Several processes interact to determine the fate of chemicals entering in soils.

These include

• Sorption or the manner and extent to which chemicals are bonded to soil surfaces

• Degradation or the transformation of chemicals primarily by organisms in the soil

• Transformation or chemical reactions which result in new compounds

• Plant Uptake through roots of growing plants

• Leaching of chemicals with water moving through the profile

More information on these processes is available at each of the links identified above.