Some observation on gleying

Incubation of gleyed clays with glucose solutions under anaerobic or nearly anaerobic conditions resulted in vigourous evolution of gas and bleaching of the clays. The solution remained colourless unless oxygen was admitted when a rust-coloured scum formed on the surface of the liquid. Estimations of the quantity of glucose decomposed and of iron reduced at given times indicated that the processes ran approximately parallel and were probably bacterial. During the gleying process the pH of the medium fell from near neutral to 4-5.
RESP-2875