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

capacity. Slight to moderate soil moisture deficits do occur inDumfries soils duringprolongeddry periods . Surface runoff ismoderate on Dumfries soils due to their steep slopes .Commonly Associated Soils Lily (LIY), Guelph (GUP)and Burford (BUF) soils are most commonly associated withDumfries soils in map units DUF2, DUF 3 and DUF 5, respectively. Lily soils, which are the subdominant component inmap unit DUF 2, are poorly drained . They are similar in soilmaterials to Dumfries soils . Guelph soils are subdominantcomponents of map unit DUF 3 . They differ in being comprisedof loam-textured glacial till, and are less stony thanDumfries soils . Burford soils may also occur with Dumfriessoils as the subdominant component in map unit DUF 5 . Theyare developed on gravelly, glaciofluvial parent materials, andgenerally contain fewerstones and boulders than the dominantsoils . Their drainage is similar to Dumfries soils .LandUse and Management Dumfries soils generally arepoor soils for agricultural uses due to their hummocky topographyand excessive stoniness . Their major agricultural use isfor hay crops and pasture, with lesser amounts of spring grainand corn . All Dumfries soils with steep slopes are best retainedin woodland for uses such as recreation, forestry and wildlife.Fox Soils (FOX)General Soil Description Fox soils have developed onsandy glaciolacustrine sediments which have been modifiedsurficially by eolian activity. They are rapidly drained .Surface horizons of Fox soils are approximately 20 cmthick with low organic matter content of about 210 . Theyrange from sandy loam to loamy sand texture. They are underlain by relatively deep brownish-coloured Bm horizons extendingto a mean depth of about 55 cm, but ranging from about 30to 70 cm deep at the base . They are loamy sand to sand in texture.In most Fox soils, theBt horizons typically have a wavy ortongueing contact with the calcareous Ck horizons, and so themean depth to the top of the Ck horizons is about 70 cm, butmay range from 40 to 100 cm . There is a significant increase inclay content in the Bt horizons compared to other horizons inthe profile, and it usually is sandy loam in texture. The Ck horizonsare usually strongly calcareous sand . Soil reaction of Foxsoils is slight acidic to neutral in the surface horizons, to moderatelyalkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification is BrunisolicGray Brown Luvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Fox soils are rapidlydrained and are rapidly permeable. They have low waterholdingcapacity ; therefore, slight to moderate soil moisturedeficits do occur during prolonged dryperiods . Surface runoffis slowexcept on steep slopes .Commonly Associated Soils Fox soils are associatedwith many other soils . The most common occurrences are withBrady (BAY) and Granby (GNY), which are the subdominantsoils in map units FOX 4 and FOX 3, respectively. Brady soilsare imperfectly drained and Granby soils are poorly drained .Both are developed on similar materials as the Fox soils . Othersoils which are fairly commonly associated with Fox soilsinclude Burford (BUF), Bookton (BOO) and Scotland (STD)soils inmap units FOX 5, FOX 21 and FOX 9, respectively. Allofthese soils have similar sandy-textured surficial materials toFOX soils, but differ in the composition of their subsoil horizonsat a depth of 40-100 cm . Burford soils are gravelly,Bookton soils are clayey-textured, and Scotland soils haveloamy subsoils .Land Use and Management Fox soils are moderatelygood soils for a range ofagricultural uses . Ofthe common fieldcrops, grain corn is produced most extensively. Rye or winterwheat also is common, usually in tobacco rotations . Theunique texture and drainage characteristics of these soils makethem well-suited to specialty crop production . They are usedextensively for growing flue-cured tobacco . Potatoes are somewhatcommon on Fox soils, and there is increasing use for theproduction of ginseng . Supplemental irrigation is necessaryfor tobacco and most other high-value crops on Fox soils .Gilford Soils (GFD)General Soil Description Gilford soils have developedon glaciofluvial deposits of gravelly sand and gravel textures .They are poorly drained soils .Surface Ap horizons of Gilford soils consist of approximately20 cm of sandy loam soil of moderate organic mattercontent . Prominently mottled B horizons with gravelly loamtexture underlie the surface horizon . In some cases these horizonsmay be moderately to strongly calcareous, reflectingupward movement of carbonates with the groundwater. Thestrongly calcareous Ck horizons occur at a depth of about 45cm . They have a high gravel content and are gravelly sand intexture . Soil reaction of Gilford soils is moderately alkaline .They are classified as Orthic Humic Gleysols .Soil Moisture Characteristics Gilford soils are poorlydrained . They are rapidly permeable . Most horizons are saturatedby groundwater for long periods each year unless artificially drained . Gilford soils have low water-holding capacityand slow surface runoff .Commonly Associated Soils Camilla (CML) and Styx(SYX) soils are most commonly associated with Gilford soilsas subdominant components in map units GFD 2 and GFD 3,respectively. Camilla soils are imperfectly drained and havesandy-textured surficial material overlying gravelly subsoils .Styx soils are very poorly drained organic soils greater than 160cm indepth .Land Use and Management In their natural condition,Gilford soils largely remain as wooded land . Where drainageimprovements have been made, they are fair soils for agricultural use. Grain corn, soybeans, and occasionally specialtycrops such as tomatoes, are the most common crops on drainedGilford soils .Gobles Soils (GOB)General Soil Description Gobles soils have developed onglacial till, most commonly of silty clay loam texture. They areimperfectly drained soils .Surface Ap horizons of Gobles soils are usually 20-25 cmthick and range from loam to clay loam in texture . They aremoderately high in organic matter content . The underlyingbrownish-coloured Bm horizons extend to a depth of about 35cm . They are usually clay loam in texture . Dark-brown Bt horizonswith distinct mottles occur between depths of about 35 to50 cm . They are clayloam intexture and have a higher clay contentthan the adjacent horizons . Strongly calcareous Ck horizonsusually begin at about 50 cm . They are commonly siltyclayloam and areprominently mottled . Soil reaction of Goblessoils is near neutral in the surface_horizons and becomes moderatelyalkaline in the calcareous subsoil . Gobles soils are classifiedas Gleyed Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisols .