pedocal

plural pedocals

1. geographyAny of a class of soils that are rich in calcium carbonate.

   They^([zonal soils]) occur in latitudinal zone and are further divided into pedalfers and pedocals.

   2007, S. A. Qazi, Navaid Shabir Qazi, Geography of the World, page 91

   2 more examples

   Pedocals rich in calcium carbonate occur in regions of low rainfall and high temperature, and usually bear grasses and brush.

   1983, William H. Matthews, Geology: Made Simple, page 82

   Pedocals are highly alkaline (high pH readings) soils with little or no humus and are formed in arid regions where subsurface evaporation of water crystallizes as calcium or lime deposits. Alkali soils are also pedocals, with a salt content high enough to kill plants. They are found in some southwestern states of the United States.

   2003, Robert E. Krebs, The Basics of Earth Science, page 162