Toolik Lake Permanent Vegetation Plots

Walker D.A. and Barry N. 1991. Toolik Lake permanent vegetation plots: site factors, soil physical and chemical properties, plant species cover, photographs, and soil descriptions. Data Report 48, Department of Energy R4D Program, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO.

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Soil Description, Plot SWT-65

soil photo
Classification:Pergelic Cryumbrept, loamy-skeletal, mixed.
Location:North side of Toolik Lake. To the west of outlet stream, above floodplain. 68°38' N, 149°36' W.
Physiographic position:Glaciofluvial outwash.
Topography:Featureless ground.
Microrelief Height:5 cm.
Drainage:Well drained.
Vegetation:Dry Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Hierochloe alpina, Cladonia arbuscula, dwarf-shrub, fruticose-lichen tundra
Parent material:Itkillik II glaciofluvial outwash.
Sampled by:D.A. Walker and C. Westberg, August 12, 1989.
Remarks:Deep active layer in rocky soils.
Weather:Mostly clear, very windy.
Horizons:Colors are for the damp soil.
Oi0-1 cm. Mat of lichens and mosses, mostly Polytrichum juniperinum and Cladonia spp.
Oa1-4 cm. Very dark brown (7.5YR 2/2) organic clay loam; weak fine granular structure; damp; pH = 3.7; abrupt smooth boundary. (Sample T-158).
A4-7 cm. Thin discontinuous layer of brown (7.5YR 5.5/3) clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky, breaking to a weak fine granular structure; damp; smooth, sticky, plastic (wet); pH = 3.7; abrupt smooth boundary.
Bw17-18 cm. Mixed dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) with strong brown (7.4YR 4/7) and very dark brown (7.5YR 2/3) very gravelly clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky, breaking to a weak fine granular structure; damp; friable (moist), gritty, slightly sticky, slightly plastic (wet); pH = 4.3; common very fine roots to 25 cm depth with silt caps to 4 mm; est. 70 percent gravel and small cobbles; gradual wavy boundary. (Sample T-159).
Bw218-35+ cm. Dark brown (10YR 3/3) very gravelly sandy loam; very weak moderate subangular blocky structure; damp; friable (moist), gritty, nonplastic, nonsticky (wet); pH = 4.8; dark manganese stains on bottom of rocks. (Sample T-160).
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