Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

KITTER SOILS (K)
Location and Extent : Kitter soils are mainly found in the southern part of Delta Municipality and in th e
western part of the Nicomekl-Serpentine Valley in Surrey Municipality . About 180 ha of pure map units and 124 0
ha of a variety of soil complexes dominated by Kitter soils are mapped . The complexes are mostly with Delta ,
Embree, Ladner, Sandel and Goudy soils .
Topography and Elevation : The topography of Kitter soils is mostly undulating with a few areas very gentl y
rolling . Slopes are between 2 and 6 percent . The soils occupy the topographically highest positions in th e
related landscape and in some areas have been partially levelled . Elevations range from 1 to 3 m above se a
level .
Parent Material and Texture : The parent material of Kitter soils are medium-textured, stone-free, deltai c
deposits . Surface and subsurface textures are usually silt loam, occasionally varying to silty clay loam or loam .
Subsoil textures are similar in the upper part but become sandy at depths below about 100 to 150 cm . Saline soi l
conditions are usual below about 125 cm depth and at these depths, substantial amounts of compounds high i n
sulphur also usually occur.
Soil Moisture Characteristics : Kitter soils are moderately poorly drained . They are moderately perviou s
and have high water holding capacity and moderate to slow surface runoff . High groundwater tables an d
excessive rainfall cause saturated conditions during the winter months . During the growing season watertable s
usually recede sufficiently to provide a saturation-free zone adequate for most crops .
General Soil Description : Kitter soils generally have a dark grayish brown or dark brown, silty cultivate d
surface layer about 20 cm thick which is fine-blocky in structure and friable to firm when moist . The surface laye r
is underlain by a dark grayish brown, silty zone approximately 30 cm thick, which contains many, prominent ,
reddish-brown to yellowish-brown mottles and, in the upper part, common clay films on ped surfaces and some
old root channels . It is firm when moist and hard when dry and contains common vertical cracks . This zone, i n
turn, is underlain by about 40 cm of dark grayish brown, silty material which is massive or weakly stratified (few ,
fine sandy lenses) and contains common, reddish-brown or yellowish-red mottles . It grades below about 100
cm depth to olive-gray, silty, saline, soil parent material that contains some reddish-brown mottles and hard ,
brownish tubules around old root channels . Surface soil reaction varies according to management practise s
but usually is strongly acid . This grades to extremely acid below about 75 cm . Soil classification is Orthic
Gleysol.
Commonly Associated Soils : Embree, Delta and Goudy soils are often closely associated with Kitter soils .
All are more poorly drained than Kitter soils and usually lie in slightly lower topographic positions . Embree an d
Delta soils have dark gray or black, silty surfaces and are saline within 100 cm of the surface . As well, Embree
soils have an organic layer in the subsurface . Goudy soils have organic surface and subsurface layers and are
saline also .
Vegetation : Essentially all areas of Kitter soils are cleared and cultivated . Rooting is restricted mainly to th e
upper 60 to 75 cm by the massive subsoil and the periodically high watertables .
General Land Use Comments : (1) Kitter soils are good agricultural soils but their small areal extent in an y
one location and very irregular boundaries make them difficult to manage separately from adjacent, usuall y
more poorly drained soils . They are sufficiently drained for good production of most annual crops but perennial s
usually suffer during the winter when watertables are high . (2) Urban and similar uses are restricted by variabl e
bearing strengths and periodically high watertables . Basements and other excavations will probably contai n
water during parts of the year and septic tank effluent distribution fields operate poorly due to high water tables
and relatively slow permeability . Underground installations require special protection from corrosion by th e
saline subsoils .
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