If "g" is present in soil morphology, what does it indicate?

The presence of "g" in soil morphology indicates depletion, specifically in terms of the soil's color and the processes that have occurred in that soil. This designation signifies that the soil has undergone reduction, which is typically associated with the saturation of the soil and subsequent loss of iron and other minerals due to the anaerobic conditions that prevail when the soil is wet.

When soil is saturated with water, the reduction process causes the iron oxides to lose their color, often leading to gray or greenish-gray hues in the soil matrix. This signifies a place where oxygen was limited, often indicating prolonged saturation and, hence, depletion of certain minerals through leaching or other processes in those conditions. This context illustrates the importance of recognizing "g" as a marker for hydric soils and the implications for understanding soil drainage and its related environmental conditions.