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-6

	Microsite: Interfluve between water tracks, weakly developed solifluction features about middle of backslope. Substrate: Clay-rich Sagavanirktok-age till. Vegetation: Moist Carex bigelowii, Betula nana exilis, Salix planifolia ssp. pulchra, Ledum palustre decumbens, Hylocomium splendens, Sphagnum sp., sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra Classification: Histic Pergelic Cryaquept Notes: Permafrost at 30 cm. Oxidized mineral layer at base of peat. Horizons: Oi 0-8 cm. Bright yellow brown (10YR 6/6) loose fibric peat composed of live moss (Sphagnum and Hylocomium), moss bases and other plant roots; clear smooth boundary. Oe 8-13 cm. Black (7.5YR 1.7/1) hemic peat; moderate medium platy structure; 10-15% mineral, mostly clay; many fine and very fine roots; abrupt smooth boundary. A 13-15 cm. Brown (7.5YR 4/3) organic sandy clay loam; weak medium platy structure breaking to weak fine granular; noticeable increase in clay toward base of organics; slightly sticky, slightly plastic (wet); many fine and very fine roots common medium; roots abrupt smooth boundary. Bw 15-30+ cm. Greyish yellow brown (10YR 4/2) clay loam with prominent medium to large irregularly shaped brown (10YR 4/6) mottles concentrated along root channels, plant material and areas of somewhat sandier soil; bright brown (7.5YR 5/6) oxidized band 1-2 cm thick at top of horizon beneath overlying peat; moderate medium angular blocky structure; 5-10% fine gravel, less than 1 cm diameter; sticky, plastic (wet); many fine and very fine roots.
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