Soils of the - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

MATSQU I
(Continued)
(MQ)
General Land Use Comments : (1) Matsqui soils are suited for most agricultural crops although advers e
topography may be somewhat limiting in a few areas. Droughtiness is common during the latter parts of mos t
growing seasons because of relatively low waterholding capacity and irrigation is needed to maintain goo d
productivity. Irrigation water is usually readily available from the nearby river, from sloughs or the relativel y
shallow groundwater table . Matsqui soils rarely occur as large areas ; usually they are intimately intermixed wit h
other soils which makes their individual management difficult . If land levelling is undertaken care should b e
exercised to avoid exposing the subsoil sand at the surface . The best method is to strip and stockpile the silty
surface material, level the underlying sand, then respread the silty material back on the surface . (2) Matsqu i
soils provide some of the better locations for building sites on the floodplain landscape since they occur in th e
higher topographic positions . Variable bearing strengths however, may cause uneven subsidence if heav y
structures are erected. Septic tank efficiency may be impeded during the freshet season when groundwate r
levels can rise to about 1 m from the soil surface . Excavations may also contain water during this period . (3 )
Growth of black cottonwood is moderately good on Matsqui soils . Data from a limited number of plots indicate s
that black cottonwood potentially can produce between 12 and 15 m 3/ha of wood per year. Islands in the Frase r
River and other areas susceptible to periodic flooding or with poor access may be best used for crops such a s
cottonwood or hybrid European poplars .
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