Question

Accumulation of soluble salts in soils is called?

• A. Laterization
• B. Podzolization
• C. Gleization
• D. Salinization

Hint:

"Salinization" occurs when water containing dissolved salts evaporates, leaving the salts behind on the soil surface. This is a major issue in canal-irrigated arid regions where groundwater tables are high.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Soil formation and degradation involve various chemical and physical pedogenic processes.
The accumulation of excessive soluble salts in the soil profile restricts water uptake by plant roots due to osmotic stress, a major form of land degradation.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let us review the definitions of the listed processes:
Salinization (D): This is the process of accumulation of free soluble salts (such as chlorides and sulfates of sodium, calcium, and magnesium) in the soil root zone.
It occurs primarily in arid and semi-arid regions with high evaporation rates and poor drainage, or due to irrigating with brackish water.
Laterization (A): This is a weathering process in warm, rainy tropical climates where silica is leached out, leaving behind a soil rich in iron and aluminum oxides (Sesquioxides).
Podzolization (B): This is a process in cool, humid climates where sesquioxides and organic matter are leached from the A horizon and deposited in the B horizon.
Gleization (C): This is a process of soil development under anaerobic, waterlogged conditions, leading to the reduction of iron and the formation of a blue-grey gley horizon.
Therefore, the accumulation of soluble salts is salinization.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The process of accumulation of soluble salts is called Salinization, which corresponds to option (D).