maapõue

Maapõue is an Estonian noun used to refer to the subsoil, the mineral layer beneath the topsoil. The word is formed from maa (earth, soil) and a suffix indicating a layer or part. In geology and agronomy, maapõue denotes the subsoil—the layer below the surface that contains less organic matter and governs drainage, water movement, and root growth. Its thickness and composition vary with soil type and terrain, often corresponding to the B horizon and sometimes including the C horizon. Maapõue is important for groundwater storage and nutrient availability, and it influences crop performance and landscape stability.

In cultural and literary usage, maapõue can be employed metaphorically to signify foundations or underlying structures of a system, organization, or idea, in contrast to the surface layer.

See also: Maakoore, Subsoil, Soil horizon, Groundwater.