Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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To determine <strong>the</strong> areal distribution <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> classified soils, numerous test pits, roadside cuts, ditches, grave l<br />
pits <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r exposures were examined <strong>and</strong> described . The soils were examined to determine soil parent<br />
material, texture, structure, consistence, permeability, drainage, colour, horizon sequence <strong>and</strong> depth, roo t<br />
abundance, rooting depth, <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r observable <strong>and</strong> measurable features (CanSIS, 1978 ; Walmsley, et .al ,<br />
1980). Vegetation, stoniness, topography, cultural practices <strong>and</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r external features were also noted . Th e<br />
Munsell Colour system was used to identify soil colours . One or more representative soil pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> eac h<br />
classified soil was described in detail <strong>and</strong> sampled for chemical <strong>and</strong> physical laboratory analyses .<br />
In <strong>the</strong> Lower Fraser Valley, air photographs-approximate scale 1 :15 000-were used as field mappin g<br />
sheets. Soil boundaries were established by bisecting <strong>the</strong>m on roads, ditches, fence lines <strong>and</strong> by numerou s<br />
transects across <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong> . The number <strong>of</strong> soil examinations varied with <strong>the</strong> complexity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soil l<strong>and</strong>scape ,<br />
however, it is estimated that, on average, at least one examination was conducted for each 2 to 5 ha <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> .<br />
The mountainous areas <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sunshine Coast were mapped on 1 :30 000 air photographs . At <strong>the</strong> lowe r<br />
elevations on <strong>the</strong> Sunshine Coast all roads were traversed <strong>and</strong> foot transects were conducted across most ma p<br />
delineations . Field checking, however, was less intensive (less <strong>of</strong>ten) than in <strong>the</strong> Lower Fraser Valley . Again, th e<br />
numbers <strong>of</strong> soil examinations varied with <strong>the</strong> complexity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soil l<strong>and</strong>scape but it is estimated an average o f<br />
about one inspection occurred for every 5 to 15 ha . Large parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountainous areas are relativel y<br />
inaccessible . All available roads were utilized with <strong>the</strong> soils along <strong>the</strong>m being examined in detail . The<br />
intervening l<strong>and</strong> was <strong>the</strong>n mainly mapped by air photo interpretation <strong>and</strong> extrapolation from known, describe d<br />
sites. Occasional foot transects were also employed <strong>and</strong> access to l<strong>and</strong> along <strong>the</strong> shores <strong>of</strong> some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> large r<br />
lakes was afforded by boats . Field inspection <strong>of</strong> several high elevation alpine areas consisted <strong>of</strong> widely space d<br />
spot checks by helicopter .<br />
In many areas, two or more classified soils are so intermingled that it is impractical to separate <strong>the</strong>m at th e<br />
scale <strong>of</strong> mapping . Such areas are mapped as soil complexes . The identified soils are indicated in <strong>the</strong> ma p<br />
symbol <strong>of</strong> each such map delineation in decreasing order <strong>of</strong> areal distribution .<br />
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