22.11.2014 Views

GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

I. Till Composed of Grey Materials<br />

(i) Good<br />

Drainage<br />

Dumfries Loam (11,700 acres)<br />

The Dumfries series is the well drained member of the Dumfries catena<br />

<strong>and</strong> is found in the southern part of Carrick Township. The profile exhibits<br />

the characteristics of the Grey-Brown Podzolic Great Soil Group. The following<br />

is a profile description of Dumfries loam developed under hardwood vegetation:<br />

A,, -<br />

Thin<br />

etc.<br />

layer<br />

of<br />

partially<br />

decomposed leaves, twigs,<br />

A1 - O-3 inches loam; dark brown (10 YR 4/3); fine<br />

granular structure; friable consistency; frequent<br />

stones; pH - 6.5.<br />

AZ1-- 3-11 inches loam; yellowish brown (10 YR 5/4) ;<br />

weak platy Structure; friable consistency; fen<br />

stones; pH - 6.3.<br />

Azz-<br />

-<br />

-<br />

11-14 inches loam; pale brown (10 YR 6/3)-; weak<br />

platy structure; friable consistency; occasional<br />

stones; pH - 6.0.<br />

14-20 inches loam; dark yellowish brown (10 YR<br />

4/4) ; fine nucif orm structure ; friable consistency ;<br />

moderately stony; pH - 6.5.<br />

20-27 inches clay loam; dark brown (10 YR 4/3) ;<br />

medium nuciform structure; friable consistency;<br />

very stony; pH -- 7.0.<br />

Stony s<strong>and</strong>y loam till; light grey (10 YR 7/2);<br />

single grain structure; Ioose consist’ency ; calcareous;<br />

pH 8.0.<br />

The t)opography of Dumfries loam is steeply sloping, the slopes being irregular.<br />

Both external <strong>and</strong> internal drainage are good. However, imperfectly <strong>and</strong><br />

poorly drained potholes which are too small to be delineated on the map, the<br />

scale of which is one inch to the mile, occur, which are included with the well<br />

drained member. Stones occurring throughout the profile usually interfere<br />

with cult’ivation. The soil is susceptible to sheet erosion which is severe in<br />

many sections. Dumfries loam has a medium to low fertility level, being low<br />

to very low in phosphorus <strong>and</strong> medium to low in potash <strong>and</strong> nitrogen. The<br />

organic matter content is medium to low.<br />

Most, of the Dumfries loam has been cleared <strong>and</strong> present forest’ed areas<br />

consist of small woodlots. Beech <strong>and</strong> sugar maple occur most frequent,ly, with<br />

basswood, ironwood <strong>and</strong> elm occurring in lesser amounts.<br />

<strong><strong>Agri</strong>culture</strong><br />

Most of the Dumfries loam has been cultivated <strong>and</strong> is used chiefly for<br />

general farming. Cereal grains, legumes, hay <strong>and</strong> pasture are fairly well<br />

adapted to this soil.<br />

36

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!