GLEY Meaning and
Definition
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"Gley" is a term often used in the field of soil science to describe a specific type of soil condition. It refers to soils that are gray or bluish-gray in color due to the presence of excessive water.
These soils typically develop in areas with poor drainage, where water is unable to drain effectively and accumulates or saturates the soil. As a result, the oxygen supply in the soil becomes limited, leading to anaerobic conditions. The lack of oxygen causes the iron and manganese in the soil to transform into ferrous forms, giving the soil its characteristic gray or bluish-gray appearance.
Gley soils usually have distinct physical characteristics such as a sticky and plastic texture, low permeability, and poor structure. They tend to be compact and sticky when wet, becoming hard and cracked when dry. The waterlogged conditions make it difficult for plant roots to access oxygen and nutrients, affecting plant growth.
The term "gley" originated from the Russian word "glei," meaning "clayey soil." Gley soils can be found in various parts of the world, including wetlands, low-lying areas, floodplains, and poorly drained agricultural fields. They are classified as Gleysoils according to the Soil Taxonomy, an official soil classification system used by soil scientists to describe and categorize soils based on their properties.
Common Misspellings for GLEY
- vley
- yley
- tley
- glwy
- glsy
- gldy
- gl4y
- gl3y
- gle6
- fgley
- gfley
- vgley
- gvley
- gbley
- ghley
- ygley
- gyley
- tgley
- gtley
Etymology of GLEY
The word "gley" is derived from the German term "Gley", which means "clay". It entered the English language in the early 20th century through the work of the Russian-German soil scientist Vasily V. Dokuchaev. He used the term to describe a type of soil with a bluish-gray color that is typically found in waterlogged conditions. Since then, "gley" has been used in various fields, including geography, agriculture, and geology, to refer to these types of soils. The term's origin in German reflects Dokuchaev's contribution to the scientific understanding of soils, as well as the historical influence of German soil science on the field.
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