Soilscape of Histic Cryaquepts; Anchorage area, Alaska
Histic Cryaquepts (a hydric soil) have a histic epipedon but otherwise are like Typic Cryaquepts. They tend to have ground water at a higher level than in the soils of the Typic subgroup, and shallow water stands for some time above the soil surface. Histic Cryaquepts are considered intergrades to Histosols. They are of small extent in the United States and occur mostly in southern Alaska and in the high mountains of the Northwestern States. Most of the Histic Cryaquepts support native vegetation. They support forest vegetation or watertolerant shrubs and grasses. Histic Cryaquepts are used mainly as forest and wildlife habitat.
Cryaquepts are the cold Aquepts. They are of moderate extent in the high mountains and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia. They typically have an ochric or histic epipedon over a cambic horizon. Cryaquepts are on flood plains, in depressional areas, and on plains. Most have grayish subsoils, and some are stratified. The major areas of the Cryaquepts in the United States are on the outwash plains and flood plains of Alaska. Cryaquepts formed mostly in late-Pleistocene or recent sediments south of the continuous permafrost zone. Most support mixed forest, shrub, or grassy vegetation. Many are nearly level, but some in areas of high precipitation have strong slopes. Because Cryaquepts are both cold and wet, they have low potential for cropping.
The histic epipedon is a layer of organic soil that is naturally saturated with water. It consists of organic soil material (peat or muck) if the soil has not been plowed. If the soil has been plowed, the epipedon normally has a high content of organic matter that results from mixing organic soil material with some mineral material.
It is thick (20- to 60-cm, or 8- to 24-inch) and is saturated with water at some period of the year (unless the soil is artificially drained) and that is at or near the surface of a mineral soil.
Hydric soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Most hydric soils exhibit characteristic morphologies that result from repeated periods of saturation or inundation that last more than a few days.
To download the latest version of "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils" and additional technical references, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=s...
Soilscape of Histic Cryaquepts; Anchorage area, Alaska
Histic Cryaquepts (a hydric soil) have a histic epipedon but otherwise are like Typic Cryaquepts. They tend to have ground water at a higher level than in the soils of the Typic subgroup, and shallow water stands for some time above the soil surface. Histic Cryaquepts are considered intergrades to Histosols. They are of small extent in the United States and occur mostly in southern Alaska and in the high mountains of the Northwestern States. Most of the Histic Cryaquepts support native vegetation. They support forest vegetation or watertolerant shrubs and grasses. Histic Cryaquepts are used mainly as forest and wildlife habitat.
Cryaquepts are the cold Aquepts. They are of moderate extent in the high mountains and subarctic regions of North America and Eurasia. They typically have an ochric or histic epipedon over a cambic horizon. Cryaquepts are on flood plains, in depressional areas, and on plains. Most have grayish subsoils, and some are stratified. The major areas of the Cryaquepts in the United States are on the outwash plains and flood plains of Alaska. Cryaquepts formed mostly in late-Pleistocene or recent sediments south of the continuous permafrost zone. Most support mixed forest, shrub, or grassy vegetation. Many are nearly level, but some in areas of high precipitation have strong slopes. Because Cryaquepts are both cold and wet, they have low potential for cropping.
The histic epipedon is a layer of organic soil that is naturally saturated with water. It consists of organic soil material (peat or muck) if the soil has not been plowed. If the soil has been plowed, the epipedon normally has a high content of organic matter that results from mixing organic soil material with some mineral material.
It is thick (20- to 60-cm, or 8- to 24-inch) and is saturated with water at some period of the year (unless the soil is artificially drained) and that is at or near the surface of a mineral soil.
Hydric soils are formed under conditions of saturation, flooding, or ponding long enough during the growing season to develop anaerobic conditions in the upper part (Federal Register, 1994). Most hydric soils exhibit characteristic morphologies that result from repeated periods of saturation or inundation that last more than a few days.
To download the latest version of "Field Indicators of Hydric Soils" and additional technical references, visit:
www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/soils/ref/?cid=s...