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podzol
podzol
An infertile acidic soil having a pale layer from which minerals have been leached and a lower dark layer containing organic matter. Podzols are typically found under temperate coniferous or broadleaved forest. They may occur at some height above sea level, particularly under coniferous woodland where the breakdown of the plant material such as needles causes the soil to be acidic. Podzols are widespread throughout Scotland, generally associated with semi-natural heath or coarse grassland vegetation and coniferous woodland where aerobic conditions prevail and water can percolate freely through the upper part of the profile.
