Lateritic Soils

soils of equatorial and tropical rain forests, characterized by low silica content, high aluminum and iron content, insignificant content of alkalies and alkaline earths, acid reaction, and low cation and high anion absorptive capacity. Since the late 1950’s lateritic soils have more often been referred to as ferralitic soils, and the term “lateritic” has been used for soils that have a horizon of laterite in their profile.