Why Is Podzol Infertile?

Podzols are generally infertile and are physically limiting soils for productive use. They are extremely acid, have high C/N ratios, are lacking in most plant nutrients, except within the H and upper mineral horizons. Where they are used for arable cropping long-term fertilisation is required.

What is podzol soil profile?

Podzols are soils with an ash-grey subsurface horizon, bleached by organic acids, on top of a dark ac- cumulation horizon with brown or black illuviated humus and/or reddish iron compounds. Podzols oc- cur in humid areas in the Boreal and Temperate Zones and locally also in the tropics.

What causes Podzolization?

In intrazonal podzols, especially those in the tropics, parent materials poor in weatherable minerals and in Fe and Al oxides are the main cause of podzolization.