Lessivage
Encyclopedia
Lessivage is a kind of leaching
from clay particles being carried down in suspension
.
The process can lead to the breakdown of peds (the particles that give the soil its characteristic structure).
Leaching (agriculture)
In agriculture, leaching refers to the loss of water-soluble plant nutrients from the soil, due to rain and irrigation. Soil structure, crop planting, type and application rates of fertilizers, and other factors are taken into account to avoid excessive nutrient loss.Leaching may also refer to ...
from clay particles being carried down in suspension
Suspension (chemistry)
In chemistry, a suspension is a heterogeneous fluid containing solid particles that are sufficiently large for sedimentation. Usually they must be larger than 1 micrometer. The internal phase is dispersed throughout the external phase through mechanical agitation, with the use of certain...
.
The process can lead to the breakdown of peds (the particles that give the soil its characteristic structure).