Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

To determine the areal distribution of the classified soils, numerous test pits, roadside cuts, ditches, grave l
pits and other exposures were examined and described . The soils were examined to determine soil parent
material, texture, structure, consistence, permeability, drainage, colour, horizon sequence and depth, roo t
abundance, rooting depth, and other observable and measurable features (CanSIS, 1978 ; Walmsley, et .al ,
1980). Vegetation, stoniness, topography, cultural practices and other external features were also noted . Th e
Munsell Colour system was used to identify soil colours . One or more representative soil profile of eac h
classified soil was described in detail and sampled for chemical and physical laboratory analyses .
In the Lower Fraser Valley, air photographs-approximate scale 1 :15 000-were used as field mappin g
sheets. Soil boundaries were established by bisecting them on roads, ditches, fence lines and by numerou s
transects across the land . The number of soil examinations varied with the complexity of the soil landscape ,
however, it is estimated that, on average, at least one examination was conducted for each 2 to 5 ha of land .
The mountainous areas and the Sunshine Coast were mapped on 1 :30 000 air photographs . At the lowe r
elevations on the Sunshine Coast all roads were traversed and foot transects were conducted across most ma p
delineations . Field checking, however, was less intensive (less often) than in the Lower Fraser Valley . Again, th e
numbers of soil examinations varied with the complexity of the soil landscape but it is estimated an average o f
about one inspection occurred for every 5 to 15 ha . Large parts of the mountainous areas are relativel y
inaccessible . All available roads were utilized with the soils along them being examined in detail . The
intervening land was then mainly mapped by air photo interpretation and extrapolation from known, describe d
sites. Occasional foot transects were also employed and access to land along the shores of some of the large r
lakes was afforded by boats . Field inspection of several high elevation alpine areas consisted of widely space d
spot checks by helicopter .
In many areas, two or more classified soils are so intermingled that it is impractical to separate them at th e
scale of mapping . Such areas are mapped as soil complexes . The identified soils are indicated in the ma p
symbol of each such map delineation in decreasing order of areal distribution .
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