gley soil formation*

Question 1

climate

Answer 1

• forms in cold and wet climates
• high precipitation leads to leaching which is the downward movement of iron and aluminium oxides
• water logging causes a lot of mixing within the soil resulting in no distinction of layers. The mixing results in fragments of rock being formed found mixed within the B horizon.
• can also form in lower rainfall areas where there is little warmth from the sun and drainage is poor

Question 2

relief

Answer 2

flat areas result in poor drainage

Question 3

organisms

Answer 3

• cold climate, limited vegetation such as shrubs and grasses
• no biota activity as the soil is waterlogged

Question 4

parent material

Answer 4

impermeable rock such as clay

Question 5

time

Answer 5

forming since the end of the last ice age 10,000 years ago