eluviationdominated

eluviationdominated is a term used in soil science to describe a soil horizon or a pedological process. It refers to the downward movement of fine particles, such as clay and silt, and soluble substances within the soil profile. This movement is driven by percolating water, which carries these materials from the upper horizons, known as the eluvial or A horizons, to lower horizons, the illuvial or B horizons. In an eluviation-dominated soil, this process is more pronounced than the complementary process of illuviation, which is the accumulation of these materials in the lower horizons. Consequently, the upper layers of such soils tend to be lighter in color and lower in clay content, while the lower layers may show evidence of clay accumulation, such as slickensides or distinct color changes. This differential movement of materials significantly influences the soil's physical and chemical properties, affecting drainage, aeration, and nutrient availability. Soils with strong eluviation are often found in humid climates where there is abundant rainfall to drive this downward leaching. The term highlights the dominance of the removal process over the depositional process in a specific soil section.