The Soils of Brant County - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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Soil DescriptionsGeneralized descriptions of all the soils in Brant Countyare included in this section ofthe report . The descriptions arearranged in alphabetical sequence and include general informationon soil profile characteristics including parent materialand textures, soil moisture characteristics, associated soils andland use and management .Mean horizon values for selected parameters of BrantCounty soils are included at the end of this section in Table 7 .More detailed morphological, chemical, physical and engineering test data for representative soil pedons are included inVolume 2 of this report .Many of the soil names used in this report have beenretained from the old soil map for Brant County. Althoughthere are strong similarities between the new and old soildescriptions, they are not identical due to the more detailedmapping of this survey. Also, because ofincreasing intensity ofland use in recent years, it is now necessary to establish moreprecise limits when describing soil properties . Care should betaken to recognize these differences between old and new soildescriptions when common soil names have been used .Alluvial Soils (ALU)General Soil Description Alluvial soils have developedin materials deposited during flood stages of rivers andstreams . The texture and drainage of these soils are variableover short distances . On small, non-cultivated floodplains, noattempt has been made to differentiate soil textures, and alluvialsoils have been mapped as Undifferentiated Alluvium (1-ALU) . Textural differentiation has been attempted in a generalway on larger floodplains being cultivated for agriculturalcrops. Alluvial soilswith sand and graveltextures weremappedas 2-ALU ; loams, silt loams and sandy loams as 3ALU ; andsilty clay loams and silty clays as 4ALU.The surface horizons of alluvial soils generally arebetween 20 and 30 cm thick . Organic matter contents are usuallyhigh, except in areas - where recent erosion or depositionhas occurred, and often range from 3 to 7% . Textures of topsoiland subsoilare variable, both laterally and with depth . Freecarbonates may occur at anydepth andoften still remain in thesurface horizon of recently flooded soils . Soil reaction is usuallyneutral to mildly alkaline . Soil classification varies with theage of the deposit and drainage . Alluvial soils which are welldrainedusually are either Humic Regosols or Melanic Brunisols. Poorly drained alluvial soils are most commonly HumicGleysols .Soil Moisture Characteristics Alluvial soils have a widerange of drainage conditions, but most are either imperfectlyor poorly drained due to the nearness of the groundwater tableto the surface of the soil for long periods each year. They arealso subject to flooding or seepage of water from adjacent valleyslopes which causes additional wetness . Permeability,water-holding capacity and surface runoff vary widelydepending on soil textures .Commonly Associated Soils Soils which most commonlyoccur with Alluvial soils are the well-drained and moderatelywell-drained soils on valley slopes adjacent to thealluvial floodplain . They include Brantford (BFO), Smithville(SHV), Haldimand (HIM), Fox (FOX) and Burford (BUF)soils . Brantford, Smithville and Haldimand soils are developedon clayey textured glaciolacustrine materials, and are mostcommonly associated with the 4ALU map unit . Fox . soils aredeveloped on glaciolacustrine sandy materials and Burfordsoils from glaciofluvial gravels . Bothtend to be associated withfloodplains mapped as the 2-ALU map unit .Land Use and Management Most alluvial soils remainin their natural condition comprising native grasses, shrubs orwooded vegetation . Their major limitations to agricultural useare risk of flooding and poor drainage. The larger, higherfloodplains, especially along the Grand River, are sometimesused for agricultural crops where the risk of flooding is lowanddrainage is better thannormal . Corn, spring grain or vegetablecrops may be grown in these areas .Ayr Soils (AYR)General Soil Description Ayr soils have developed on asandy or loamy veneer 40-100 cm thick overlying outwashgravelly sand . They are poorly drained .The surface Ah horizons consist of20-25 cm of fine sandyloam or silt loam of high organic matter content . The underlyingB horizons are also sandy loam or silt loam in texture, arestrongly mottled and extend to at least 50 cm depth . A transitionalzone with characteristics of both B and C horizonsoccurs between 50-75 cm . This isunderlain by calcareous gravellysand Ck horizons, which is the parent material, at a depthof approximately 75 cm . The gravel content of the parentmaterial is at least 20-25%, and it is strongly calcareous . Soilreaction is near neutral in the surface horizon and is moderatelyalkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification for Ayr soils isOrthic Humic Gleysol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Ayr soils are poorlydrained . They are subject to fluctuating water table levels withsignificant periods of saturation in, the B horizon during thewinter and spring . The soil materials are highly permeable andthe water table level recedes significantly to 1 m or beyond duringdry growing season conditions . Surface runoff from Ayrsoils is minimal due to their low landscape position and rapidpermeability.Commonly Associated Soils Camilla soils commonlyoccur with Ayr soils where the slope increases and drainage issomewhat improved . This combination of soils is found in theAYR 2 map unit . Granby soils may also occur with Ayr soilswherethe sandyveneer exceeds 100 cm in depth . This situationoccurs in map unit AYR 3 .Land Use and Management A wide range of land usetypes may be found on Ayr soils . Land use may range frompasture or woodland in the natural, undrained condition, totobacco, vegetable crops or corn where drainage has beenimproved with subsurface tile. The major limitations to agriculturaluse of Ayr soils are poor drainage and low fertilitylevel .Berrien Soils (BRR)General Soil Description Berrien soils have developedon a sandy lacustrine veneer 40-100 cm thick overlying clayeylacustrine or glacial till deposits . They are imperfectlydrained .Surface Ap horizons of Berrien soils consist of 20-25 cmof sandy loamtexture. They are relatively low in organic matterwith contents around 2.0% . Underlying B horizons also aresandy or loamy in texture and extend to the contact with theclayey subsoil . Distinct or prominent mottles occur near theclay contact . Transition to clayey subsoil occurs abruptly atabout 50 cm . This is marked by clay loam or silty clay texturesand very firm or hard consistency. Ck horizons are usuallyencountered at about 75 cm and are silty clay, strongly calcare-26
ous materials . Soil reaction ranges from slightly acidic in thesurface horizons to moderately alkaline in the subsoil . The soilclassification is usually Gleyed Brunisolic Gray BrownLuvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Berrien soils are imperfectlydrained . The sandy surface materials are rapidly permeable,but have relatively low water-holding capacity, and arepotentially droughty during the summer months . The underlyingclayey materials are moderately to slowly permeable whichoften leads to perched water table conditions of variable durationat the sand-clay interface. Surface runoff from Berriensoils is slow because of its slowly permeable subsoil and nearlylevel topography.Commonly Associated Soils Bookton (BOO) and Wauseon(WUS) soils are most commonly associated with Berriensoils in map units BRR 4 and BRR 5 . Their parent materialsare similar to those of Berrien soils but their drainages differ.Soils of the Muriel catena may occur in proximity to Berriensoils where the sandy veneer thins to less than 40 cm as in mapunit BRR 21 .Land Use and Management Berrien soils are importantagricultural soils used extensively for grain corn, beans,tobacco and specialized horticultural crops . They have slightsoil fertility and soil moisture deficiencies which can be significantto agricultural use or management . Under intensive andcontinuous row crops, structural degradation of the surfacehorizon and loss of organic matter can readily occur, whichexacerbates these inherent soil limitations .Beverly Soils (BVY)General Soil Description Beverly soils have developedon lacustrine silty clay loam and silty clay deposits . They areimperfectly drained .Surface Ap horizons of Beverly soils consist of approximately15-20 cm of siltyclayloam . They are moderatelyhigh inorganic matter, ranging between 5-6 016 . Surface horizons arenormally underlain by about 40 cm of B horizon of silty clayloam or silty clay textures . These subsoil horizons are frequentlyvery firm and compacted, and are prominently mottled. Strongly calcareous Ck horizons begin at about 60-70 cmdepth . They are normally silty clay loam in texture and areprominently layered with alternating silty and clayey varves.Soil reaction ranges from near neutral at the surface to moderatelyalkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification is usually GleyedBrunisolicGray Brown Luvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Beverly soils are imperfectlydrained . They are moderately to slowly permeable.Groundwater temporarily occupies the surface horizons eachyear. The saturation period is normally medium, but may beprolonged in some instances where frequent use of heavymachinery has caused compaction of the subsoil . The waterholdingcapacity ranges from medium to high, and surfacerunoff is medium .Commonly Associated Soils Brantford (BFO) andToledo (TLD) soils are most commonly associated withBeverly soils in map units BVY 6 and BVY 8 . They differ fromBeverly soils, being moderately well-drained and poorlydrained, respectively.Land Use and Management Beverly soils are importantagricultural soils and their dominant use is for grain corn,small grains and forage crops . They are also used to a lesserextent for specialized crops such as soybeans, sweet corn andtomatoes . Tile drainage is usually required to extend the growingseason and to facilitate harvesting operations. These soilsare susceptible to compaction by heavy machinery when operationsare carried out during wet soil conditions .Bookton Soils (BOO)General Soil Description Bookton soils have developedon sandy lacustrine veneer 40-100 cm thick overlying clayeylacustrine or glacial till deposits . They are well-drained soils .Surface Ah horizons of Bookton soils usually consist of20-25 cm of fine sandy loam . They are underlain by 20-30 cmof loamy sand B horizons over the clayey subsoil . Bt horizonsoccur at the interface with this heavy-textured material at adepth of40-50 cm . They are generally silty clay loam in textureand very firm and compacted . Relatively unaltered clayey subsoil,comprising IICk horizons, occurs between 70-80 cmdepth . They are strongly calcareous and extremely firm andcompacted . Soil reaction ranges from near neutral in surfacehorizons to moderately alkaline in the subsoil . Soil classificationis usually Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Bookton soils are welldrained. The sandy surface materials are rapidly permeable,but the underlying clayey material is moderately to slowly permeable. Temporary perched water table conditions may occurat this sand-clay interface. Surface sands have low waterholdingcapacityand are commonly droughty during dry summerconditions . Surface runoff is slow on level or gentlysloping Bookton soils, but increases on moderate and steepslopes .Commonly Associated Soils Berrien (BRR) soils aremost commonly associated with Bookton soils in map unitsBOO 3, and Wauseon (WUS) soils may occur as inclusions .Their parent materials are similar to Bookton soils, but theirdrainage differs . Fox (FOX) and Brady (BAY) soils also arecommon associates of Bookton soils in map units BOO 7 andBOO 19 respectively, as subdominant components of thesemap units . In these instances, the sandy veneer occasionallyexceeds 100 cm in depth .Land Use and Management Bookton soils are importantagricultural soils for a wide range of crops including graincorn, hay, winter wheat, spring grain, and specialized cropssuch as tobacco and horticultural crops . They have slight soilfertility and soil moisture deficiencies which can be significantto land use and management . Supplemental irrigation may benecessary for some crops .Brady Soils (BAY)General Soil Description Brady soils have developed onglaciolacustrine sediments consisting of sand and loamy sandtextures usually modified on the surface by wind action. Theyare imperfectly drained soils .Surface Ah horizons of Brady soils usually consist of 15-20 cm ofloamysand or sandy loam . They are relatively high inorganic matter with contents of 5-6 01o . The underlying B horizons are 30-40 cm thick, usually of loamy sand texture andwith prominent mottles . Strongly calcareous Ck horizons usuallybegin at 50-60 cm depth and are sand or loamy sand texture. Soil reaction ranges from neutral in the surface horizonsto moderately alkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification istypically Gleyed Brunisolic GrayBrown Luvisol .
Page 1 and 2: The Soils ofBrant CountyVolume 1Ont
Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . .
Page 5 and 6: The soil survey, data collection, a
Page 7 and 8: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THEAREALocat
Page 10 and 11: DevonianBois Blanc Formation : grey
Page 12 and 13: DrumlinAbandoned shorelineMeltwater
Page 14 and 15: Fox SoilsIWilsonville and Scotland
Page 16 and 17: Figure 10 .Main streams and tributa
Page 18 and 19: Table 5 .Climatic data forBrantford
Page 20 and 21: Ah horizon(dark brown or black)- Bm
Page 22 and 23: Table6. Soil families ofBrant Count
Page 24 and 25: GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SOILSSO
Page 28 and 29: Soil Moisture Characteristics Brady
Page 30 and 31: Soil Moisture Characteristics Camil
Page 32 and 33: Soil Moisture Characteristics Goble
Page 34 and 35: are strongly calcareous . Soilreact
Page 36 and 37: Soil Moisture Characteristics Scotl
Page 38 and 39: Tuscola Soils (TUC)General Soil Des
Page 40 and 41: dark-brown colour . The Ck horizons
Page 42 and 43: Table7. Mean horizon values of Bran
Page 44 and 45: Table 7 . Mean horizon values of Br
Page 47 and 48: Procedure for Using Tables for Soil
Page 49 and 50: Table 10 . Agricultural suitability
Page 55 and 56: Table 11 . K-values, Erodbility cla
Page 57 and 58: Table 11 . K-values, erodibility cl
Page 59 and 60: Table 12.Guidelines for establishin
Page 61 and 62: 1 . Johnson, C .M.,1967 . Brant Cou

The Soils of Brant County - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

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