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Orders: Luvisolic - Great Groups

The nature of the A horizon is the distinguishing criteria between the two great groups of the Luvisols. In more temperate forests such as in southern Ontario or parts of the interior of B.C., sufficient earthworm and burrowing animal activity occurs to mix part of the organic leaf litter (LFH) into the upper part of the A horizon, creating a mull Ah horizon. Elsewhere in Canada the less temperate conditions limit the mixing that occurs, and the forest litter layer (LFH) has a sharp contact with the underlying Ae horizon. Both great groups have an eluvial A (Ae, Ahe) and Bt present.

Gray Luvisol
Soils of this great group typically have the LFH directly overlying the Bt horizon. The mean annual soil temperature is typically below 8°C, which means soils of this great group are found throughout the Prairie provinces but also in parts of eastern Canada. (Orthic Gray Luvisol)

Gray Brown Luvisols
These soils have a forest mull Ah horizon and occur in more temperate portions of Canada (that is, where mean annual soil temperature is greater than or equal to 8°C). (Orthic Gray Brown Luvisol)

 

 

 

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