Describe how kankar nodules form in Bhangar soils

Kankar nodules, which are a defining feature of Bhangar soil, are formed through a process called calcification over a very long period.
Here’s a simple breakdown of how they form:

1. Leaching of Calcium: Rainwater seeps through the top layer of the older Bhangar soil. As it moves downwards, it dissolves calcium carbonate and other soluble salts present in the soil.
2. Accumulation in Subsoil: This calcium-rich water accumulates in the lower layers of the soil (the subsoil).
3. Evaporation and Precipitation: During dry periods, the water in the subsoil evaporates, leaving the dissolved calcium carbonate behind.
4. Cementation: Over many centuries, this precipitated calcium carbonate hardens and acts like a cement, binding soil particles, clay, and sand together to form hard, irregular-shaped stone-like lumps known as kankar nodules.