Coquihalla Organic Soil

Soil Site Details: Coquihalla Organic Soil

Soils on this site are Organic, and they can also be called peat or bog soils. The main component of these soils is organic matter at different stages of decomposition. These soils are often saturated for long periods of time, resulting in low-oxygen conditions below the surface.

Basic Facts

Soil Order: Organic
Ecosystem: Bog
Climate Zone: Semi-arid
BC Biogeoclimatic Zone: Montane Spruce

Location: 30 km east of Merritt along the Coquihalla Hwy
City, Region, Country: Merritt, BC, Canada
Lat / Long: 50.363/ -120.626

Soil Classification

Soil Order: Organic
Great Group: Mesisol Organic
Subgroup:
Soil Series:
Classification Code:
Soil Horizons Present: Oh, Om, Of (little)
Diagnostic Horizon 1: Of
Diagnostic Horizon 2: Oh
Diagnostic Horizon 3: Om
Diagnostic Horizon 4:

Land Form

Land Form: Organic/Lacustrine
Parent Material: Organic
Elevation (m): 1400
Topography: Level
Affected by Glaciation: Yes

Climate

Climate Zone: Semi-arid
Mean Annual Temperature (C): 7.5
Minimum Annual Temperature (C): 1.1
Maximum Annual Temperature (C): 13.6
Mean Annual Precipitation (mm): 360

Land Use

Current Land Use: Roadcut/Rangeland
Original Vegetation: Bog vegetation (sphagnum, sedges, Ericaceae)
Current Vegetation: Bog vegetation (sphagnum)

Technical Description
The soil at this road cut site is of the Organic Order. Soils of the Organic order are the dominant wetland soils found in forested regions of Canada. Organic soils contain 17% organic C (or 30% organic matter) by weight. Most organic soils are saturated with water for prolonged periods. The soil at this site falls into the Mesisolic Great Group. The diagnostic horizon at this site is the Om (mesic) horizon, where decomposition is intermediate: plant structures are still visible, but they cannot be identified. Mesisols have a dominantly mesic middle tier.

PDF with details: No further details

Soil Morphology
Soil Texture of Diagnostic Horizon or Prevailing Texture:

Soil texture horizons:
Soil structure horizons:
Forest Humus Form:
Presence of Charcoal:
Presence of Coatings:

Soil Formation Processes
Primary Soil Process Group: Addition
Primary Soil Process: Organic Matter Accumulation
Secondary Soil Process:

Links

Resources home: Principles, Land use, awareness, etc.
Processes: Organic
Classification: Organic
Virtual soil monoliths: via the left-side expanding menu.

Media


Organic, from https://processes.soilweb.ca/organic/.

Featured Expert: Dr. Kent Watson
Video host: Dr. Art Bomke