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SCHEDULE 8
2002
ALBERTA
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT MANUAL
FOR
MANAGED WOODLOT OPERATIONS
/dlbcrfa
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
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University of Alberta Libraries
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SCHEDULE 8
2002
ALBERTA
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT MANUAL
FOR
MANAGED WOODLOT OPERATIONS
/dlberfa
MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS
I
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROPERTY ASSESSMENT MANUAL FOR MANAGED WOODLOT
OPERATIONS
8.000 SCHEDULE 8 - LAND ASSESSMENT FOR WOODLOT PRODUCTION 1
8.100 PRODUCTIVE WOODLOT 4
8.200 NET PRODUCTIVITY RATING (NPR) 4
8.200.100 Master rating 4
8.200.200 Soil moisture (texture) adjustment 5
8.200.300 Site moisture adjustment 6
8.200.400 Nutrient adjustment 7
8.200.500 Rooting depth adjustment 8
8.200.600 Miscellaneous deductions 9
8.300 INCREASED COST OF PRODUCTION (ICP) 10
8.300.100 Topography (slope steepness) 10
8.300.200 Stoniness 10
8.300.300 Flooding/Drainage 10
8.300.400 Pattern 11
8.400 RESTRICTED USE LAND 12
8.500 FINAL SITE PRODUCTIVITY RATING 12
8.600 ASSESSMENT VALUE CALCULATION 13
8.600. 1 00 Base Rate and Assessment Year Modifier 13
8.600.200 Final Rating 13
8.600.300 Location Rating 13
8.600.400 Assessment 13
APPENDICES 15
APPENDIX 1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 15
APPENDIX 2 STANDARD WOODLOT CONVERSION FACTORS 21
APPENDIX 3 GENERAL FIELD APPLICATION OF ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES 23
REFERENCES 29
OTHER PUBLICATIONS 30
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations i
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1 Master ratings for defined ecological regions . ....4
Table 2 Soil moisture adjustment 5
Table 3 Subsoil moisture modification 5
Table 4 Site moisture (drainage) adjustment..... 6
Table 5 Organic matter adjustment for mineral soils 7
Table 6 pH adjustment for mineral soils 7
Table 7 Nutrient adjustment for organic soils 8
Table 8 Percent reduction for rooting depth limitation 8
Table 9 Salinity adjustment 9
Table 10 Slope steepness adjustment 10
Table 1 1 Stoniness adjustment 10
Table 12 Site wetness adjustment 10
Table 13 Pattern adjustment 1 1
MAPS
Map 1 Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta 25
Map 2 Woodlot Production Regions and Areas of Alberta (with Natural Region
and Subregion Boundaries) ....27
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations ii
8.000
SCHEDULE 8 - LAND ASSESSMENT FOR WOODLOT PRODUCTION
This procedure follows very closely to that of the 1984 Assessment Manual (Alberta
Assessment Standards Branch 1984).
This procedure is designed to measure the capability of a designated woodlot to produce
income from forest production. The ratings measure the ability of the site to produce timber
under present climatic conditions using normal management practices.
The assessment value established for land under agricultural production is computed using a
rating system that reflects the ability of the various types of soils to generate a net income
from the production of woodlot products. The rating system assigns a numeric rating of 100 to
the soil type proven to be capable of consistently producing, over an extended period of time,
the highest net income under average climatic conditions and typical management practices.
The rating of 100 also assumes that the highest net income is produced under optimum
physical characteristics of the soil. All other soils are rated through a comparative rating
system which reflects the net income relationships that exists between other types of soils
and the soil type rated at 100. Further adjustments are made to account for less than optimal
physical characteristics. In summary, soils that generate a lesser net income are assigned a
correspondingly lower rating which in turn is reflected in the assessed value of the land. In
extreme cases, where the gross income produced from a woodlot does not cover costs of
production, the land may be rated for its potential as improved or native pasture lands.
The first step in applying the rating system is to identify and describe the physical properties
present in a specific property. A comparative numeric rating system has been established
that uses those properties to determine how each specific property rates on a provincial
basis. That rating is then multiplied by a regulated base rate and a regulated factor to form
an assessment on a per unit of area basis.
The comparative rating is divided into two parts. The first part is the Net Productivity Rating
(NPR) which is the expected production of a site based on environmental conditions. It is
calculated from the maximum climatic potential (Master Rating) and modified by soil and site
moisture regimes, soil nutrient regimes, and rooting volume considerations.
The basis of net productivity rating is the identification of natural areas with similar maximum
production potentials based on inherent climatic characteristics. The basis of these areas is
the Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta, as defined by the Alberta Ecological Working
Group (Alberta Environment 1994, Map 1). This map defines natural forest types that have
developed in response to long-term temperature and moisture conditions. Eleven natural
ecological areas (Map 2) have been recognized for woodlot assessment in the forested White
Area of Alberta. They include the Dry Mixedwood, the Central Mixedwood the Lower
Foothills, the Montane and the Parkland Subregions within four general forest regions: the
Peace, the North-Central, the West-Central and the Southwest.
The Master Rating reflects the maximum forest production expected in each of the defined
ecological (climatic) regions. It represents the climatic potential assuming no soil limitations.
The Master Ratings are based on measured forest production values converted to a scale of
100.
The soil moisture considerations include texture and water table. Soil texture and associated
water holding capacity influences the amount of water that can be held for forest use. Sands
hold little water while clays hold the most water but have decreased aeration. Medium
textures are preferred. The first adjustment is based on the surface texture (0-20 cm) with a
modification for strongly contrasting subsoils (20-100 cm).
Site moisture or external landscape drainage also impacts on the amount of water available
for tree growth. Steep slopes shed water, while depressions accumulate water or have a
high water table. The lower portions of long slopes often receive lateral seepage that can be
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
1
high in both oxygen and nutrients. This is mainly a landform concern but extremes of soil
textures also impact the assessment. For example, fine textured clayey soils are, at best,
moderately well drained, while sands are commonly assessed “very rapid” drainage in
sloping positions. Allowances are made for the benefits of seepage situations in lower slope
positions and for water table influences not apparent in the soil profile.
Natural fertility is assessed through a nutrient adjustment. The main factors in mineral soils
are organic content, a source of Nitrogen and pH which affects the availability of mineral
elements. Slightly acidic conditions are considered ideal. Organic soils have additional
limitations. Fortunately, there is a good relationship between pH, level of decomposition of
the organic material (fibre content) and nutrient regime. More highly decomposed humic
materials are generally more productive than non-decomposed fibric materials.
Rooting volume is another factor that can affect tree growth. This factor recognizes that tree
roots need some minimum soil volume for both nourishment and stability.
There may be other soil or landscape factors encountered from time-to-time that can affect
tree production. For example, salinity is seldom encountered in a forest environment, but it
does affect tree growth.
Net Productivity Rating is calculated from the accumulated effects of the above factors.
NPR = Master Rating - soil moisture and site moisture adjustments - nutrient adjustment -
rooting zone adjustments.
The second part of the assessment is the Increased Cost of Production (ICP). Optimum
costs of production have been established encompassing those costs used to generate
woodlot income based on typical practices of the day. Certain landscape may be
encountered that require input costs over and above the typical costs. Additional
adjustments are made to reflect their effect on the net income.
Topography or slope steepness is a principle consideration. The amount of slope affects
both access, the cost of roads, and attention to erosion control. This is particularly true as
slope steepness increases beyond about 20%.
The amount of surface stones can affect the operation of mechanical equipment and
reforestation efforts. This is not a major concern in Alberta but has been included for
completeness.
Surface wetness is another factor that can affect woodlot management. It can affect
trafficability and may limit time of harvesting or other operations. As Alberta has a long winter
season, this is not a major concern but has been recognized.
The continuity or shape of a parcel of land can create a nuisance factor and increases the
cost of production. The main concern is for stream crossings that affect both access
(transportation) and erosion (or buffer requirement) management.
Increased Cost of Production is calculated as the sum of the ICP factors.
ICP = (topography + stoniness + wetness + pattern).
Net Productivity Rating minus the Increased Cost of Production = Final Site Rating.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
2
NPR = Master Rating - (soil moisture and site moisture adjustments) - (nutrient adjustment)
- (rooting zone adjustment) - (other adjustments).
For assessment purposes, all woodlot lands are classified into three classes:
Productive - where there is economic tree harvesting
Restricted - when land is designated as non-harvestable for specified reasons
such as water course protection, erosion control or protected species
habitat.
No economic value - This designation is applied to any area that makes no contribution to
net income.
Note: In the following sections, soil descriptions will follow the CanSIS Manual for
describing soils in the field (1983). The general format and many of the individual soil
limitations follow the Land Suitability Rating System (AIWG 1995).
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
3
8.100
8.200
8.200.100
PRODUCTIVE WOODLOT
Productive woodlots will be evaluated on their potential to produce a tree crop based on soil
and site conditions irrespective of the present standing crop.
NET PRODUCTIVITY RATING (NPR)
This is the expected production of a site based on environmental conditions. It is calculated
from the maximum climatic potential (Master Rating) modified by soil and site moisture
regimes, soil nutrient regimes and rooting volume considerations.
Maximum woodlot productivity is established for each of 1 1 natural ecological areas (Map 1).
These areas are the forested Natural Subregions as defined by the Alberta Ecological
Working Group (Alberta Environment 1994) that are found in the White Area of Alberta and
the adjoining Green Areas. They include the Dry Mixedwood, the Central Mixedwood, the
Lower Foothills, the Montane and the Parkland. These are further segregated into four
general forest regions: the Peace, the North-Central, the West-Central and the Southwest.
Calculated from the accumulated effects of the following factors:
NPR = Master Rating - (soil moisture and site moisture adjustments) - (nutrient adjustment)
- (rooting zone adjustment) - (other adjustments)
Master rating
The Master Rating reflects the maximum forest production expected in each of the defined
ecological (climatic) regions (see Map 1 ). It represents the climatic potential based on
measured forest production as found in the referenced ecosite Guidebooks and field testing
(Table 1).
Table 1 Master ratings for defined ecological regions
Forest
Areas
Ecological
Subregions
Average
GDD
Average
P-PET
Maximum
MAI
Master
Rating
Peace
Dry Mixedwood
1250
+30
3.36
85
Central Mixedwood
1200
+80
3.64
90
Lower Foothills
1100
+ 100
3.93
95
North
Central
Dry Mixedwood
1350
+30
3.36
85
Central Mixedwood
1250
+80
3.93
95
West
Central
Parkland
1350
+ 10
2.79
75
Dry Mixedwood
1250
+60
3.50
90
Central Mixedwood
1200
+ 100
3.93
95
Lower Foothills
1100
+ 120
4.21
100
Southwest
Montane
1250
2.50
70
Lower Foothills
1150
+ 170
3.64
90
*GDD = G; owing Degree Days above 50 C; P-PET = precipitation minus potential
evapotranspiration; MAI = mean annual increment in m3/ha/yr
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
4
8.200.200
Soil moisture (texture) adjustment
Soil texture and associated water holding capacity influences the amount of water that can be
held for forest use. Sands hold little water while clays hold the most water but have
decreased aeration. Medium textures are preferred (Table 2). The first adjustment is based
on the surface texture (0-20 cm) with a modification for strongly contrasting subsoils (20-
100cm) (Table 3).
Table 2 Soil moisture adjustment
Texture
S
LS
SL
L
CL
SiL
C
SiC
HC
% C+Si
10
20
40
60
70
75
80
85
95
mm/m
40
60
100
150
170
180
190
200
225
% reduction
20
10
5
0
0
0
2
5
10
S = sand, LS = loamy sand, SL = sandy loam, L = loam, CL = clay loam, SiL = silt loam
C = clay, SiC = silty clay, HC = heavy clay
Table 3 Subsoil moisture modification
Average subsurface texture
Average surface texture
Sandy (S, LS) Loamy (SL, L)
Sandy (S, LS)
0
-5
Loamy (SL, L )
5
0
Clayey (CL+)
10
5
Note: To be subtracted from soil moisture adjustment.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
5
8.200.300
Site moisture adjustment
This factor recognizes that external and internal soil drainage impact the amount of water
available for tree growth (Table 4). Steep slopes shed water, while depressions accumulate
water or have a high water table. The lower portions of long slopes often receive lateral
seepage that can be high in both oxygen and nutrients. This is mainly a landform concern
but extremes of soil textures also impact the assessment. For example, fine textured clayey
soils are, at best, moderately well drained while sands are commonly assessed “very rapid”
drainage in sloping positions.
Table 4 Site moisture (drainage) adjustment
Drainage
Class
Common depth
to water table
(cm)
%
reduction/
addition
Associated
moisture
regime
Very rapid
-
20
Xeric
Rapid
-
15
Subxeric
Well
>125
10
Submesic
Moderately well
100
5
Mesic
Imperfect*
75
0
Subhygric
Imperfect to poor*
50
5
Hygric
Poor
25
10
Subhydric
Very poor
0
30
Hydric
*For seepage situations in lower slope positions, decrease the reduction by 5% (that is,
Imperfect to Poor becomes 5 and Imperfect would become +5).
Water table influences not apparent in the soil profile would be handled in the same manner.
This would apply particularly to very sandy situations where deep rooted vegetation can take
advantage of water tables at 1 .5 to 2 metres depth.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
6
8.200.400
Nutrient adjustment
The nutrient adjustment is an assessment of natural fertility. The main factors in mineral soils
are organic matter content, a source of Nitrogen, (Table 5) and pH which all affect the
availability of mineral elements (Table 6). Organic soils have additional limitations.
Fortunately, there is a good relationship between pH, level of decomposition of the organic
material (fibre content) and nutrient regime (Table 7).
Table 5 Organic matter adjustment for mineral soils
Type
Peatymor
Mull
Moder
Mor
Depth L-H (cm)
-
-
2
3
5
8
10
5
2
Depth O (cm)
30
10
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Depth Ah (cm)
10
20
10
5
2
<2
<2
<2
% reduction
10
0
0
0
2
5
10
15
20
Typical Soil Taxonomy
Peaty Black Dark Gray Gray
Gleysolic Chemozemic Luvisolic Brunisolic
Note: Ah has a Munsell color value darker than 5.
Table 6 pH adjustment for mineral soils
pH
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
5.0
5.5
6.0
6.5
7.0
7.5
8.0
% reduction
30
20
15
10
5
0
0
5
10
15
25
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
7
Table 7 Nutrient adjustment for organic soils
Reaction
pH
Decomposition
class*
Fibric
Mesic
Humic
Fibre content (%)
80
25
5
Von Post scale
2
5
9
7.5
50
30
15
7.0
45
25
10
6.5
40
25
10
6.0
40
25
10
5.5
40
25
10
5.0
45
30
15
4.5
50
35
20
4.0
55
40
30
3.5
60
45
40
3.0
70
55
50
*Fibric = non-decomposed (composed mainly of sphagnic material), mesic = moderately
decomposed (composed mainly of brown mosses or sedges), humic = strongly decomposed.
Mesic is the most common situation. See glossary for definitions.
8.200.500 Rooting depth adjustment
This factor recognizes that tree roots have a minimum soil volume requirement for both
nourishment and stability (Table 8).
Table 8 Percent reduction for rooting depth limitation
Depth to restricting
Root penetration
layer (cm)
restricted
limited
none
0
50
80
100
10
40
70
95
20
30
50
90
40
10
30
80
60
0
10
60
80
0
5
40
100
0
0
20
120
0
0
10
Note: Restricted = tough B horizons = clay texture with Db >1.60; CL >1.65; L> 1.70;
S>1 .75
Limited = paralithic material = diggable sandstones and shales (Cretateous and
Tertiary)
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
8
8.200.600
Miscellaneous deductions
Deductions may be applied for other soil characteristics that clearly affect production. Salinity
is seldom encountered in a forest environment but if it does it will affect tree growth (Table 9).
Table 9 Salinity adjustment
Salinity (dS/m)
0
2
4
6
8
10
% reduction
0
10
30
50
70
90
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
9
8.300
8.300.100
8.300.200
8.300.300
INCREASED COST OF PRODUCTION (ICP)
Optimum costs for production have been established including those costs used to generate
woodlot income based on typical practices of the day. Certain landscape features may be
encountered that require input costs over and above the typical costs: additional adjustments
are made to reflect their effect on net income.
Increased cost of production is calculated as the sum of the following ICP factors:
ICP = % reduction (topography + stoniness + wetness + pattern)
Topography (slope steepness)
The amount of slope affects access, the cost of roads, and attention to erosion control. This
is particularly true as slope steepness increases beyond about 20% (Table 10).
Table 10 Slope steepness adjustment
Slope steepness
(%)
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
% reduction
0
0
3
6
9
12
16
20
25
Stoniness
The amount of surface stones can affect the operation of mechanical equipment and
reforestation efforts (Table 11). This is not a major concern in Alberta but has been included
for completeness.
Table 11 Stoniness adjustment
Stoniness class
| 0
1
2
3
4
% reduction
0
0
0
5
20
Flooding/Drainage
Wetness affects trafficability and may limit harvesting access or other operations. As Alberta
has a long winter season, this is not a major concern but has been recognized (Table 12).
Table 12 Site wetness adjustment
Drainage
Well
Imperfect
Poor
Very poor
Bog
Fen
% reduction
0
2
5
10
15
20
Flooding likelihood
(years/10)
0
2
4
6
8
10
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
10
8.300.400
Pattern
Pattern recognizes the nuisance effect of land continuity or shape. The main concern is for
stream crossings that affect both access (transportation) and erosion (or buffer requirement)
management (Table 13).
Table 13 Pattern adjustment
Number of crossings/km
0
2
4
6
8
10
% reduction
0
1
3
7
12
20
Number of obstructions per % sec.
0
2
4
6
8
10
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
11
8.400
8.500
RESTRICTED USE LAND
Restricted use land is land that is designated as non-harvestable for specified reasons such
as water course protection erosion control or protected species habitat. There may be limited
harvesting.
It may be assessed based on inherent hayland or pasture value or at a specified base rate.
If there is limited harvesting, it is suggested that the Master Rating be reduced by 50%.
FINAL SITE PRODUCTIVITY RATING
The Final Site Rating is calculated as the Net Productivity Rating minus the Increased Cost of
Production.
NPR - ICP = Final site rating
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
12
8.600
8.600.100
8.600.200
8.600.300
8.600.400
ASSESSMENT VALUE CALCULATION
Base Rate and Assessment Year Modifier
The Woodlot Base Rate per acre, prescribed by regulation for each class of woodlot land, is
multiplied by the appropriate assessment year modifier for each class of woodlot land to
produce the Woodlot Use Value Base Rate, per acre, for the base year of the assessment.
Final Rating
The final rating for each field is converted to value by applying the final rating as a factor, to
the appropriate Woodlot Use Value Base Rate, per acre. The resultant value per acre is then
multiplied by the number of acres in the field. This process is applied to each field in the
parcel and the addition of the values determined for each field produces the Woodlot Use
Value for the parcel.
Location Rating
The assessment of a woodlot parcel is modified using location rating factors located in
Section 7.060.500: the result is the Woodlot Use Value.
Assessment
The assessment value entered on the assessment roll for taxation purposes is calculated as:
Assessment = Base Rate x assessment year modifier x final productivity rating x acres x
location rating
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
13
APPENDICES
APPENDIX 1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS
The soils terms were taken mainly from Canadian Society of Soil Science (1976):
Term
Definition
A horizon
A mineral horizon formed at or near the surface in the zone of
Ae
removal of materials in solution and suspension, or maximum
accumulation of organic carbon, or both.
A horizon that has been eluviated of clay, iron, aluminium, or
organic matter, or ail of these.
afforestation
Ah
Conversion of bare or cultivated land into forest.
A horizon in which organic matter has accumulated as a result of
biological activity.
acid soil
aggregate
A soil having a pH of less than 7.0.
A group of soil particles cohering so as to behave mechanically as
a unit.
alkaline soils
arable
Any soil that has pH greater than 7.0.
Tillage; agricultural production based on cultivation practices; land
that is cultivated or capable of being cultivated. Arable is used as a
comparison to agriculture based on grazing (non-cultivated)
systems.
B horizon
A subsoil horizon characterized by one of:
bedrock
a) enrichment in clay, iron, aluminium, or humus (Bt or Bf).
b) a prismatic or columnar structure that exhibits pronounced
coatings or stainings associated with significant amounts of
exchangeable sodium (Bn or Bnt).
c) an alteration by hydrolysis, reduction, or oxidation to give a
change in color or structure from the horizons above or below,
or both (Bm).
The solid rock underlying soils and the regolith or exposed at the
surface.
bog
A peat-covered or peat-filled wetland, generally with a high water
table. The water of a bog is generally acid and low in nutrients.
Bogs usually support a black spruce forest but may also be
treeless. They are usually covered with sphagnum and
feathermosses and ericaceous shrubs.
Brunisolic
An order of soils whose horizons are developed sufficiently to
exclude them from the Regosolic Order but lack the degrees or
kinds of horizon development specified for soils in other orders.
They always have Bm or Btj horizons.
buffer or buffer
zone
A strip or area of forest or land, usually along sensitive sites such
as watercourses or key wildlife habitats, that are under a protected
or restricted management regime.
bulk density, soil
C horizon
The mass of dry soil per unit bulk volume.
A mineral horizon comparatively unaffected by the pedogenic
processes operative in the A and B horizons except for the
process of gleying (Cg) or the accumulation of calcium carbonate
(Cca) or other salts (Csa). A naturally calcareous C horizon is
designated Ck.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
15
Term
Definition
Chernozemic
An order of soils that have developed under xerophytic or
mesophytic grasses and forbs, or under grassland-forest transition
vegetation, in cool to cold, subarid to subhumid climates. The soils
have a dark-coloured surface (Ah.Ahe or Ap) horizon and a B or C
horizon, or both, of high base saturation. The order consists of the
classification, soil
Brown, Dark Brown, Black and Dark Gray great groups.
The systematic arrangement of soils into categories and classes
on the basis of their characteristics. Broad groupings are made on
the basis of general characteristics and subdivisions on the basis
of more detailed differences in specific properties.
clay
clod
A size fraction <0.002 mm equivalent diameter: See also texture.
A compact, coherent mass of soil produced by digging, plowing or
remoulding.
coarse fragments
coarse texture
Rock or mineral particles >2.0 mm in diameter.
The texture exhibited by sands, loamy sands, and sandy loams
except very fine sandy loam. A soil containing large quantities of
these textural classes.
drainage
Soil drainage refers to the frequency and duration of periods
when the soil is not saturated. Terms used are - excessively,
well, moderately, imperfectly and poorly drained.
duff
The layer of partially and fully decomposed organic materials lying
below the litter and immediately above the mineral soil.
edatope
Moisture/nutrient grid that displays the potential ranges of relative
moisture (very dry to wet) and nutrient (very poor to very rich)
conditions and outlines relationships between each ecosite.
ecosite
Relatively small (restricted) ecological units that develop under
specific environmental influences of climate, moisture and nutrient
eolian
erosion
regimes.
Material that has been deposited by wind action.
The wearing away of the land surface by running water, wind,
ice, or other geological agents, including such processes as
gravitational creep.
evapotranspiration
The combined loss of water from a given area and during a
specific period of time, by evaporation from the soil surface and by
transpiration from plants.
fen
A peat-covered or peat-filled wetland with a water table which
usually at or above the surface. The waters are mainly
nutrient-rich, minerotrophic waters from mineral soils. The
vegetation consists mainly of sedges, grasses, reeds and brown
mosses with some shrub cover and at times, a scanty tree layer.
fertility, soil
The status of a soil with respect to the amount and availability of
elements necessary for plant growth.
fibre (rubbed)
Amount of fibre in an organic soil, > than 0.15 mm, remaining
after a specified amount of abrasion (rubbing). A fibric soil has >
40 % rubbed fibre a mesic soil has 10% to 40% rubbed fibre and
a humic soil has < 10% rubbed fibre.
fibric
An organic layer containing large amounts of weakly decomposed
material whose origins are readily identifiable (von Post 1-4).
fine texture
Consisting of or containing large quantities of the fine fractions,
particularly of silt and clay.
fluvial
Material that has been transported and deposited by streams and
rivers. Also alluvial.
frost-free period
Season of the year between the last frost of spring and first frost of
fall.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
16
Term
Definition
Gleysolic
An order of soils developed under wet conditions and permanent
or periodic reduction. These soils have low chromas, or prominent
mottling, or both, in some horizons. The great groups Gleysol,
Humic Gleysol and Luvic Gleysol are included in the order.
gravelly
Containing appreciable or significant amounts of gravel (particles 2
to 75 mm in diameter).
Green Area
An administrative classification of public lands in Alberta that are
managed primarily for forest production, watershed protection, fish
and wildlife habitat, recreation and other multiple uses.
groundwater
That portion of the hydrosphere which at any particular time is
either passing through or standing in the soil and the underlying
strata and is free to move under the influence of gravity.
growing degree
days (GDD)
The accumulated heat units above a threshold temperature - in
this case, 5°C. They are calculated as (mean daily temperature -
5) x days.
growing season
Nominally, the length of time with a mean daily temperature above
5°C.
horizon
A layer in the soil profile approximately parallel to the land surface
with more or less well-defined characteristics that have been
humic
produced through the operation of soil forming processes. Soil
horizons may be organic or mineral.
An organic layer of highly decomposed material containing little
fibre (von Post 7-10).
hummocky
Abounding in rounded or conical knolls or mounds, generally of
equidimensional shape and not ridge-like.
impeded drainage
A condition which hinders the movement of water through soils
under the influence of gravity.
infiltration
irrigation
The downward entry of water into the soil.
The artificial application of water to the soil for the benefit of
lacustrine
landscape
growing crops.
Material deposited in lake water and later exposed.
All the natural features such as fields, hills, forests, water, etc.,
which distinguish one part of the earth's surface from another part.
Usually that portion of land or territory which the eye can
comprehend in a single view, including all its natural
characteristics.
lithic
A feature of a soil subgroup which indicates a bedrock contact
within 50 cm of the soil surface.
litter
Standing and fallen dead plant material that was produced
naturally on site.
loam
See soil texture. A mixture of sand, silt and clay. It is not related to
colour.
Luvisolic
An order of soils that have eluvial (Ae) horizons, and illuvial (Bt)
horizons in which silicate clay is the main accumulation product.
The soils developed under forest or forest-grassland transition in a
moderate to cool climate. The most common forest soils in
western Canada.
map unit
A map unit is any identified parcel of land that appears different
from the rest of the area in terms of topography, vegetation or
soils.
management unit
An area or tract of forestland that is managed in the same way.
Mean Annual
Increment (MAI)
The average volume of wood accumulated by a tree or stand on a
yearly basis. The usual measurement is m3/ha/y.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
17
Term
Definition
medium texture
Intermediate between fine-textured and coarse-textured (soils). (It
includes the following textural classes: very fine sandy loam,
loam, silt loam, and silt).
merchantable
timber
A tree or stand of trees that are “of acceptable age” or “of
acceptable quality” to be harvested and converted into saleable
products.
mesic
An organic layer of intermediately decomposed material (between
that of fibric and humic) (von Post 4-6).
mixedwood stands Stands containing both deciduous and coniferous species.
moderately-coarse
texture
Consisting predominantly of coarse particles. (In soil textural
classification, it includes all the sandy loams except the very fine
sandy loam).
moder
Humus form that displays the diagnostic organic horizons with
varying degrees of intermixing between the organic and mineral
horizons, producing a gradual transition between the horizons
moderately-fine
texture
Consisting predominantly of intermediate-size (In soil textural
classification, it includes clay loam, sandy clay loam, and silty clay
loam).
moisture regime
Represents the available moisture supply for plant growth on a
relative scale. It is assessed through an integration of species
composition and soil and site characteristics.
mor
Humus form that displays diagnostic F and H horizons, with a
distinct boundary evident between the organic and mineral layer.
There is no intermixing of organic and mineral horizons.
morphology, soil
The makeup of the soil, including texture, structure, consistence,
colour, and other mineralogical, physical and biological properties
of the various horizons of the soil profile.
mull
Humus form where the diagnostic F and H horizons are
commonly lacking. There is considerable mixing of organic
material into the surface mineral horizon thereby creating a
relatively thick Ah horizon.
Natural Regions
Small scale landscape patterns with similar combinations of
vegetation, landforms and soils. Six regions are identified in
Alberta: Grassland, Parkland, Boreal Forest, Rocky Mountains
and Canadian Shield.
Natural
Subregions
nutrient regime
Subdivisions of the regions. Twenty are recognized in Alberta.
Amount of essential nutrients that are available for plant growth.
The determination of nutrient regime requires the integration of
many environmental and biotic parameters.
Organic
An order of soils that have developed dominantly from organic
deposits. The majority of organic soils are saturated for most of the
year, unless artificially drained. The great groups include Fibrisol,
Mesisol, Humisol and Folisol.
organic matter
The decomposition residues of biological materials derived from:
(a) plant and animal materials deposited on the surface of the
soils; and (b) roots and micro-organisms that decay beneath the
surface of the soil.
P-PET
Precipitation - potential evapotranspiration is an index of moisture
balance.
paralithic
Poorly consolidated bedrock which can be dug with a spade when
moist. It is severely constraining but not impenetrable to roots.
parent material
The unconsolidated and more or less chemically weathered
mineral or organic matter from which the solum of a soil is
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
18
Term
Definition
peat
peatymor
pH, soil
productivity
profile, soil
reaction, soils
Regosolic
rotation
saline soil
sand
volume
silt
silviculture
Site Index (SI)
soil
soil map
soil moisture
soil structure
developed by pedogenic processes.
Unconsolidated soil material consisting largely of organic remains
(mainly derived from mosses or sedges).
Humus form that is strongly associated with lowland, poorly or
very poorly drained sites. It is sharply delineated from the mineral
soil and is composed of Of, Om and/or Oh horizons.
The negative logarithm of the hydrogen-ion activity of a soil. The
degree of acidity (or alkalinity) of a soil as determined by means
of glass, quinhydrone, or other suitable electrode or indicator at a
specified moisture content of soil-water ratio, and expressed in
terms of the pH scale.
A measure of the physical yield of a particular crop. It must be
related to a specified management. Productivity may be used to
describe or define suitability but it would be inappropriate as a
definition of capability which puts more emphasis on vulnerability
or flexibility - on available options - rather than simply yields
A vertical section of the soil through all its horizons and extending
into the parent material.
The degree of acidity or alkalinity of soil, usually expressed as a
pH value.
An order of soils having no horizon development or development
of the A and B horizons insufficient to meet the requirements of the
other orders. Included are Regosol and Humic Regosol great
groups.
The period of years required to establish and grow even-aged
timber stands to a specified condition of maturity.
A nonalkali soil containing soluble salts in such quantities that they
interfere with the growth of most crop plants. The conductivity of
the saturation extract is greater than 4 dS/m (formerly mmhos/cm),
the exchangeable- sodium percentage is less than 15, and the pH
is usually less than 8.5.
A soil particle between 0.05 and 2.0 mm in diameter.
Amount of wood in a tree, stand of trees or other specified area,
according to some unit of measure, usually in terms of cubic
meter.
A soil separate consisting of particles between 0.05 to 0.002 mm
in equivalent diameter.
The theory and practice of controlling the establishment,
composition, structure and growth of forests.
Predicted height for a specific tree species at a given breast height
age (50 years used in this report)
The unconsolidated mineral material on the immediate surface of
the earth that serves as a natural medium for the growth of land
plants.
A map showing the distribution of soil types or other soil mapping
units in relation to the prominent physical and cultural features of
the earth's surface.
Water contained in the soil.
The combination or arrangement of primary soil particles into
secondary particles, unit or peds. These secondary units may
be, but usually are not, arranged in the profile in such a manner
as to give a distinctive characteristics pattern. The secondary
units are characterized and classified on the basis of size, shape,
and degree of distinctness into classes, types, and grades,
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
19
Term
Definition
soil survey
Solonetzic
stand
stand tending
sustained yield
stocking
subsoil
texture
till
volume
Von Post
humification scale
water table
Wetland:
Woodlot
respectively. Common terms for kind of structure are - single
grain, amorphous, blocky, subangular blocky, granular, platy,
prismatic and columnar.
The systematic examination, description, classification, and
mapping of soils in an area. Soil surveys are ranked according to
the kind and intensity of field examination.
An order of soils developed mainly under grass or grass-forest
vegetative cover in semiarid to subhumid climates. The soils have
a stained brownish or blackish solonetzic B (Bn, Bnt) horizon and
a saline C horizon. The order includes the Solonetz, Solodized
Solonetz and Solod great groups.
A community of trees sufficiently uniform in species, age,
arrangement or condition so as to be distinguishable as a group in
the forest or other growth in the area.
Activities such as weeding, pruning, and thinning undertaken to
benefit the growth or quality of a forest or stand of trees.
Management of forest land for continuous production with the aim
of achieving, at the earliest practical time, a balance between net
growth and harvest.
A measure of the proportion of an area occupied by
trees/seedlings, expressed in terms of number of trees per
specified area.
Although a common term it cannot be defined specifically. It may
be the B horizon of a soil with a distinct profile. It can also be
defined as the zone below the plowed soil in which roots normally
grow. In this publication it refers to the soil material between 20 cm
and 100 cm depth.
The relative proportions of sand, silt and clay (the soil separates).
It is described in terms such as sand (S), loamy sand (LS), sandy
loam (SL), loam (L), silt loam (SiL), clay loam (CL), silty clay loam
(SiCL) and clay (C). See Figure 3 at end of this section.
Unstratified glacial drift deposited directly by the ice and consisting
of clay, sand, gravel, and boulders intermingled in any proportion.
Amount of wood in a tree, stand of trees or other specified area.
Usually measured in terms of cubic metres/area.
A manual method for estimating degree of decomposition of peat
materials. It is a 10 point scale with assessment based on colour
of drained water and structure of hand squeezed material.
The upper surface of groundwater or that level below which the
soil is saturated with water.
Land that has the water table at, near or above the land surface
or which is saturated for a long enough period to promote
wetland or aquatic processes as indicated by hydric soils,
hydrophytic vegetation and various kinds of biological activity that
are adapted to the wet environment (Tarnocai et al., 1988).
A tract of land, on a farm, ranch or other private property, set aside
primarily for the growing, management, and harvest of trees for
sale as unprocessed logs and potentially a variety of other
ancillary products.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
20
APPENDIX 2
STANDARD WOODLOT CONVERSION FACTORS
Solid Measure to Solid Measure
1 m3 = 35.3 ft3 or .353 cunits
1 cunit = 1— ft3 or 2.83 m3
1 ft3 = 0.0283 m3
Stacked Measure to Stacked Measure
1 m3 (stacked) = 0.275 cord
1 cord = 128 ft3 (stacked) = 3.62 m3 (stacked)
Stacked Measure to Solid Measure
Conifer:
1 m3 (stacked) = 0.664 m3 (solid)
1 cord = 85 ft3 = 2.4 m3 (solid)
Deciduous:
1 m3 (stacked) = 0.557 m3 (solid)
1 cord = 71 ft3 — 2.0 m3 (solid)
Roundwood to Weight
1 m3 (spruce, pine, fir) roughly equals 0.825 tonne [may
vary by ecoregion]
1 m3 (aspen, balsam poplar) roughly equals 0.975 tonne
[may vary by ecoregion]
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
21
APPENDIX 3
GENERAL FIELD APPLICATION OF ASSESSMENT PROCEDURES
In order to ensure that the productivity ratings and assessment procedures are
appropriate and meet expectations, it is felt that a brief description of field protocols might
be useful.
To perform an assessment it is assumed that a woodlot management plan is in place,
and that the plans have been reviewed to ensure that they are complete and that logical
and practical “management units” (partitions) have been identified. The identification of
these units is key to a good assessment.
1 ) Management Unit Definition
A management unit can be described as a practical sized land unit (> 5 ha) that
requires a single management strategy. The land units would be characterized by a
relatively uniform site of environmental conditions (vegetation, soil topography) or by
a repeating landscape pattern that only requires a single type of management. For
example, a floodplain would be separated from an adjacent upland, or a relatively flat
fine textured lacustrine area from a hilly morainal upland, or a recent burn from an
older mature forest.
Recognized features displayed on a map include:
Vegetation: general tree species, stand density and height
Topography: general slope steepness, shape, and patterns
Soils: material (texture) and drainage
2) Management Unit Descriptions
Each unit is characterized by selecting a site (or sites) that is representative of the
unit. The site could be characterized as a relatively uniform landscape unit or it could
include several sites to represent the range of characteristics in the case of a non-
uniform unit.
Descriptions of vegetation, landforms and soils include:
Vegetation: tree species, understory type, merchantable volumes
Landform: typical slope steepness and length, stoniness, likelihood of flooding,
dissection or other non-uniformity features.
Soils: texture, drainage, organic profile (including duff), depth to root restrictions, pH
general classification.
3) Application Issues
One of the most common questions is whether to use a single site or several sites to
characterize the unit and whether to average the results or treat as proportions. The
general approach should be to evaluate the amount of contrast in each of the
vegetation landform and soil components. If there is little contrast in all three
components then a single site is appropriate. If there are significant differences in
any or all the components then more than one site should be evaluated for
productivity assessment.
For example, a hummocky or rolling landform will typically have different drainage
classes. It might be
a) 40% moderately well drained (crests, upper slopes)
b) 40% imperfectly to poorly drained (lower slopes)
c) 20% poorly drained (shallow organic soils)
These should be evaluated separately. The results might be
a) MAI of 2 m3/ha/y (white spruce, aspen)
b) MAI of 2.5 m3/ha/y (white spruce, aspen)
c) MAI of 0.9 m3/ha/y (black spruce, tamarack)
It would be appropriate to average a) and b) but not c). With different species as well
as probable harvesting strategies. The final assessment would be 80% @ 2.25 and
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
23
20% @ 0.9. This proportion would be carried forward into the assessment when
values would be put on the proportion (acres) of each and then summed for a single
total value. The wetland portion might be designated as “no economic value” or
“non-productive” and valued on that basis.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
24
rro m □□ m a enrnn g m □
Map 1
Natural Regions and Subregions of Alberta
Alberta
White Zone
Water
Municipalities
agical Sub-regions of Alberta
1 - Boreal fores!
1 - Centra; Mixedwoed
2 - Dry Mixedwoaa
3 - Wetland Mxedwood
4 - Sub-arctic Mtxedwood
b - Peace River Lowlands
6 - Boreal Highlands
2 • Rocky Mountains
7 - Alpine
8 ■ Sub-alpine
9 - Montane
3 - f oothills
10 - Upper Foothills
1 1 - Lower Foothills
4 - Canadian Shield
12 - Athabasca Plain
13 ■ Kazan Uplands
5 - Parkland
14 - Foothills Parkland
15- Peace River Parkland
16 - Central Parkland
6 • Grassland
1? - Dry Msxedgrass
18 - Foothills Fescue
19 - Northern Fescue
2.0 - Mixedgrass
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
25
Map 2
Woodlot Production Regions and Areas of Alberta (with Natural Region and
Subregion Boundaries)
N
+
/%/ Region Boundary
I ] Region Name
/X/Area Boundary
□ Area Number
H~"'l Lower Foothills
[— 1 Central Mixed wood
m Dry Mixed wood
f ~1 Parkland / Montane T §000. 000
| 1 Not Rated
Map 2. Woodlot Production Regions and Areas ot Alberta
(with Natural Regions and Subregions boundaries)
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
27
REFERENCES
Agronomic interpretations Working Group. 1995. Land suitability rating system for
agriculture crops: 1. Spring-seeded small grains. Edited by W.W. Pettapiece.
Tech. Bull. 1995-6E. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa. 90 pages, 2
maps.
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1994. Timber Harvest Planning and Operating Ground
Rules. Alberta Land and Forest Service, Edmonton. 15pp.
Alberta. Assessment Standards Branch. 1984. Assessment Manual 1984: vol. 4, Farm
Land. Alberta Municipal Affairs, Edmonton.
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1994. Natural regions and subregions of Alberta. 18
pp.
Alberta Forest Service. 1985. Alberta phase 3 forest inventory: yield tables for
unmanaged stands. Alberta Energy and Natural Resources, Edmonton. 227 pp.
Archibald, J.H., G.D.KIappstein, and I.G.W.Corns. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of
southwestern Alberta. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Northwest Reg.,
North. For. Cent., Edmonton. Spec. Rep.8. 537pp. (Imap)
Beckingham, J.D., I.G.W.Corns, and J.H. Archibald. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of
west-central Alberta. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Northwest Reg., North.
For. Cent., Edmonton. Spec. Rep.9. 644pp. (Imap)
Beckingham, J.D and J.H. Archibald. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of northern Alberta.
Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv., Northwest Reg., North. For. Cent.,
Edmonton. Spec. Rep.5. 522pp. (Imap)
Beckingham, J.D., D.G. Nielsen, and V.A. Futoransky. 1996. Field guide to ecosites of
the mid-boreal ecoregions of Saskatchewan. Nat. Resour. Can., Can. For. Serv.,
Northwest Reg., North. For. Cent., Edmonton. Spec. Rep.6. xxx pp. (Imap)
Chen Han, Y.H., K. Klinka, and R.D. Kabzems. 1998. Site index, site quality and foliar
nutrients of trembling aspen: relationships and predictions. Can. J. For. Res. 28:
1743-1755.
Corns, I.G.W. 1978. Tree growth prediction and plant community distribution in relation to
environmental factors in lodgepole pine, white spruce, black spruce and aspen
forests of western Alberta foothills. Unpubl. Ph.D. dissertaion. University of
Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Corns, I.G.W. and R.M. Annas. 1986. Field guide to forest ecosystems of west-central
Alberta. Can. For. Serv., North. For. Cent., Edmonton, Alberta. Spec. 251 pp. (1
map)
Dzikowski, P and R.T. Heywood. 1986. Agroclimatic Atlas of Alberta. Agdex 071-1.
Alberta Agriculture, Edmonton. 31pp.
Expert Committee on Soil Survey. 1983. The Canadian Soil Information System (Cansis):
manual for describing soil in the field 1982. Revised. Edited by J.H. Dday. Land
Resource Research Institute. Agriculture Canada, Ottawa. 162 pp.
Expert Committee on Soil Survey. 1987. The Canadian System of Soil Classification. 2nd
Ed. Agric. Can. Publ. 1646. Ottawa. 164 pp.
Lesko, G.L. and J.D. Lindsay. 1973. Forest/soil relationships and management
considerations in a portion of the Chip Lake map area in Alberta. Alberta
Research Council Rep. No. 73-1. Alberta Research Council, Edmonton. 65 pp.
Hogg, E.H. 1994. Climate and the southern limit of the western Canadian boreal forest.
Can. J. for. Res. 24: 1835-1845.
Robertson, E.O., L.A. Jozsa, and D.L. Spittlehouse. 1990. Estimating Douglas-fir wood
production from soil and climate data. Can. J. For. Res. 20: 357-364.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
29
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Woodlot Association of Alberta pamphlets
Managed woodlot plan, Woodlot Management Guide for the Prairie Provinces (from
Assessment Standards Branch).
Alberta Environmental Protection. 1996. The Status of Alberta’s Timber Supply.
Ezra Consulting Limited. 1996. Woodlot Policy Backgrounder. Prepared for Forest
Management Division, Alberta Environmental Protection. 25 pp.
2002 Alberta Managed Woodlot Operations
30
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