Regosolic soils of Canada: Genesis, distribution and classification

Abstract

VandenBygaart, A. J. 2011. Regosolic soils of Canada: Genesis, distribution and classification. Can. J. Soil Sci. 91: 881–887. Regosolic soils of the Canadian System of Soil Classification are those soils that are weakly developed and do not contain a recognizable B horizon at least 5 cm thick. They must be able to support plant life and thus represent the boundary between pedologic and geologic realms. They commonly occur in Canada where recent geomorphic or anthropogenic processes have exposed fresh parent materials to the climatic forcings at the earth's surface, but can also occur where parent materials are highly resistant to weathering or where climatic conditions are arid and cold. A key stage in their development involves stabilization of the parent material usually by vegetation, which through the plant carbon cycle provides organic matter to the surface, a key component of many soil formation processes. Regosolic soils occur broadly across Canada with major areas in southern Quebec, southern Manitoba, the Rocky Mountains and the Arctic. Classification and taxonomy are fairly straightforward in that all Regosolic soils lack a well-developed B horizon. They are divided into two Great Groups based on the development of an Ah horizon that is either greater than 10 cm thick or is less than 10 cm thick or absent.

Butchering Site Evolution Induced by Past and Recent Snowmelt Runoff: The Saunitarlik Site (JiEv‐15), Aivirtuuq Peninsula, Nunavik, Canada

“…The use of intra‐site stratigraphy and micromorphology made it possible to identify cumulic soil formation caused by surface runoff. The soil profile is typical of alluvial plains affected by spring flooding during the peak of the snowmelt combined with the degradation of permafrost (Saint‐Laurent & Lavoie, ; VandenBygaart, ). Between these periods of overflow, there would be sufficient time for the establishment of vegetation and the process of melanization, which constitute the Ah horizon.…”

“…Between these periods of overflow, there would be sufficient time for the establishment of vegetation and the process of melanization, which constitute the Ah horizon. Generally, there are several Ah layers in this type of profile representing the stabilization periods between “erosion‐sedimentation” events (VandenBygaart, ).…”

Revised Proposed Classifications for Typical Anthropogenic Soils in China

“…The International Commission for Anthropogenic Soils (ICOMANTH) was established in 1995 in the United States to deepen the study of anthropogenic soils. International scholars have studied the properties, classifications, management, functions, and cartographies of anthropogenic soils [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21].Some scholars have explored the investigation and taxonomy schemes of such soils, exploring the rationality of their national taxonomy schemes based on the results of engineering soil classifications, and they have provided suggestions for improvement [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32]. Capra et al summarized numerous suggestions for classifying human-altered and human-transported soil studies [33,34].…”