Soil type can greatly affect the likelihood of chemicals leaching into the groundwater. For example, sandy soils allow chemicals to move towards the groundwater faster than clayey soils. If the soil has clay minerals as part of its composition, the positively charged pesticides can adsorb onto the negatively charged clay particles. Furthermore, a soil with a high organic matter content can adsorb pesticides, thereby inhibiting their movement into the groundwater. Soils with high pH values adsorb chemicals, thus slowing their movement into the groundwater. The depth of soil horizon and its drainage class are also important.
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