MICROMORPHOLOGICAL AND C-13 NMR CHARACTERIZATION OF A HUMIC, LIGNIC, AND HISTIC FOLISOL FROM BRITISH-COLUMBIA

The thick folic (mainly upland forest) materials (> 40 cm of accumulated organic material) that occur in the Coastal Western Hemlock Biogeoclimatic Zone in British Columbia have not been described with regard to the spatial interrelationships of the soil constituents in context with the chemical composition of the different horizons. Micromorphological assessment and solid-state C-13 NMR were used to characterize the accumulated folic materials from a Lignic Folisol (northern Vancouver Island), Histic Folisol (Prince Rupert, BC) and a Humic Folisol (Queen Charlotte Islands, BC). Micromorphology provided information on the spatial relationships of the soil constituents and C-13 NMR provided data on the chemical components of the folic materials. Soil faunal activity, primarily from mites, was the dominant soil-forming process observed in the organic horizons of the Folisols, being especially prominent in the Lignic Folisol with the breakdown of woody materials. Solid state C-13 CPMAS NMR spectra facilitated distinguishing three main types of horizons: (1) Horizons derived from accumulated residues (L, Fr, and Hr) showing higher carbohydrate-like C and O-alkyl C values and lower total aromatics; (2) Horizons with advanced decomposition (Hr2, Oh1, and Hd) which were higher in alkyl C; and (3) Horizons derived from ligneous material (Fw and Hdw) where carbohydrate-like C was less than total aromatic C. Implications for adequate nutrient content and forest growth were inferred from the observed micromorphology and chemical composition of the folic materials.