From the Soil Micromorphology Slide Collection

Data for 35-mm slide
Micromorphological description of slide: The soil fabric is characterized by moderately developed horizontal interlayering of plant tissues with organic fine material. Within the fine material, there are extremely decomposed plant cell structures, fungal filaments in close association with mycorrhizal mantles on plant root material, frequent diatoms, as well as amorphous organic material.

Data for the horizon
Horizon sampled: 2c1 (11 0co1 >
Depth sampled: 70-85 cm
Physical and chemical data available: 2c1 (IIOco1 ) (42-156 cm): pH = 4.8, c = 30.9%, N = 1 .9%, ash =40.7%
Macromorphological description of horizon: 7.5 YR 3/2 woody-sedge sedimentary peat; moderately fibrous.
Micromorphological description of horizon: 110co1 (70-85 cm): Organic tissues = 29.8%,diatoms = 9.6%, amorphous material = 41 .7%, mineral grains = 0.9%, void space = 17.9%. Percentage a real distributions were assessed from thin section by point counting approximately 3000 points on the thin section at 125x magnification.

Data for thin section
Preparation of sample: Acetone dry Impregnating medium: Polyester resin Thickness of section: 30 µm approximately Orientation of section: Vertical

Soil Classification U.S.: Entisol F.A.O.: Gleysol
Canada: Limno Humisol

Elevation: 95 m above sea level
Physiographic position: Basin swamp
Topography and hill slope position: Level
Parent material: Peat material (woody-sedge sedimentary, sedge-sedimentary and sedimentary)
Soil climatic data and/or soil water balance: Mesic mild humid [Soil Climates of Canada map (1975)]
Vegetation: Dominant vegetation in basin swamp is Spiarea douglasii (80% cover) and Salix sp. (10% cover)

Frame length: 1.0 mm
Light mode: Partially cross polarized

Fox, C. A. and C. Tarnocai. 1989. The micromorphology of a sedimentary peat deposit from the Pacific temperate wetland region of Canada. p. 311-319. 1D. L. A Douglas (ed.), Soil micromorphology: A basic and applied science. Proc. 8th IWMSM. Elsevier, New York.
Tarnocai, C. and Schuppli, P. 1987. Sedimentary peat in Canadian peatlands. p. 25-37 1n. C. D. A. Rubec and R.P. Overend(eds.), Proc. Symposium '87 Wetlands/Peatlands. Edmonton, Canada.
Source - C. A. Fox