Soil Order: Chernozem
Great Group: Dark Brown Chernozem
Subgroup: Orthic Dark Brown Chernozem
Soil Series: McQueen
Classification Code: O.DBC
Soil Horizons Present: Ah, Bm, Cca
Diagnostic Horizon 1: Chernozemic A
Diagnostic Horizon 2:
Diagnostic Horizon 3:
Diagnostic Horizon 4:

Land Form:
Parent Material: Glacial Till
Elevation (m): 700
Topography: Inclined
Affected by Glaciation: Yes

Climate Zone: Semi-arid
Mean Annual Temperature (C): 9
Minimum Annual Temperature (C): 3.3
Maximum Annual Temperature (C): 14.4
Mean Annual Precipitation (mm): 270

Current Land Use: Rangeland
Original Vegetation: Bluebunch wheatgrass
Current Vegetation: Bluebunch wheatgrass, kentucky bluegrass, needle-and-thread grass, junegrass, big sage

The soil at this grassland site is of the Chernozemic Order. Chernozemic soils have surface horizons darkened by the accumulation and decomposition of organic matter (mainly grasses and forbs). The diagnostic horizon is a Chernozemic A horizon thicker than 10 cm, that is reddish in colour and enriched with Fe/Al. It has a relatively low organic carbon content (0.5 – 5%). The soil at this site falls into the Orthic Dark Brown Chernozem Subgroup. They are well-drained and have a brown coloured B horizon. This soil was developed on a glacial till parent material (basal till topped by eolian deposits). This soil is further classified under the McQueen Soil Series, which is generally slightly stony.

PDF with details: 22_McQueen.pdf

Soil Texture of Diagnostic Horizon or Prevailing Texture: Loam
Soil texture horizons: Loam (Ah), Loam (Bm), Silt loam (Cca)
Soil structure horizons: Granular (Ah)
Forest Humus Form:
Presence of Charcoal:
Presence of Coatings: Yes, carbonates

Primary Soil Process Group: Addition
Primary Soil Process: Organic matter accumulation
Secondary Soil Process: Translocation of carbonates