FLORALPEDOTURBATIONS IN BLACK CHERNOZEMIC SOILS OF THE LAKE EDMONTON PLAIN

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Abstract
Investigations of soils at the Ellerslie Agricultural Research Station and adjacent areas in the Lake Edmonton Plain revealed pedoturbations ranging from 5 to 20% of the area. Turbated soils exhibited a bowl-shaped pattern with Ah horizons, frequently mixed down to a depth of 2 m or more and often extended over an area up to 7.5 m in diameter. Configurations of turbated A and B horizon materials were numerous and varied with no fixed pattern. Consistency was much more mellow than adjacent undisturbed material. Undistrubed soil had a thin eluviated horizon below the Ah and numerous argillans were evident in the B horizon. Such features were evident only in microfabrics of disturbed soils. There were no strongly contrasting analytical attributes between disturbed and undisturbed soils. 14C dating suggests a burial date for lower Ahu material at approximately 2500–3000 yr B.P. Mixing was attributed to floral turbation caused by tree-throw.