Question

what is meant by the sentence 'laterite soil goes through intense leaching in heavy rains'?

Answer 1

• Leaching is the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the top layer of soil.

The soils in many areas of tropical rain forests are laterite soils. These soils are reddish in color and contain high levels of aluminum and iron and these materials resist leaching. These soils are typically nutrient-poor. Nutrients in the soil would be swiftly leached away by the heavy rainfall.

More to know:

Humus content of the laterite soil is very low. Because,

• The soil is formed due to intense leaching. So the nutrients of the soil are washed away by heavy rains.
• The soil is formed in the regions of high temperature. So, most of the micro-organisms, particularly the decomposers, like bacteria, get destroyed.