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GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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

General farming <strong>and</strong> dairying are the main endeavours practised on the<br />

Teeswater silt loam. The type is well suited for the growing of nearly all crops<br />

commonly grown in the County <strong>and</strong> good yields are obtained from fall wheat,<br />

oats, barley, alfalfa, corn, turnips, tree fruits, hay <strong>and</strong> pasture. The soil is<br />

also adapted to certain cash crops such as raspberries, strawberries, corn, peas,<br />

beans <strong>and</strong> tomatoes.<br />

Fertilit)y <strong>and</strong> organic matter maintenance are the main requisites for successful<br />

crop production. The soil has a medium cont,ent of potassium <strong>and</strong><br />

organic matter but is low in phosphorus. Fertilizer additions will benefit most<br />

crops, particularly the cash crops where high yields are required. Additions of<br />

appropriate amounts of organic matter are ensured when the farm livestock<br />

population is kept at an adequate level.<br />

The rapid internal drainage permits early spring cultivation. Occasionally<br />

stones <strong>and</strong> cobbles occur on the surface <strong>and</strong> to some extent interfere with<br />

cultivation. This condition only happens when the stonefree silty overburden<br />

has been eroded.<br />

Sargent Loam (5,300 acres)<br />

Sargent loam is developed on well sorted gravelly materials <strong>and</strong> is a Brown<br />

Forest - Grey-Brown Podzolic soil. The type is characterized by its shallow<br />

profile <strong>and</strong> the high lime content of the parent material. The profile described<br />

below is typical of the Sargent loam situated in a cut-over forested area where<br />

hard maple <strong>and</strong> beech form the tree cover:<br />

Ao - Thin layer<br />

etc.<br />

of partially<br />

decomposed leaves, twigs,<br />

A1 - O-3 inches loam; very dark brown (10 YR 2/2) ;<br />

fine granular structure; friable consistency;<br />

gravelly; pH - 7.2.<br />

BI - 3-6 inches loam; yellow-brown (10 YR 5/4);<br />

coarse granular structure; friable consistency;<br />

gravelly; calcareous; pH - 7.4.<br />

B2 - 6-l 1 inches clay loam; dark brown (10 YR 4/3) ;<br />

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

gravelly; calcareous; pH - 7.5.<br />

C - S<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> gravel; brown (10 YR 5/3) ; single grain<br />

structure; loose consistency; many stones; calcareous;<br />

pH - 8.0.<br />

Profiles exhibiting Grey-Brown Podzolic characteristics have a loam textured<br />

A2 horizon which has a weak platy structure <strong>and</strong> is pale brown in colour.<br />

The B horizon, of these profiles, is usually of slightly heavier texture <strong>and</strong> is<br />

somewhat better defined than that of the Brown Forest, soil. Sargent loam is<br />

well drained with rapid internal drainage <strong>and</strong> medium external drainage. The<br />

topography is generally smooth gently sloping but in a few areas, particularly<br />

on t!he Bruce Peninsula, some steeper slopes occur.<br />

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