Question

Soil which has undergone gleying and are associated with marshes, swamps or poorly drained uplands are called _______.
A) Calcimorphic soil
B) Hydromorphic soil
C) Halomorphic soil
D) Sierozems

Answer 1

Hint: Gleying is a process when low oxygen level in soil leads to reduction of iron and manganese content in the soil leading to the greying of the soil. The term gley has been taken from a Russian word ‘glei’ which means bluish-grey. Gley soil is characterised by poor drainage systems and development of peat on the surface of the soil.

Complete answer:
The term hydromorphic refers to the fact that the soil develops when there is an excess amount of moisture present in the soil, which is liable to restrain the aerobic soil-building factors.

Due to waterlogging in the soil pores, there is a lack of oxygen for an extended period in the soil which eventually leads the hydromorphic soils to exhibit iron reduction or a concentrated form of iron segregation. Ferrous iron may accumulate in the soils profile, giving it a greenish (or bluish) grey colour, or it may be massed and relocated locally by developing rusty spots or ferric iron concretions within mineral horizons.

It has been identified that hydromorphic soils are usually predisposed by the effects of pH level of the soil due to the redox processes. Acid sulphate soils which are characterized by a very acidic property are an example of hydromorphic soil. Hence, the soil which has undergone gleying and is associated with marshes, swamps or poorly drained uplands are called Hydromorphic soil.

Therefore the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: Marshlands are a kind of wetland habitat with mineral soils that drain poorly and plant life dominated by grasses that often occurs in poorly drained uplands. A swamp, on the other hand, has a diverse plant life, whereas a marsh is dominated by trees. Soils with poor drainage don't dry up as quickly, and as a result, the soil is moist for most of the year. The presence of a high water table or a layer of soil that is progressively permeable contributes to these problems. When the water table is at or near the surface for most of the year, the soil has poor drainage.