Results from the initial site characterization of the AESA Soil Quality Benchmark Sitesprogram conducted between 1998 and 2000 tended to be quite comparable across all sevenagricultural regions. As mentioned, the 42 selected sites were representative of the ecoregionsfrom which they were selected, with only two having higher organic matter then expected (asindicated by colour). Generally, soil texture, CEC, CaCO3 content, and soil pH reflected regionaldifferences in quaternary geology in Alberta. Sandier textured soil profiles with higher soil pHwere located in southern Alberta with finer textured soils exhibiting higher CEC being located onthe Cretaceous marine shales of the Peace Lowland. Owing to climatic and vegetativedifferences among the ecoregions, OC levels were higher in the Peace Lowland when comparedto the Moist Mixed Grassland. Similar results were observed for total soil N, although for othersoil nutrients the variability was too high to make this conclusion. As only limited data wereavailable for the Mid Boreal Uplands and Fescue Grassland, caution is needed in makinginferences about these particular locations based on the available information from this study.
đang được dịch, vui lòng đợi..
