gley soil Flashcards

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1
Q

what climate is a gley soil found in?

A

extremely cold climates which have a low temperature for most of the year or tundra areas

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2
Q

is there any oxygen in the soil?

A

no the conditions are anaerobic

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3
Q

what is the vegetation?

A

short shrubs and grasses which have short roots

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4
Q

what happens because the roots are short?

A

there is a lack of recycling of minerals back to the vegetation

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5
Q

why is there a small amount of vegetation?

A

waterlogged soil and very cold climate

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6
Q

what type of humus is found in a gley and why?

A

a thin layer of black acidic mor humus because humification is slow due to a slow decomposition rate of organic material from cold temperatures

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7
Q

what do anaerobic conditions mean for the mixing of the soil?

A

there is a lack of soil biota so the soil is not mixed much giving it more distinct soil horizons

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8
Q

why is the B horizon blue/grey?

A

anaerobic conditions mean the soil is blue/grey.
the iron compounds in the soil are changed from red/ brown to blue due to even more oxygen being extracted by microorganisms

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9
Q

what causes water logging?

A

impermeable clay which impedes drainage

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10
Q

where are gleys found and what does this mean?

A

gleys are found on slat surfaces such as plateau moorland or foots of slope meaning water can not drain away by gravity

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11
Q

red mottling occurs in small air pockets due to reoxygenation of the iron in the soil from…

A

burrowing animals or the soil frying out in summer

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12
Q

there is little leaching, why?

A

the soil is frozen for most of the year

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13
Q

describe the rock fragments found in a gley

A

they are angular stratified rock fragments due to very slow weathering

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14
Q

where is the permafrost found and what does this mean

A

below 1 meter so summer heat can not penetrate

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15
Q

solid bedrock is found at the bottom why..

A

because weathering is extremely slow

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16
Q

why is there a lot of gleying?

A

there is poor drainage, flat land and impermeable permafrost and clay

17
Q

describe A horizon texture

A

silty

18
Q

describe b horizon texture

A

clayey

19
Q

describe c horizon texture

A

impermeable permafrost and solid bedrock