The Soils of Elgin County - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
The Soils of Elgin County - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada The Soils of Elgin County - Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBeverly soils are imperfectly drained. They aremoderately to slowly permeable. Saturatedconditions occur in the upper horizons forextended periods of time each year . Thesaturation period is prolonged where compactionhas occurred. Beverly soils have medium to highwater holding capacities, and moderate to rapidsurface runoff.General Soil CharacteristicsBeverly soil materials contain 27% or moreclay . The Ap, Btgj, and calcareous Ckgj horizonswhich commonly occur usually have clay loilm,silty day loam or silty day textures .Distinct to prominent, dark yellowishbrown toyellowish red mottles occur within the profile.Soil reaction ranges from slightly acid to neutral inthe upperAp and Btgj horizons, to mildly alkalinein the Ckgj horizons. Soil classification is typicallyGleyed Brunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol.Soil VariabilityOccasionally layers of medium or coarsetextured materials occur within the profile. Thelayers are variable in thickness and usually havesilt loam, loam, or fine sandy loam textures .Beverly soils were mapped where thin caps ofmedium or coarse textured materials overly thefine to very fine textured materials. Beverlycoarse phase (BV.C) soils were mapped where theupper materials consisted of 15 to 40 cm of coarsetextured materials . Beverly loamy phase (BVI)soils were mapped where the upper materialsconsisted of 15 to 40 cm of medium texturedmaterials .Beverly soils were commonly mapped incombination withBeverly loamy phase (BV L) andToledo (TO) soils. Beverly loamy phase (BVI)soils were often mapped in combination withTavistock (TA) and Toledo loamy phase (TOL)soils .Land Use/Management CommentsBeverly soils are rated Class 2D for commonfield crops when topography is not a limitation.They are used extensively for growing corn andwinter wheat. Beverly soils are suitable forgrowing a fairly wide range of special crops.They are particularly well suited for special fieldcrops such as soybeans and white beans . Theirsuitability increases for many special crops if theyare tile drained . Suitability ratings for selectedspecial crops are given in Tables 6, 7, and 8.Beverly soils are susceptible to compaction,and care must be taken not to use heavymachinery when they are too wet. A crop rotationwhich includes a forage crop will aid inmaintaining soil structure . Beverly and Beverlyloamy phase soils are also susceptible to watererosion due to the erodible nature of their surfacematerials. Planting cover crops and maintaininghigh crop residue levels will help to reduce therisk of erosion by water .Conservation tillage practices should beconsidered for Beverly coarse phase and Beverlyloamy phase soils. Conventional tillage practices,however, may be better on Beverly soils toimprove structure and enhance drainage.Bookton Soils (BO)Landform and TopographyBookton soils have developed on 40 to 100 cmthick veneers of coarse textured lacustrinematerials which are underlain by fine to very finetextured lacustrine materials . They mainly occuron upper and crest slope positions in landscapeswhich have gently undulating topography . Slopesgenerally range from 5 to 9% .Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBookton soils are well drained . The uppercoarse textured materials are rapidly permeableand have low water holding capacities. As aresult, these soils tend to be droughty. The lowerfine textured materials are moderately to slowlypermeable. Surface runoff is slow on nearly levelto gentle slopes, but increases on steeper slopes.General Soil CharacteristicsThe Ap horizons usually have fine sandy loamor loamy fine sand textures . The Bm horizonsusually have fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand,fine sand or sand textures. Clay enriched IlBthorizons often occur at the contact between theupper sandy materials and the lower clayeymaterials. The IICk horizons are calcareous andusually have silty clay loam or silty clay textures.Soil reaction ranges from strongly acid toneutral in the Ap horizons, to mildly alkaline inthe IICk horizons . Soil classification is typicallyBrunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .Soil VariabilityThe aerial extent of Bookton soils in theCounty is limited . Occasionally Bookton soilshave gravelly layers which occur above the
underlying fine textured materials . Bookton tillphase (BO.T) soils were mapped where 40 to 100cm of coarse textured lacustrine materials wereunderlain by fine to very fine textured PortStanley till .Land Use/Management CommentsBookton and Bookton till phase soils are ratedClass 2M for common field crops whentopography is not a limitation. Due to moisturedeficit conditions which occur in these soils,management practices should be considered whichmaintain organic matter levels and improve waterholding abilities . When the surface slopes are nottoo steep, Bookton and Bookton till phase soils arehighly suitable for a wide range of special crops .Suitability ratings for selected special crops aregiven in Tables 6, 7, and 8.Bookton and Bookton till phase soils aresusceptible to wind erosion . Planting cover cropsand establishing windbreaks will aid in reducingthe risk of erosion by wind. Conservation tillagepractices, particularly no-till practices, should beconsidered for these soils .Brady Soils (BY)Landform and TopographyBrady soils have developed on blankets ofcoarse textured lacustrine materials . They usuallyoccur on mid to crest slope positions in landscapeswhich have nearly level or very gently undulatingtopography. Slopes generally range from 2 to 5%.Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBrady soils are imperfectly drained because ofwater table levels that rise into subsoil horizonsmainly during the winter and early spring . Theyare usually rapidly permeable and have low waterholding capacities. Brady soils have slow surfacerunoff.General Soil CharacteristicsThe Ap horizons usually have sandy loam orloamy sand textures . The Bm and Bmgj horizonsare more variable in texture, and commonly havesandy loam, loamy sand, fine sand, or sandtextures . Clay enriched Btgj horizons, whichfrequently have fine sandy loam or loamy finesand texures, usually occur above the calcareousCkgj horizons . The Ckgj horizons usually havesand, loamy sand, or fine sand textures .Distinct to prominent, yellowish brown tostrong brown mottles occur within the profile .Soil reaction ranges from strongly acid to neutralin the Ap horizons, to mildly alkaline in the Ckgjhorizons. Soil classification is typically GleyedBrunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .Soil VariabilityBrady soils frequently have Btgj horizonswhich are weakly developed or discontinuous .Occasionally they do not have Btgj horizons, orthe Btgj horizons occur at depths greater than 100cm from the surface . Brady soils were most oftenmapped in combination with Fox (FX) and Granby(GY) soils .Land Use/Management CommentsBrady soils are rated Class 2F or 2FT forcommon field crops . Due to fertility limitations,management practices should be carried outwhichmaintain organic matter levels . Brady soils aresuitable for a range of special crops, especiallyfield crops such as white beans and spring canola.If they are the drained, and if supplementalirrigation is carried out, the suitability of Bradysoils increases for many special crops . Suitabilityratings for selected special crops are given inTables 6, 7, and 8.Brady soils are susceptible to wind erosion . Acrop rotation which includes a forage crop,planting cover crops, establishing windbreaks, andmaintaining high crop residue levels will aid inreducing erosion by wind . Conservation .tillagepractices, particularly no-till practices, should beconsidered for these soils .Brant Soils (BT)Landform and TopographyBrant soils have developed on blankets ofmedium textured lacustrine materials . Theyusually occur on upper and crest slope positionsin landscapes which have very gently undulatingto hummocky topography. Slopes range from 2 to15%.Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBrant soils are well drained . They are usuallymoderately permeable, but the permeabilitydecreases in horizons that are compacted or havehigh clay contents . The water holding capacitiesof Brant soils are high if permeability is notrestricted . Surface runoff ranges from slow torapid, depending on the steepness of the surfaceslope .29
- Page 1 and 2: The Soils ofElgin CountyVolume 1Min
- Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe completion of t
- Page 5 and 6: Southwold Soils (SO) . . . . . . .
- Page 7 and 8: LIST OF FIGURES1 . Soil map index f
- Page 9 and 10: 5. More detailed information for a
- Page 11 and 12: Table 1 .Climate data for Elgin Cou
- Page 13 and 14: Figure 4.Generalized geologic map o
- Page 15 and 16: Table 2.Correlation of major soils
- Page 17 and 18: Figure 6.Schematic landscape cross-
- Page 19 and 20: HOW THE SOILS WERE MAPPED AND CLASS
- Page 21 and 22: of soil profiles and horizons which
- Page 23 and 24: GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SOILSSo
- Page 25 and 26: Table 3.Soils and land units mapped
- Page 27 and 28: Figure 11 .Soil textural groups and
- Page 29: phase (BN.T) soils were mapped in c
- Page 33 and 34: atings for selected special crops a
- Page 35 and 36: Conservation tillage practices, par
- Page 37 and 38: clay. The Ap horizons commonly have
- Page 39 and 40: Gobles soils were frequently mapped
- Page 41 and 42: Kelvin soils are susceptible to com
- Page 43 and 44: Soil Moisture CharacteristicsMiddle
- Page 46 and 47: soils which occur in the eastern po
- Page 48 and 49: Bluish gray or gray gley colours ar
- Page 50 and 51: Stanley till, Tavistock till phase
- Page 52 and 53: to neutral in the Ap horizons, to m
- Page 54 and 55: tillage practices, particularly no-
- Page 56 and 57: Organic (OR)Organic land units usua
- Page 58 and 59: eference and also Publication No .
- Page 60 and 61: Procedure :1) Locate the symbols 'B
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- Page 64 and 65: Soil Suitability ClassesDescription
- Page 66 and 67: Procedure:1) Locate the symbols 'BV
- Page 68 and 69: Table 6.Agricultural land suitabili
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underlying fine textured materials . Bookton tillphase (BO.T) soils were mapped where 40 to 100cm <strong>of</strong> coarse textured lacustrine materials wereunderlain by fine to very fine textured PortStanley till .L<strong>and</strong> Use/Management CommentsBookton <strong>and</strong> Bookton till phase soils are ratedClass 2M for common field crops whentopography is not a limitation. Due to moisturedeficit conditions which occur in these soils,management practices should be considered whichmaintain organic matter levels <strong>and</strong> improve waterholding abilities . When the surface slopes are nottoo steep, Bookton <strong>and</strong> Bookton till phase soils arehighly suitable for a wide range <strong>of</strong> special crops .Suitability ratings for selected special crops aregiven in Tables 6, 7, <strong>and</strong> 8.Bookton <strong>and</strong> Bookton till phase soils aresusceptible to wind erosion . Planting cover crops<strong>and</strong> establishing windbreaks will aid in reducingthe risk <strong>of</strong> erosion by wind. Conservation tillagepractices, particularly no-till practices, should beconsidered for these soils .Brady <strong>Soils</strong> (BY)L<strong>and</strong>form <strong>and</strong> TopographyBrady soils have developed on blankets <strong>of</strong>coarse textured lacustrine materials . <strong>The</strong>y usuallyoccur on mid to crest slope positions in l<strong>and</strong>scapeswhich have nearly level or very gently undulatingtopography. Slopes generally range from 2 to 5%.Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBrady soils are imperfectly drained because <strong>of</strong>water table levels that rise into subsoil horizonsmainly during the winter <strong>and</strong> early spring . <strong>The</strong>yare usually rapidly permeable <strong>and</strong> have low waterholding capacities. Brady soils have slow surfacerun<strong>of</strong>f.General Soil Characteristics<strong>The</strong> Ap horizons usually have s<strong>and</strong>y loam orloamy s<strong>and</strong> textures . <strong>The</strong> Bm <strong>and</strong> Bmgj horizonsare more variable in texture, <strong>and</strong> commonly haves<strong>and</strong>y loam, loamy s<strong>and</strong>, fine s<strong>and</strong>, or s<strong>and</strong>textures . Clay enriched Btgj horizons, whichfrequently have fine s<strong>and</strong>y loam or loamy fines<strong>and</strong> texures, usually occur above the calcareousCkgj horizons . <strong>The</strong> Ckgj horizons usually haves<strong>and</strong>, loamy s<strong>and</strong>, or fine s<strong>and</strong> textures .Distinct to prominent, yellowish brown tostrong brown mottles occur within the pr<strong>of</strong>ile .Soil reaction ranges from strongly acid to neutralin the Ap horizons, to mildly alkaline in the Ckgjhorizons. Soil classification is typically GleyedBrunisolic Gray Brown Luvisol .Soil VariabilityBrady soils frequently have Btgj horizonswhich are weakly developed or discontinuous .Occasionally they do not have Btgj horizons, orthe Btgj horizons occur at depths greater than 100cm from the surface . Brady soils were most <strong>of</strong>tenmapped in combination with Fox (FX) <strong>and</strong> Granby(GY) soils .L<strong>and</strong> Use/Management CommentsBrady soils are rated Class 2F or 2FT forcommon field crops . Due to fertility limitations,management practices should be carried outwhichmaintain organic matter levels . Brady soils aresuitable for a range <strong>of</strong> special crops, especiallyfield crops such as white beans <strong>and</strong> spring canola.If they are the drained, <strong>and</strong> if supplementalirrigation is carried out, the suitability <strong>of</strong> Bradysoils increases for many special crops . Suitabilityratings for selected special crops are given inTables 6, 7, <strong>and</strong> 8.Brady soils are susceptible to wind erosion . Acrop rotation which includes a forage crop,planting cover crops, establishing windbreaks, <strong>and</strong>maintaining high crop residue levels will aid inreducing erosion by wind . Conservation .tillagepractices, particularly no-till practices, should beconsidered for these soils .Brant <strong>Soils</strong> (BT)L<strong>and</strong>form <strong>and</strong> TopographyBrant soils have developed on blankets <strong>of</strong>medium textured lacustrine materials . <strong>The</strong>yusually occur on upper <strong>and</strong> crest slope positionsin l<strong>and</strong>scapes which have very gently undulatingto hummocky topography. Slopes range from 2 to15%.Soil Moisture CharacteristicsBrant soils are well drained . <strong>The</strong>y are usuallymoderately permeable, but the permeabilitydecreases in horizons that are compacted or havehigh clay contents . <strong>The</strong> water holding capacities<strong>of</strong> Brant soils are high if permeability is notrestricted . Surface run<strong>of</strong>f ranges from slow torapid, depending on the steepness <strong>of</strong> the surfaceslope .29
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