The influence of gleyzation and sulfate reduction in different rocks on the lysimetric water from them: A model experiment

The model experiments showed that, under the influence of gleyzation and sulfate reduction, deep changes occurred both in the solid and liquid phases of the soil-forming rocks (soils). The results of an experiment with three widespread soil-forming rocks—river clayey alluvium, loess-like clayey alluvium, and lacustrine calcareous loamy-clayey alluvium—demonstrated that, under the stagnant-percolative water regime and periodic gleyzation, the liquid phase was drastically acidified (by 2–4 pH units) and the redox potential of the lysimetric water was significantly lowered. A significant increase in the input of iron (by 80 to 100 times compared to the control), calcium (10 times), and silicon (1.5–2.0 times) to the lysimetric waters was observed. The sulfate reduction retarded the removal of iron from the substrates to the lysimetric runoff.