Soil Eluviation

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Soil eluviation

When water moves through the soil , it also moves small colloidal-sized materials. This movement or leaching of materials like clay, iron, or calcium carbonate is called eluviation. The area where the materials have been removed is the zone of eluviation and is called the E horizon . Zones of eluviation contain fewer nutrients for plant growth. E horizons are often found in forested soils.