Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker, D.A., Auerbach, N.A., Nettleton, T.K., Gallant, A., Murphy, S.M. 1997. Happy Valley Permanent Vegetation Plots: Site factors, physical and chemical soil properties, plant species cover, photographs, soil descriptions, and ordination. Arctic System Science Flux Study, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Preliminary vegetation classification // Vegetation communities and sites // Legend for environmental variables // Environmental data // Relevé size, percent cover // Soils data // Relevé species data //
Appendices: Field descriptions of soils // Plot and soil photos // Plot location map

Field Description of Soil, Plot HV-32

Plot Number:	HV-32
Location:	Top of hill 500 m southwest of Happy Valley camp
Description by:	A. Gallant
Sample Date:	7/26/94
Sample Time:
Classification:
Parent Material:	Colluvium
Geomorphic Surface:	Featureless
Elevation:	1050 ft
Slope:	1°-2°
Aspect:	W
Vegetation:	Moist Betula nana, Eriophorum vaginatum, Ledum palustre, Ledum palustre ssp. decumbens, Sphagnum angustifolium, tussock-graminoid, dwarf-shrub tundra
Horizon:	Description:
Oi	0-11 cm | Sample S-159
	Dark yellow-brown (10 YR 4/5). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed mainly of Sphagnum. Top 6 cm is composed of live material; layer is a loose mat.
Oe	11-25 cm | Sample S-160
	Black (10 YR 2/1). 0% gravel; abrupt, smooth boundary. Composed of roots and sedge parts, many very fine and fine roots. medium roots are common.
Permafrost	23 cm |
Bw	25+ cm | Sample S-161
	Gray-brown to dark gray-brown (10 YR 4.5/2 and 2.5 YR 4.5/2). Can't determine structure due to frozen nature of soil and when thawed it is too wet. Between 10 and 25% gravel; sticky, plastic consistence (wet). Silty clay loam texture. Cobbles up to 20 cm in diameter, very fine roots. Dark yellow-brown mottles (10 YR 3/6).