sapropel

sap·ro·pel

S0085700 (săp′rə-pĕl′)n. A fine-grained sediment rich in organic matter, formed at the bottom of a body of water.

[sapro- + Greek pēlos, mud.]

sap′ro·pel′ic (-pĕl′ĭk, -pē′lĭk) adj.

sapropel

(ˈsæprəˌpɛl) n (Microbiology) an unconsolidated sludge consisting of the decomposed remains of aquatic organisms, esp algae, that accumulates at the bottoms of lakes and oceans[C20: from sapro- + -pel from Greek pēlos mud] ˌsaproˈpelic adj

Thesaurus

Noun

sapropel - sludge (rich in organic matter) that accumulates at the bottom of lakes or oceansgoo, gook, goop, guck, gunk, muck, ooze, slime, sludge - any thick, viscous matter

Sapropel

sapropel

[′sap·rə‚pel] (geology) A mud, slime, or ooze deposited in more or less open water.

Sapropel

freshwater silt deposits containing large amounts of organic matter—for example, lignin and humus complexes, carbohydrates, and bitumens—in a colloidal state. Sapropels are used in medicine (physical therapy) for applications and diluted baths.

In agriculture sapropel is used after aeration as a fertilizer, especially on acid and light sandy soil and sandy loam; 30–40 tons/hectare are used for grain crops, and 60–70 tons/hectare are used for vegetable, potato, and root crops. Sapropel is also used in the preparation of composts. Sapropels, which are rich in salts of calcium, iron, and phosphorus, contain no sand and are poor in clay. They are added to the rations given agricultural animals as a mineral supplement; daily sapropel supplements reach 2 kg for hogs, 3 kg for cows, and 10–15 g for hens.

sapropel

sap·ro·pel

sapropel

Sapropel

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Sapropel

sapropel

Words related to sapropel

noun sludge (rich in organic matter) that accumulates at the bottom of lakes or oceans

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