A LABORATORY STUDY OF GLEYING

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Abstract
Columns of different soil materials with ground leaves at the surface were maintained for 18 months with the water table continuously above the surface, or fluctuating between the surface and 15 cm. Redox potentials, colors, and extractable iron were determined. The effects of temperature and of organic matter on the rate of change of Eh were studied with flooded soils in test tubes.The rate and degree of development of dull colors and mottling in the soil columns was influenced greatly by the nature of the soil material. Reduction effected marked increases in acetic acid extractable iron from all of the soil materials. Low redox potentials developed rapidly at room temperature in flooded soils containing appreciable amounts of organic matter. Eh values below 0 mv developed slowly in soils at 1 °C and at room temperature in some soils that were almost devoid of organic matter. Release of Fe+2 from ferrous minerals was thought to account for these low Eh values.