science, podzols (also known as podsols or Spodosols) are the typical soils of coniferous or boreal forests. They are also the typical soils of eucalypt forests and headlands in southern Australia. The name Podzol is derived from the Russian words pod = under and zola = ash.
Characteristics of Podzol soils
- Deep organic layer comprising L (litter), F (fermenting organic matter) and H (humus) forest, less under moorland
- An ash-grey, structure less, silica rich E or elluvial horizon, generally grey in colour
- Humus (Bh) and/or iron/aluminum (Bs) enriched illuvial horizons, generally strong brown colours
- Podzols are generally infertile and are physically limiting soils for productive use.
- They are extremely acid, have high C/N ratios
- are lacking in most plant nutrients, except within the H and upper mineral horizons, where they are used for arable cropping
- Long-term fertilization is required. They are also used for rough grazing and for forestry or recreation.
Their formation is based on a succession of processes, including:
- The movement of soluble metal-humus complexes (iron and aluminum) out of the surface layer(s) to greater depth and formation of a grey, silica-rich horizon.
- Subsequent accumulation of humus and iron/aluminum oxides in the subsoil.
Latosols
Characteristics of Latosols;
- Presence of a thin humus layer due to intense bacterial activity
- Upper layer /A-Horizon contains much aluminum and Iron oxides
- Reddish in colour due to the concentration of iron aluminum oxides after intense leaching
- Great depth due to rapid weathering of the underlying rock and the C-Horizon
- Highly pervious
- Deficient in plant nutrients due to excessive leaching
- Soft when first exposed but soon become hard
- Horizons in the soil profile are not distinct
- Form in savannah and equatorial areas within relatively heavy rainfall that facilitates leaching
- Form above the water table where there is constant