Distribution of prairies and solonetzic soils in the Peace River district, Alberta

A study of 13 native prairie remnants in the Peace River district of Alberta revealed two community types: a Stipa spartea var. curtiseta – Carex spp. – Artemisia frigida community found on steep, south-facing slopes and a more widespread Carex spp. – Danthonia intermedia – Stipa spartea var. curtiseta community situated on solonetzic-order soils. By using early land survey records and recent soil survey data, a close correlation was found between the large tracts of prairie vegetation and the distribution of solonetzic soils. The solonetzic soils appear to support grasslands and not forests because of their unfavorable ratios of Na to Ca, hard, columnar B-horizon, and relatively impermeable clay pan close to the surface.