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'Illuvium' is material displaced across a soil profile, from one layer to another one, by the action of rainwater. The removal of material from a soil layer is called eluviation. The transport of the material may be either mechanical or chemical. The process of deposition of illuvium is termed 'illuviation'. ^[1] It is a water-assisted transport in basically vertical direction, as compared to alluviation, the horizontal running water transfer. The resulting deposits are called 'illuvial deposits'. Cutans are a type of illuvial deposit. ^[2]
Illuvium includes organic matter, silicate clay, and hydrous oxides of iron and aluminum.
Illuvial deposits of clays, oxides, and organics accumulate in subsoil as distinctive soil horizons classified as "B horizons" or "zones of illuviation".

Contents

Mechanical illuviation

Chemical illuviation

References

See also

Mechanical illuviation

When percolating rain water reaches a drier soil horizon, water from the suspension is removed by capillary action of microchannels, leaving fine deposits (cutans) oriented along percolation macrochannels.

Chemical illuviation

Transport of soil solutes is termed leaching. Soluble constituents are deposited due to differences in soil chemistry, especially soil pH and redox potential.

References

1.
2. Glossary of Soil Science Terms

See also

★ Alluvium

★ Eluvium

★ Colluvium

★ Diluvium