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i) Distinguish between soil air and soil texture.
ii) Describe the process of podzolisation.
iii) State the characteristics of soils in grassland areas.

Answer Text:
- Soil air – gases that are available within spaces that separate soil grains
- Soil texture- size of individual soil grains
ii) - High amount of rainfall promote chemical weathering of acid parent rock materials
- Long cold winters and short mild summers in temperate climates reduce bacterial activity
- Weathering of parent rock materials releases iron, aluminum, silica and organic acids
- Strong acid conditions enhance leaching of bases especially calcium along with iron and aluminum
- Silica that is less soluble is left back with the top layers and staining the soil beneath - Forms ash like soils which are acidic
iii) - Develop mostly through calcification
- Have dark surface horizons
- Rich in calcium
- Have deep top layers of about 1 meter thick