A HUMMOCKY PERMAFROST SOIL FROM THE SUBARCTIC OF NORTHWESTERN CANADA AND SOME INFLUENCES OF FIRE

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Soil Science
• Main Author: PETTAPIECE, W. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1974
• Subjects: Soil Science; Canada; permafrost; Subarctic
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjss74-048; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjss74-048

Recent surveys in the Canadian subarctic have shown the wide distribution of cryogenic earth-hummock soils with permafrost. A study of chemical, physical, mineralogical and micromorphological features revealed quite acidic, partially unsaturated surface horizons, large amounts of amorphous sesquioxides and fulvic acids, and fluctuating redox conditions. It appears that the permafrost table and the surface organic layer play a governing role in most pedological processes. It is suggested that the occurrence of fires contributes a cyclical aspect to these processes, which appears to be an integral part of soil development in the subarctic. A consideration of fire history helps to explain many of the physical and environmental variations found in the field.