Development of soil structure in some turbic cryosols in the Canadian low Arctic
This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between periglacial processes and the development of soil structure in some Turbic Cryosols. Three active nonsorted pattern ground features (mud hummocks) were examined for field macrostructure and micromorphological characteristics. The surface...
| Published in: | Canadian Journal of Soil Science |
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| Main Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
1991
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/cjss91-002 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.4141/cjss91-002 |
| Summary: | This study was undertaken to examine the relationship between periglacial processes and the development of soil structure in some Turbic Cryosols. Three active nonsorted pattern ground features (mud hummocks) were examined for field macrostructure and micromorphological characteristics. The surface of unvegetated mud hummocks exhibited granic fabric expressed as strong granular structure. Cryoturbic movement caused surface materials to be cycled downward toward the permafrost table and upward into the hummock core. Resultant compression caused coalescence of discrete structural units resulting in matrigranodic fabric and subangular blocky structure. Porphyroskelic fabric associated with massive and occasionally prismatic structure was observed in the core of the hummocks although some remnant granularity was evident in thin section. Cycled fragments of surface vegetation 10–1000 μm in length were observed dispersed through all soil horizons. All horizons within the active layer contained more than 2% organic carbon. Key words: Turbic Cryosol, micromorphology, soil structure, cryoturbation |
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