What is the process called when dissolved nutrients move downward into deep aquifers as water percolates through soil layers?

Correct answer: Leaching

Direct answer: B, leaching. Rain or irrigation water can dissolve soluble salts and nutrient ions in the upper soil. As this water moves downward through connected soil pores, it carries those dissolved substances with it. The downward removal or transport of soluble materials from one soil layer to another, sometimes reaching groundwater, is called leaching. A, sublimation, is the direct change of a solid into a gas and does not describe dissolved nutrients moving with water. C, transpiration, is the release of water vapour from plant surfaces, mainly leaves. D, surface runoff, is water flowing over the land surface; it can carry sediment and nutrients horizontally, but it is not the downward percolation process described here. Excessive leaching may remove nutrients from the root zone, while some substances may contaminate groundwater. Memory cue: “leach means wash down.”