Zonal soil refers to soil types that are characteristic of specific climatic zones and are influenced primarily by the prevailing climate and vegetation. These soils are significant in pedology and biogeography for understanding the relationships between climate, vegetation, and soil formation processes, and for classifying global soil types.
Reference: Buol, S. W., Southard, R. J., Graham, R. C., & McDaniel, P. A. (2011). “Soil Genesis and Classification.” Wiley.