(soil) – A term developed in Africa to describe highly eroded soils that are characterized by a clay fraction (SiO2/Al2O3 molecular ratio) of less than 1,3; low cation exchange capacity; loss of silica and bases (Soil Classification Working Group, 1991).

soil rich in iron and aluminum due to washing of other cations as a result of the long action of a humid climate. Ferrallitic soils are composed of aluminum and iron minerals such as gibbsite (aluminum hydroxide) and goethite (iron hydroxide). Kaolinite can also be present.