Gley

• Humus of a gley soil


  Black acidic humus
• Black acid humus


  Slow decomposition
• Permafrost


  Impedes drainage
• Waterlogging


  Reduces oxygen
• Flat land


  Reduces drainage
• Limited organisms


  Reduced oxygen
• Distinct (not mixed) horizons


  Lack of organisms
• Iron compounds turn blue from red


  Bacteria extract oxygen
• Moss


  Leaves hold moisture
• Shallow roots


  Limited recycling of nutrients
• Clay parent material


  Impermeable, impedes drainage
• Frost shattering of parent material


  Chunk cause vertical mixing of horizons
• Colour of B horizon


  Blue/grey