1. a soil-forming process in which organic acids from decomposing plant material leach minerals and nutrients downward, leaving a bleached, acidic upper layer and an iron- and aluminum-rich lower layer; characteristic of cool, wet climates with coniferous forests.
Usage: technical term used in soil science and geology; also spelled podzolization

Examples

• Podsolization occurs in boreal forests where heavy rainfall and acidic leaf litter promote nutrient leaching.
• The sandy, bleached horizon visible in the soil profile is a direct result of podsolization.
• Climate change may alter the rate of podsolization in northern regions.
• Soil scientists study podsolization to understand nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems.
• Podsolization creates soils that are typically poor in nutrients and acidic, limiting agricultural productivity.