UBC 2nd-Growth Forest Site

Soil Site Details: UBC 2nd-Growth Forest Site

Soils on this site are classified as Podzols. Many would consider the Podzols to be the most visually striking soils in Canada. Podzols are one of the most common soils found under coniferous (evergreen) forests.

Basic Facts

Soil Order: Podzol
Ecosystem: Coniferous Forest
Climate Zone: Humid Maritime
BC Biogeoclimatic Zone: Coastal Western Hemlock

Location: Pacific Spirit Park
City, Region, Country: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Lat / Long: 49.25593/ -123.234

Soil Classification

Soil Order: Podzol
Great Group: Humo-Ferric Podzol
Subgroup: Orthic Humo-Ferric Podzol
Soil Series: Sunshine
Classification Code: O.HFP
Soil Horizons Present: LFH, Ahe, Bf,BC, C
Diagnostic Horizon 1: Bf
Diagnostic Horizon 2:
Diagnostic Horizon 3:
Diagnostic Horizon 4:

Land Form

Land Form: Glacial till
Parent Material: Glacial till
Elevation (m): 87
Topography: Level
Affected by Glaciation: Yes

Climate

Climate Zone: Humid Maritime
Mean Annual Temperature (C): 10
Minimum Annual Temperature (C): 6.5
Maximum Annual Temperature (C): 13.7
Mean Annual Precipitation (mm): 1200

Land Use

Current Land Use: 2nd growth forest
Original Vegetation: Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar
Current Vegetation: Douglas fir, western hemlock, western red cedar

Technical Description
The soil at this second growth forest site is of the Podzolic Order. Podzol soils are one of the forest soil types in the Canadian soil classification system. They commonly occur in coniferous or mixed forest ecosystems. Podzols generally have a B horizon that is enriched with amorphous material composed mainly of humified organic matter, Al and Fe. The soil at this site falls into the Humo-Ferric Podzol Great Group. The diagnostic horizon is a Bf horizon thicker than 10 cm, that is reddish in colour and enriched with Fe/Al. It has a relatively low organic C content (0.5-5%). This soil is further classified under the Sunshine Soil Series, which is described as moderately to well-drained, with up to 10 cm of organic forest litter on the soil surface. The parent material is made up of glacial till.

PDF with details: 3_Sunshine.pdf

Soil Morphology
Soil Texture of Diagnostic Horizon or Prevailing Texture: Sandy Loam
Soil texture horizons: Sandy loam (Ahe, Bf), sand (C)
Soil structure horizons: Weak granular (Ahe), weak angular blocky (Bf), single grain, structureless (BC, C)
Forest Humus Form: Mull
Presence of Charcoal: Yes, in forest floor and Bf
Presence of Coatings: Yes, Fe/Al coatings on coarse fragments in Bf

Soil Formation Processes
Primary Soil Process Group: Transformation
Primary Soil Process: Podzolization
Secondary Soil Process:

Links

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

Media


Podzol, from https://processes.soilweb.ca/podzol/.


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