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

Commonly Associated Soils Gobles (GOB), Kelvin(KVN), Bookton (BOO) and Berrien (BRR) are most commonlyassociated with Muriel soils as subdominant components in map units MUI 2, MUI 4, MUI 6 and MUI 14,respectively. Gobles and Kelvin soils are imperfectly drainedand poorly drained, respectively, with soil materials similar toMuriel . Bookton and Berrien soils have 40 to 100 cm of sandyveneer overlying the clayey subsoil which is characteristic ofMuriel soils.Land Use and Management Muriel soils are good agriculturalsoils, except on steep slopes where topographic anderosion limitations occur. Compaction and development ofhardpans are fairly common on Muriel soils, where erosion hasresulted in loss of organic matter in the surface horizon . Theyare utilized extensively for grain corn and soybeans, with lesseruse for small grains and hay crops . Muriel soils can beimproved by tile drainage where wet spots and seepage areasoccur.Oakland Soils (OWGeneral Soil Description Oakland soils have developedon sandy loam to sand textures 40 to 100 cm deep overlyinggravelly loam to loam glacial till . They are imperfectlydrained .Surface horizons of Oakland soils usually consist of 20 to30 cm offine sandy loam . They have relativelyhigh contents oforganic matter ranging from 4 to 6°10 . Bm horizons underliethe surface layer to a maximum depth of 35 cm . They are mottled,and medium to fine sand in texture . The Bt horizons usuallyhave a significant increase in clay content compared to thehorizons above it, and may range from fine sandy loam toloamy sand texture . Glacial till subsoils occur at a depth of 50to 70 cm . They are loam to gravelly loam in texture, and arestrongly calcareous . Soil reaction ofOakland soils ranges fromneutral in the surface horizons to moderately alkaline in the tillsubsoil . Soil classification is Gleyed Brunisolic Gray BrownLuvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Oakland soils are imperfectlydrained and rapidly permeable. The groundwater tablemay rise within all subsurface horizons during the winter andspring, but recedes to considerable depth in the subsoil duringthe dry summer period . Seepage may occur at the sand-glacialtill interface due to the reduced permeability ofthe glacial till incomparison to the sandy overburden . Oakland soils have lowwater-holding capacities and slow surface runoff.Commonly Associated Soils Scotland (STD) andVanessa (VSS) soils often occur in close association with Oaklandsoils. Such associations occur in map units OKL 2 andOKL 3, respectively. Scotland and Vanessa soils have developedon parent materials similar to Oakland soils, but are welland poorly drained, respectively.Land Use and Management Oakland soils are goodagricultural soils often used for graincorn, tobacco and winterwheat . Specialty crops such as tomatoes and peppers also maybe grown successfully. Tile drainage may be beneficial for theproduction of high-value specialty crops as it improves thechances of early planting . It also may be a necessary managementpractice for certain tree fruits . Supplemental irrigation isrequired for tobacco and most vegetable crops .Plainfield Soils (PFD)General Soil Description Plainfield soils are developedon loamy fine sand and fine sand glaciolacustrine sedimentswhich have been modified by eolian activity. They are rapidlydrained .Surface horizons of Plainfield soils are about 15 to 20 cmthick and loamy fine sand in texture . They are relatively low inorganic matter content, averaging around 2% . Plainfield soilshave relatively deep and uniform B horizons extending to adepth of 70 to 100 cm . They are generally structureless and finesand in texture . The C horizons are usually weakly calcareousin the upper portion, but gradually become moderately orstrongly calcareous at depth . They too are fine sand in texture.Soil reaction of Plainfield soils is medium to slightly acidic inthe surface and subsurface horizons, and neutral to mildlyalkaline in the lower subsoil horizons . Soil classification is usuallyOrthicMelanicBrunisol, but Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisolsalso may occur.Soil Moisture Characteristics Plainfield soils arerapidlydrained and rapidly permeable . They have low moistureholdingcapacities, and crops are normally affected by droughtthroughout much of the growing season . Runoff is slow onlevel to very gently sloping topography, but is moderate asslopes become steeper .Commonly Associated Soils Walsingham (WAM) andWaterin (WRN) are the most common soils associated withPlainfield in map units PFD 3 and PFD 4, respectively. Theyhave similar parent materials as Plainfield soils, but are imperfectlyand poorly drained . Occasionally, Plainfield soils occurin association with FOX soils . Although both soils are rapidlydrained, and are both formed on sandy-textured parent materials,FOX soils have a distinctive clay increase in their B horizonwhich distinguishes them from Plainfield soils .Land Use and Management Plainfield soils havedroughtiness limitations for most crops. They are used extensivelyfor tobacco production where sprinkler irrigation provides supplemental soil moisture. Other specialtycrops such aspotatoes, asparagus and apples are also occasionally grown onPlainfield soils under supplemental irrigation .Scotland Soils (STD)General Soil Description Scotland soils have developedon sandy loam andloamy sand textures 40to 100 cm deep overlyinggravelly loam and sandy loam glacial till . They are welldrained.Surface horizons of Scotland soilsconsist of 20 to 25 cm ofsandy loam or loamy sand . They are moderate to low inorganic matter content . Similar textures occur in the underlying B horizons to a depth of 50 to 65 cm, where the gravellytexturedglacial till subsoil is encountered . Bt horizonsgenerally occur at the transitional zone between the sandytexturedoverburden and the gravelly till . The Ck horizons arenormally gravelly loam or sandy loam in texture and arestrongly calcareous . Soil reaction ranges from near neutral inthe surface horizons to moderately alkaline in the subsoil . Soilclassification is Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .