canadian system of soil classifacation Flashcards
why should we classify soils
can give us an indication of what might be the most appropriate use of land
what is the chernozemic soil order
- develops in grasslands
- A horizon: is thick (>10 cm)high organic matter, dark, granular structure
- B horizon: is diffrent in colorand sturcture form A horizon
- C horizon: parent material rich in lime and fizzes when dilute acid is applied
- generally productive, yields often limited by annual precipitation, not fertility
diagnostic horizon= Ah, Ap, Ahe
what is the luvisolic soil order
- develops in forests
- LFH-leaf litter layered
- A horizon: eluvialted
- B horizon: darker in colour due to accumulation of clay and OM from A horizon
- soils usually have low fertility, however, often has better moisture than grassland soils
diagnostic horizon=Bt
what is the Brunisolic soil order
- forest soil order
- LFH- leaf litter
A horizon- some leaching
b horizon-minimal development
in time may develop into luvisolic
diagnostic horizons =Bm
what is the solonetzic soil order
develops on Na rich parent material
pose severe limitations for plant growth
diagnostic horizon=Bn or Bnt
what is gleycolic soil order
occurs on wet and poorly drained areas
gley features associated with periodic or prolonged saturation causing oxygen depletion. reduction of iron and manganese leads to chance in soil color
associated with wetlands “sloughs”
dianostic horizon =Bg or Cg
what is the vertisolic soil order
- heavy clay soils with poor drainage
- due to shrinking and swelling of clay causes vertical cracking when dry
- developed on glacial lacustrine parent material
- diagnostic horizon= Bss, or Css(slickenside) Bv(verticle horizon)
what is the regosolic soil order
soils with limited development
occurs across Canada, usually in kand forms with unstable land surfaces
diagnostic horizon =no B horizon
what is the organic soil order
peats, bog, fen soil, or mucks
wetland in forested regions
upland sites in coastal rain forests where leaf litter and woody material accumulate
must consist of 17% + of organic content
diagnostic horizon =O
