Lateritic soils are also characterized by their low soil fertility.
Laterite soils have many names.
In the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization they have been named Ferralsols and Acrisols, and in the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Taxonomy, Oxisols and Ultisols. Below, we take a look at the formation of lateritic soils, the importance of biota for soil fertility and some suggestions for laterite management. Both climate and parent material are important in the pedogenic processes which go into the formation of lateritic soils. Initial stages of weathering lead to the formation of kaolinite and iron oxyhydroxides. Next, mottled clay layers are formed.