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

Soil Moisture Characteristics Waterin soils are poorlydrained and peatyphase Waterin soils are very poorly drained .They are rapidly permeable. The poor drainage is a consequence of high regional groundwater levels, which maintainthe water table at or near the surface during much of the year.The surface horizons of Waterin soils have a high waterholdingcapacity, but in the subsoil horizons the water-holdingcapacity is verylow. Surface runofffrom Waterin soils is slow.Commonly Associated Soils Walsingham (WAM) soilsare commonly associated with Waterin soils as the subdominantcomponent in the WRN 10 map unit . They have similarparent material, but Walsingham soils are imperfectlydrained .Land Use and Management Most Waterin soils areunder wooded vegetation in their natural condition . Artificialdrainage is required before they can be used succcessfully foragricultural crops . When drained, common field crops such ascorn and spring grains, and even specialty crops, such astobacco, are grown . Waterin soils also have potential for vegetablecrop production when drained .Waterloo Soils (WTO)General Soil Description Waterloo soils have developedon glaciolacustrine sediments of very fine sandy loam andloamy fine sand textures . They are well-drained .Surface Ap horizons of Waterloo soils consist of 10 to 20cm of very fine sandyloam texture . They are moderate to low inorganic matter content . The underlying Bm horizons areloamy fine sand in texture, and usually extend to depths of 35to 45 cm . The Bt horizons, which have a significant increase inclay content and fine sandy loam texture, extend to variabledepths ranging from about 45 to 100 cm . They have a wavy,tongueing boundary with the underlying Ck horizons . The Ckhorizons consist of well-sorted, stratified fine and very finesands, which are mildly calcareous . Soil reaction of Waterloosoils ranges from strongly acidic in the surface horizons tomildly alkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification is usuallyBrunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Waterloo soils are welldrained. They are moderately permeable, but permeability willdecrease at the contact with the Bt horizon, or if soil compaction has occurred . They have moderate water-holding capacities. Surface runoff can be high and increases markedly onsloping topography.Commonly Associated Soils Heidelberg (HIG) and Colwood(CWO) soils are commonly associated with Waterloosoils as the subdominant components in map units WTO 2 andWTO 3 . They have similar parent materials, but Heidelbergsoils are imperfectly drained and Colwood soils are poorlydrained . Fox (FOX) soils are also associates in the WTO 4 mapunit, where soil textures of loamy sand and sand occur.Land Use and Management Waterloo soils are verygood agricultural soils for a range of crops . They have a slightmoisture deficiency, which affects the production of certaincrops . They are commonly used for field crops such as graincorn, and for some specialty crops such as tobacco and vegetables.With supplemental irrigation, Waterloo soils are highlyproductive for these crops .Wauseon Soils (WUS)General Soil Description Wauseon soils have developedon sandy lacustrine veneer 40 to 100 cm thick overlying clayloam or silty clay lacustrine deposits . Occasionally, till phasesof Wauseon soils occur, where the underlying soil material isclay loam glacial till . They are poorly drained soils .Surface Ap horizons of Wauseon soils consist of 20 to 25cm of sandy loam texture . They are usually high in organicmatter content . Textures of the sandy subsoil range fromloamy sand to sand . Where the sandy textures overlie lacustrinematerial, silty clay loam or silty clay textures usuallyoccur. If the underlying material consists of glacial till, clayloam textures are more common . The heavy-textured subsoilsare usually found at depths between 40 and 60 cm, which correspondswith the top of the Btg horizon . They are gleyed andstrongly mottled . The Ckg horizons are usually stronglycalcareous and rangein texture from clay loam to silty clay. Soilreaction of Wauseon soils is neutral in the surface horizons andmildly alkaline in the subsoil . Soil classification is usuallyOrthic Humic Gleysol .Soil Moisture Characteristics Wauseon soils are mostoften poorly drained, although peaty phase Wauseon soils dooccur which are very poorly drained . The poor drainage is dueto the groundwater levels being at or near the soil surface formuch of the year. High groundwater levels are caused by thepresence ofimpermeable subsoil within I metre of the surface.Wauseon soils have high moisture-holding capacities in theorganic-rich surface horizon, but low moisture-holding capacitiesin the sandy subsoil . They once again become high in theclayey-textured subsoil . Surface runoff from Wauseon soilsis slow.Commonly Associated Soils Berrien (BRR) andWaterin (WRN) soils are commonly associated with Wauseonsoils as subdominant components in map units WUS 4 andWUS 15 . Berrien soils have similar parent materials as Wauseonsoils but are imperfectly drained . Waterin soils are comprisedentirely of the sandy-textured materials and are poorlydrained .Land Use and Management In their natural condition,Wauseon soils largely remain in wooded vegetation . Artificialdrainage is required before agricultural use is feasible. DrainedWauseon soils are used for grain corn, soybeans, and occasionallyfor tobacco .Wilsonville Soils (WIL)General Soil Description Wilsonville soils have developedon gravelly sandy loam glacial till materials . They arerapidly drained .Ap horizons ofWilsonville soils consist of about 20 cm ofloam or sandyloam textures . They are relatively low in organicmatter content, averaging about 3% . The upper subsoil horizons are usually sandy loam in texture with a small amount ofgravel present . The gravel content increases in the Bt horizonswith textures of loam or gravelly loam, and a further increasein gravel occurs in the Ck horizons . Textures in the latter horizonare gravelly sandy loam. The Bt horizons occur at varyingdepths ranging from about 25 cm at the top of the horizon toabout 65 cm at its contact with the Ck horizon . They have apronounced increase in clay content and distinctive brown to