Figure 1. Mixed forage field (Photo by Flickr user PRSSS Photos)

Figure 2. Surface horizons of soil profile (Photo by Flickr user PRSSS Photos)

Site three was an agricultural soil used to grow a mixed forage crop of clover and grasses.  The surrounding area was forested with aspen and spruce; the field had been cleared by logging and burning the residue.  There was a very thin layer of litter on the surface of the soil (Fig 2).  The Ape horizon on the surface was a sandy loam.  The weak, coarse subangular blocky peds broke into weak, medium granular secondary structures.  The soil was a light brownish gray (10 YR 6/2) in field dry conditions.  The soil was close to neutral, with a pH value of 7.5.

Figure 3. Bfj horizon (Photo by Flickr user PRSSS Photos)

An abrupt, wavy boundary led to the Bm horizon that was a silt loam texture (Fig 3).  This horizon had a weak, fine platy structure.  The colour was pale yellowish brown (2.5 Y 6.5/3) in field dry conditions.  This horizon was slightly acidic with a pH value of 6.5.  An abrupt, wavy boundary led to a 2cm thick band of coarse sand (Fig 4).  After another abrupt, wavy boundary, the next horizon we described was the Bfj horizon that had a fine sandy loam texture.  The structure in this horizon was also weak, breaking into very coarse angular blocky peds.  The field moist Bfj horizon was greyish brown (10YR 5/2).  The pH value of 8 indicated that the soil had become alkaline.  No effervescence was seen when HCl was dropped onto the soil.

Figure 4. Band of sand between Bfj and Bf horizons (Photo by Flickr user PRSSS Photos)

Another 2cm band of coarse sand lay beneath the Bfj horizon, separated by a clear, wavy boundary.  Separated from the sand by an abrupt wavy boundary was the Cca horizon.   This horizon had significantly more clay than previous horizons and proved difficult to dig through; we textured it as a sandy clay loam.  Weak, fine platy structures were found in the field moist soil.  The greyish brown colour (10YR 5/3) was richer than the horizon above.  A few whitish concretions were visible, and the pH value of 8 was alkaline.  HCl was dropped onto a sample from the horizon and produced moderate effervescence.  Based on our field observations, this soil appears to be an Eluviated Melanic Brunisol.