An objective approach to evaluating natural drainage of forest mineral soils for non-specialists

Soil drainage is a fundamental element of northern forest productivity. However, its evaluation is a complex operation involving numerous parameters, while no standard approach exists as yet. We have devised drainage evaluation grids based on topographical, edaphical and vegetational parameters. Since distinct surficial deposits influence the relationships between drainage classes and evaluation parameters in distinct patterns, different grids have been proposed for different textural groups.