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Leaching is the process that involves the movement of dissolved chemicals from the upper layers of the soil to the lower layers and potentially into groundwater. This typically occurs when water, often from precipitation or irrigation, percolates through the soil. As the water moves downward, it carries with it various solutes, including nutrients and pollutants that have been applied to the land, such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. This movement can significantly influence soil chemistry and potentially contaminate groundwater.

In contrast, evaporation refers to the process by which water changes from a liquid to a gas, leading to the loss of moisture from the soil surface but not involving the downward transport of chemicals. Accumulation could imply the buildup of substances in the soil but does not describe the process of movement into deeper layers or groundwater. Filtration generally refers to the separation of solids from fluids, which does not relate to the movement of chemicals within soil profiles. Thus, leaching accurately captures the essential mechanism by which chemicals migrate through the soil profile toward the groundwater.