Name the main distinctive feature of the structure of the soil profile of podzolic soils. Explain what caused it

Podzolic soils have a pronounced leaching horizon (eluvial), which has a whitish color, reminiscent of the color of ash. This is what determined the name of the soils. This is due, of course, to the climate – the main soil-forming factor. Podzols are soils of a temperate climate, which are characterized by a leaching water regime. Spring melt water and lingering autumn rains wash out trace elements from the soil, leaving only quartz and silicon compounds. Acids, which are formed during the slow decomposition of coniferous tree litter by microscopic fungi, contribute to washing out.