Imnavait Creek Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker DA, Lederer ND, and Walker MD. 1987. Permanent vegetation plots: Site factors, soil physical and chemical properties and plant species cover. Department of Energy R4D Program, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

Home // Vegetation communities and microsites // Summary of areas sampled // Environmental variables // Environmental information // Soil descriptions // Soil physical characteristics // Soil chemical characteristics // Species composition //
Appendices: Plot and soil photos // Equivalent vegetation units // Plot location map

Soil Description, Plot SW-24

soil photo
Microsite:Palsa in colluvial basin.
Substrate:Organic-rich basin deposit.
Vegetation:Moist Betula nana exilis, Rubus chamaemorus, Ledum palustre decumbens, Dicranum elongatum, Sphagnum sp., Cladonia spp., dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Classification:Hemic Pergelic Sphagnofibrist; classification based on assumption that there is no mineral horizon within 10 cm below permafrost table
Notes:Permafrost at 39 cm. Water table at 38.
Horizons:
Oi0-15 cm. Bright reddish brown to yellow orange (5YR 5/8 to 10YR 8/4) very porous loose fibric peat composed of Sphagnum bases; clear smooth boundary.
Oe15-32 cm. Brownish black (5YR 2/2) compressed hemic Sphagnum peat; est. less than 2% loamy mineral material; moderate medium platy structure; many fine and very fine roots; abrupt smooth boundary.
Oa32-39+ cm. Very dark brown (7.5 YR 2/3) sapric Sphagnum peat; est. 10% silt loam mineral material by volume; moderate medium granular structure; slightly sticky, slightly plastic (wet); many fine and very fine roots binding the soil, common fine roots below water table at 38 cm.
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