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-39

	Classification: Pergelic Cryaquoll, fine-loamy, mixed. Location: Northwest side of Toolik Lake. South-facing slope on toposequence upslope from little lake between S-7 and Toolik. 68°38' N, 149°38' W. Physiographic position: Lower backslope on long SSE-facing gentle (10 percent) hillslope. Topography: Numerous non-sorted stripes, soil is described from area between stripes; solifluction lobes to 20-25 cm height; small flarks between lobes. Microrelief Height: 10 cm. Drainage: Somewhat poorly drained. Vegetation: Moist Carex bigelowii, Dryas integrifolia, Salix reticulata, Tomentypnum nitens, sedge, dwarf-shrub tundra Parent material: Retransported Itkillik II glacial till. Sampled by: D.A. Walker and C. Westberg, August 8, 1989. Remarks: Soil frozen at 65 cm depth. Water dripping into pit at base of organic layer (15 cm depth). Weather: Warm, partly cloudy, windy. Horizons: Colors are for the wet soil. Oi 0-4 cm. Loose mat of Hylocomium splendens, Aulacomnium palustre and dead sedge leaves; pH = 6.8; smooth clear boundary. (Sample T-089). Oa 4-15 cm. Very dark brown (7.5YR 2/1.5) sapric material with est. 5 percent by volume fine sandy loam, that increases toward the base of the horizon; wet; pH = 6.7; smooth abrupt boundary. (Sample T-090). Bh 15-51 cm. Very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic rich loam; est. 15 percent organic material by volume; common medium brown (10YR 4/6) mottles to 2-3 cm diameter, and occasional olive (5Y 5/4) mottles; medium, moderate, subangular blocky structure; wet; slightly gritty, plastic, sticky (wet); pH = 6.1; est. 10 percent fine gravel to 2 cm diameter; smooth clear boundary. (Sample T-091). IIBg 51-65+ cm. Dark gray (10YR 4.5/1) gravelly clay; common medium brown (10YR 4/6) mottles; massive structure; wet; very sticky, very plastic (wet); est. 15 percent fine gravel to 3 cm diameter.
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