Gley
EXPLAIN
DRAWN DIAGRAM
DESCRIPTION
C
A/B
AO
Associated vegetation is small shrubs and lichens. ✔
Thin black humus layer. ✔
Acidic mor humus, pH 3.5-4. ✔
Clearly defined horizons. ✔
A and B horizons are blue/grey. ✔
Red mottling in the A/B horizons. ✔
Very few soil organisms to mix soil. ✔
Permafrost in C horizon. ✔
The parent material in the C-horizon is weathered rock. ✔
AO
A/B
C
- Limited vegetation produces a thin acidic mor humus. ✔
- Low temperatures cause a slow rate of decomposition. ✔
- Shallow roots limit recycling of minerals back to the vegetation. ✔
- Cold temperatures/waterlogging means few organisms can survive. ✔
- Lack of organisms means clearly defined horizons. ✔
- Soil has a blue grey colour due to anaerobic conditions. ✔
- Heavy precipitation causes waterlogging. ✔
- Waterlogged soil creates anaerobic conditions. ✔
- This means that iron compounds are changed from red brown to blue ✔ due to oxygen being extracted by microorganisms (gleying). ✔
- Burrowing animals/soil drying out in summer leave oxygen pockets. ✔
- This allows re-oxygenation or iron. ✔
- It causes the soil to have a red mottling effect. ✔
- Sometimes this is brought up by soil heave and may breach the surface. ✔
- Found on flat surfaces which means water cannot drain away. ✔
- Impermeable clay impedes drainage and causes waterlogging. ✔