' After Golet and Larson (1974). '' Values are for ground water. 



4.3 SOILS 



Atlantic white cedars grow primarily on or- 

 ganic soils (Histosols commonly termed "peat" or 

 "muck") over a sand or sand/gravel base. In a few 

 riverside stands in Florida and Mississippi, cedars 

 grow on exposed sandbars extending into the chan- 

 nel (Figure 18); in an unusual situation in Georgia, 

 they grow on sandy terraces. Water usually 

 saturates these soils for long periods of the growing 

 season, except where they are artificially drained. 

 Histosols contain over 20% (by weight) organic mat- 

 ter if no clay is present, and over 30% organic matter 

 if 50% clay is present in the upper 40 cm of the profile 



(Leighty and Buol 1983) (Cowardin etal. 1979:44-45 

 lists slightly different criteria). Figure 22 depicts a 

 generalized profile through the substrate of a bog 

 formerly dominated by cedar 



Histosols are classified in three major 

 groups, based on their degree of decomposition. 

 Fibrists are slightly decomposed, and hence the 

 most fibrous; Saprists are greatly decomposed, with 

 the least identifiable structure; and Hemists are inter- 

 mediate in decomposition. In states south of Vir- 

 ginia, where decomposition is more rapid than in the 

 north, most cedars are on Sapric soils, with a few on 

 Hemists. 



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