Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

HALLERT SOILS (HT)
Location and Extent : Hallert soils occur on the Fraser River floodplain, mainly in Matsqui and Glen Valley s
and usually near the margins of organic soil areas . There are about 790 ha of pure map units and 140 ha of soi l
complexes dominated by Hallert soils . Most complexes are with Banford and Niven soils .
Topography and Elevation : The topography of Hallert soils varies from level to very gently sloping or gentl y
undulating . Slope gradients are less than 2 percent and most areas lie between 3 and 7 m above sea level .
Parent Material and Texture : Hallert soils have developed from medium-textured, Fraser River floodplai n
deposits that contain organic lenses and strata. The surface texture is mainly silt loam and contains hig h
amounts of organic matter. In some areas the organic matter content is sufficient for the surface to be organi c
(humic) . The subsurface and subsoil consists of alternating layers of silt loam or silty clay loam and variabl y
decomposed organic material .
Soil Moisture Characteristics : Hallert soils are poorly to very poorly drained . They are moderatel y
pervious and have slow surface runoff and high water holding capacity . The watertables are near an d
sometimes at the soil surface for most of the winter and surface ponding is common during heavy rains .
General Soil Description : Hallert soils generally have a silty, cultivated surface layer about 20 cm thic k
which is grayish-brown to black, friable and contains between 15 and 25 percent organic matter . This i s
underlain by a zone 50 cm or more thick consisting of alternating bands of gray or brownish-gray, massive, silt y
material and dark brown to dusky red, variably decomposed organic material (mostly sedge, reed and gras s
remains). Sometimes the organic material is disseminated throughout rather than being in bands . At depth ,
gradation to massive, grayish silt or silt loam occurs . Soil reaction in the surface is extremely or very strongl y
acid and grades to moderately to strongly acid in the subsoil (1 :1 H8O) . Soil classification is Rego Humi c
Gleysol . In the scattered areas where the surface is organic, the classification is Rego Gleysol.peaty phase.
Commonly Associated Soils : Banford, Niven and Gibson soils are frequently closely associated wit h
Hallert soils . Banford and Gibson soils differ from Hallert soils by being organic in the upper 40 to 120 cm of soi l
while Niven soils consist of 20 to 50 cm of silty material overlying organic material 40 cm or more thick .
Vegetation : Most areas are cleared and cultivated . The vegetation on uncleared areas is mainly deciduou s
and includes willow, red alder, birch, blackberry, salmonberry, hardhack, sedges and grasses . Some wester n
red cedar and western hemlock are also present . Rooting is mainly restricted to the upper 50 cm by hig h
watertables .
General Land Use Comments : (1) Poor drainage is the main limitation for agriculture of Hallert soils . Th e
main crops at present are forage and pasture and blueberries . With adequate watertable control a variety of
vegetables and field crops are possible . (2) Hallert soils are generally unsuited as urban sites because o f
subsidence problems due to low soil bearing strengths . High watertables make basements and other excava -
tions impractical and septic tank operation is severely impaired .
92