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# Leaching and Calcification **Leaching** * **Definition**: Leaching is a continuous downward water movement through the soil. As water moves downward, it dissolves and carries away nutrients. * **Effect**: This removes essential nutrients needed by plants, leading to poor topsoil and reduced pla...

# Leaching and Calcification **Leaching** * **Definition**: Leaching is a continuous downward water movement through the soil. As water moves downward, it dissolves and carries away nutrients. * **Effect**: This removes essential nutrients needed by plants, leading to poor topsoil and reduced plant growth. Leached soil can be treated with fertilizers to restore fertility. * **Identification**: Leached soil can be identified by its thin topsoil layer and/or poor condition. **Calcification** * **Process**: As water in the topsoil evaporates, water from deeper soil moves upwards due to capillary action. The minerals left behind after water evaporates are deposited near the surface. * **Result**: This results in thick topsoil layers rich in minerals * **Climate**: Calcification is common in dry climates. * **Plant types**: Shallow rooted plants, like grasses, thrive in these conditions because nutrients are high near the surface. * **Problem**: Higher calcium levels can become toxic to some plants.