GUELPH, ONTARIO - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The poorly drained loams and silt’ loams found in the County usually
occur as small areas in association with the better drained soils. Because of
their depressional position in relation to the surrounding better soils they are
often difficult to drain. However, the provision of improved drainage, although
difficult and cost,ly, is essential for the best, utilization of these soils. When
drainage is improved, fertility and organic matter must be maintained through
the use of fertilizers and manure. The soils in this group are used for pasture
or wood1 ot .
III. Silt Loams, Silty Clay Loams, and Clay Loams
(a) Good
Drainage
SOIL TYPE ACREAGE OTO OF TOTAL
Huron clay loam . . .
9,~ 0.9
Huron silt loam.. :._ .._., :I..:: _,.__,. . ,:‘::‘I 4,900 @A
Vincent clay loam . .. . .. . . .. 900 ......
Vincent silt loam .._. .. . .. . .._. ._ .,,.__. 600 ......
Dunedin clay loam. ... ._. ..... _. . _.. . . 2,700 0.2
Saugeen silty clay loam. _.... ._. 28,200 2.7
Saugeen clay loam .. _. _. _. 1,300 0.1
Saugeen silt loam.. . 8,900
-__-
0.8
--
TOTAL .. _._ ,._ ,, .. ..._._..... ., ._ 57,100 5.1
All the soils of this group are well suited to the production of crops and
are chiefly used for that purpose. Susceptible to erosion, some of these soils
have lost a large part of their surface soil, particularly where slopes are steep
along the stream courses. Most soil loss can be prevented by the use of long
rotations and cover crops. So far as practicable, tillage should be on the contour
on the steeper slopes. Tillage should ordinarily be avoided when the
soils are very wet or very dry, although the range in moisture content that will
allow safe tillage is fairly wide.
Fertilization is important, as all these soils need fertilizers for the con-
Gnued production of medium to high yields of crops. Phosphate is needed
for all crops, particularly for legumes and grasses. Nitrogen is a general requirement,
except where it’ is supplied by legumes. Potash may be a requirement
for these soils, particularly for crops that are high potash feeders. The use of *
green manure and barnyard manure is necessary for the maintenance of the
content of organic matter.
The members of this group have a wide range in adaptability to various
kinds of crops, and their requirements with regard to the selection of crops
are therefore not exacting. It is important, however, to grow the selected
crops in the proper rotation if the productivity of the soils is to be maintained
or increased. Row crops need to be alternated with close growing crops, and
t!he periodic growth of deep-rooted crops is beneficial. A rotation consisting
of corn one year, small grain one year and clover or clover and grass one year
appears to be well suited to these soils where the slopes are not too steep.
However, where soil loss occurs clover and grass should be grown for a longer
period of time. If the land is adequately fertilized, alfalfa does very well,
and as it is a deep-rooted crop its periodic production is to be encouraged.
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