subsoil

 
Pronunciation: /ˈsʌbsɔɪl/

noun

[mass noun]
  • the soil lying immediately under the surface soil.

verb

[with object] (usually as noun subsoiling)
  • plough (land) so as to cut into the subsoil: to gain maximum benefit from subsoiling this operation needs to be done when the lower levels of the soil are relatively dry