Saskatchewan Centre for Soil Research Centre for Land and Biological Publication No. S7 Resources Research Land Resource Division Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Publication 95-66
by
Staff, Saskatchewan Soil Survey SASKATCHEWAN CENTRE FOR SOIL RESEARCH University of Saskatchewan 1997 Map and Report Compilation : D.W. Anderson, W.D. Eilers*, R.D. Stushnoff Program Director: D.W. Anderson, Director, H.P.W. Rostad*, Associate Director, Saskatchewan Centre for Soil Research, Saskatoon Soil Correlation : J.G. Ellis (retired), H.B. Stonehouse* Project Supervisor: D.W. Anderson Soil Mapping: D.W. Anderson, D.R. Bergen, M.M. Boehm, W.D. Eilers*, G.J. King, D. Jensen, D. McDonald, N. Moore, J. Norgren, H.P.W. Rostad*, R.D. Stushnoff, S. Thomson, D.B. Wilkinson Secretarial: S.S.M. Wood* Drafting: P.M. Sardinha, A. Kuzub Geographical Information System: S.R.E. Johnson Laboratory: A.K. Ballantyne (*, retired) Assisted in the field by: R. Bates, M. Black, M. Beaulieu, T. Bridge, T. Brown, S. Burton, B. Duke, D. Flatten, A. Froelich, J. Harrington, A. Harris, J. Ippolito, D. Miller, B. Nesdole, R. Roy, P. Russell, L. Spearing, W. Stephanson, L. Trowell, B. Wilson, B. Wolfe
Current address: Land Resource Unit Semiarid Prairie Agricultural Research Centre 5C26 Agriculture Building University of Saskatchewan Campus 51 Campus Drive SASKATOON SK S7N 5A8 Financial support for the conduct of this study was provided by the following: The Saskatchewan Department of Agriculture The Land Resource Research Centre, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and The University of Saskatchewan
Assistance provided by the following agencies and individuals is also acknowledged: The Cartographic Section ofthe Land Resource Research Centre, Ottawa for producing the soils maps. The Map Reproduction Centre, Reproduction and Distribution Division, Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Ottawa for supplying base information and for printing the soils map. Dr. J. A. Shields, Western Correlator, Centre for Land and Biological Resources Research, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa for reviewing this manuscript. Pa~e
1 . INTRODUCTION ...... 1
2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA ...... 2
2.1 Extent and Location ...... 2.2 Physiography ...... 2.3 Geology ...... 2.4 Climate ......
3. LANDFORMS ...... 10
3.1 Surface Deposits ...... 10 3.2 Surface Forms ...... 11
4. INTRODUCTION TO SOILS ...... 12
4.1 The Soil Profile ...... 12 4.2 Soil Forming Factors ...... 12 Parent Material ...... : ...... 12 Topography and Drainage ...... 13 Climate and Vegetation ...... 14 Time and Man , ...... 14 4.3 Kinds and Distribution of Soil Profiles ...... 14 4.4 The Soil Map ...... 15
5. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS ...... 16
Amulet(Am)Soils ...... 16 Arcola (Ao) Soils ...... 18 Asquith(Aq)Soils ...... 20 Alluvium (Av) Soils ...... 22 Biggar (Bg)Soils ...... 24 Brooking (Bk)Soils ...... 26 Bradwell (Br) Soils ...... 29 Cudworth (Cd) Soils ...... 31
iii Page
5. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS, continued
Crooked Lake(CL)Soils ...... 32 Estevan(Es)Soils ...... 33 Elstow (Ew) Soils ...... 36 Forget (Fg) Soils ...... 37 Fremantle (Fe) Soils ...... 39 Grandora(Gd)Soils ...... 41 Gapview (Gv) Soils ...... 42 Hillsborough(Hb)Soils ...... 43 Hamlin (Hm) Soils ...... 44 Hillwash(Hw)Soils ...... 46 Hanley (HY) Soils ...... 46 Meota (Me) Soils ...... 48 Moose Mountain (Mm) Soils ...... 50 Mine Spoils (MSp) ...... 52 Meadow (Mw) Soils ...... 52 North Portal (No) Soils ...... 52 Oxbow (Ox) Soils ...... 54 Pheasant Rump (Ph) Soils ...... 58 Regina (Ra) Soils ...... 59 Roughbark(Rb)Soils ...... 60 Rouleau(Ru)Soils ...... 62 Runway (Rw)Soils ...... 62 Swift Creek (Sf) Soils ...... 63 Sutherland (Su) Soils ...... 64 Short Creek (Sx) Soils ...... 66 Trossachs(Tr)Soils ...... 66 Tuxford(Tu) Soils ...... 69 Wingello (Wg) Soils ...... 71 Whitewood (Wh) Soils ...... 72 Windthorst (Wn) Soils ...... 74 Weyburn (Wr) Soils ...... 75 Whitesand (Ws) Soils ...... 77 Waitville (Wv) Soils ...... 79
iv Pize
6. SOIL CAPABILITY FOR AGRICULTURE ...... 81
7. SOIL SALINITY ...... 85
8. SOLONETZIC SOILS AND DEEP TILLAGE ...... 88
9. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF SOIL PROFILES ...... 91
10. AREA IN HECTARES OF MAP UNITS IN MAP SHEET ...... 116
10.1 Map Units Occurring in the Black Soil Zone ...... 116 10.2 Map Units Occurring in the Dark Brown Soil Zone ...... 117 10.3 Map Units Occurring in the Dark Gray Soil Zone ...... 120 10.4 Map Units Occurring in the Gray Soil Zone ...... 120 10.5 Map Units of Miscellaneous Soil and Water ...... 121
11. GLOSSARY ...... 122 Page
1 . Key Map to the Weyburn-Virden Map Area ...... 3 . 2. Physiographic Map of the Weyburn-Virden Map Sheets ...... 4
3. Textural Triangle ...... 13
Page l . Physiographic Divisions ofthe Weyburn-Virden Map Area ...... 5
2. Monthly and Annual Averages ofDaily Mean Temperatures (°C) for the Weyburn-Virden Map Area ...... 8
3 . Monthly and Annual Averages of Precipitation (cm) for the Weyburn- Virden Map Area . . . . ., ...... 8
4. Description of Capability Classes ...... 81
5 . Estimated Average and Potential Wheat Yields (kg/ac) of Soil Capability Classes in Saskatchewan ...... 82
Initial Capability of the Soils of the Weyburn-Virden Map Area ...... 83
7. The Relative Tolerance of Common Field Crops to Soil Salinity. (Differences of one or two places in the ranking may not be significant) ...... 86
vi 1. INTRODUCTION
This soil survey report and accom- It is essential that the reader use both panying maps deal with the soils of the part of the report and maps when interpreting the Saskatchewan that lies within the Weyburn soils of this area. The soil maps depict the and Virden National Topographic Sheets (62E extent of the various soils and the report and F) . These maps and report provide more describes the kinds of soil and their properties detailed information than that previously in detail, as well as their suitability for various published in Soil Survey Report No. 12'. In uses. In addition, a glossary of terms is also addition to added detail, the report and maps presented in this report. also provide information on agricultural capability, soil salinity, and deep tillage as it relates to the presence of solonetzic soils.
' Mitchell, J., H.C. Moss, and J.S. Clayton, Soil Survey of Southern Saskatchewan. Soil Survey Report No. 12, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon. 1944. 2. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AREA
2.1 Extent and Location southeast and east in the Lightning Creek Plain. The Weyburn and the Saskatchewan The Weyburn-Virden map sheet area portion of the Virden Map Sheets (National consists offour physiographic sections, these Topographic Series numbers 62 E and 62 F being the Souris River Plain, Moose Mountain respectively) includes the area between 49° Upland, Missouri Coteau Upland and the and 50° Nlatitude and 104° Wlongitude to the Assiniboine River Plain (Fig. 2). Within the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Border (Fig. 1 key Saskatchewan Plains portion of the map area, map to the area). It includes all or portions of the Souris River Plain is the largest physiogra- Townships 1 to 12 in Ranges 30 to 34 West of phic area. It slopes gently, from the north the 1st Meridian and ranges 1 to 15 West of along the Lightning Creek Plain at an eleva- the 2nd Meridian. This covers an area of ap- tion of about 640 m, to the southeast towards proximately 8 076 square miles or 2 091 760 the Antler River Plain at an elevation ofabout hectares. 490 m. From the northeast edge of the Mis- souri Coteau (610 m) and the southern edge of 2.2 Physiography the Moose Mountain Upland (640 m) the area generally slopes towards the Souris River. The map area lies within the Great This area consists mainly of a very gently to Plains province ofthe Interior Plains ofNorth gently sloping hummocky till plain, with local America. More specifically, it lies within the areas of nearly level to gently sloping undulat- Alberta and Saskatchewan Plains physio- ing lacustrine deposits such as those occurring graphic regions. The Missouri Coteau, an es- in the Glen Ewen and Arcola Plains. Fluvial carpment that often has steep relief, defines deposits are typically associated with the the boundary between the Saskatchewan and Antler River Plain and to a lesser degree the Alberta Plains and runs diagonally through the Stoughton Moraine. extreme south west part ofthe area adjacent to The Moose Mountain Upland, the next Long Creek. largest physiographic area, occurs in the north Maximum elevations for the map area central part ofthe area and has the highest ele- occur in the Moose Mountain Upland near the vations in the map area. The base ofthe up- north central part of the.area, at about 820 m, land is at about 640 m and rises steeply to the and in the Missouri Coteau Upland in the north to about 820 m and descends gradually southwest part of the area, at about 670 m. in other directions . Moose Mountain consists Between these two upland areas elevations mainly of a morainic deposit overlying a generally range between 580 m and 640 mand dome in the cretaceous rocks below. It is a slope down to a low ofapproximately 470 m hilly morainal plain with local clayey depo- on the Antler River Plain in the extreme sits. The Kipling Plain Ranks Moose Moun- southeast part of the area near the Manitoba tain to the east and west at an elevation rang- border. The area generally slopes towards the ing from 640 to 730 m. It consists of a ridged Souris River between Moose Mountain and or hummocky morainal plain, with local inclu- the Missouri Coteau Uplands, and to the sions of lacustrine, fluvial and alluvial depo- sits. Fig. 1. Key Map to the Weyburn-Virden Map Area.
The Assiniboine River Plain physiographic west part ofthe area. It rises from 610 m, near area, occurs in the northwest part ofthe map Long Creek, to about 700 m in the extreme area. The Regina Plain, in the extreme north- southwest part of the area. It is a low, west part of the area rises in anortheastward structural escarpment in the Upper Cretaceous direction from 560 m to 595 m. It consists of shales and clays and consists of a hummocky, a nearly level to very gently sloping clayey gently to steeply sloping morainal plain. lacustrine plain. The Wascana Creek Plain The physiographic sections described occurs to the east of the Regina Plain. It is an above have been divided into subsections, undulating, shallow sandy, loamy or silty each with unique characteristics of elevation, lacustrine plain, that slopes gently to the topography, landforms and drainage. These southwest, and is drained by Wascana Creek are presented and described in Table 1 . The Missouri Coteau, an element of the Alberta Plains, occurs in the extreme south- V/1 Plpeatone-filver-Plofn--4 =mm . . I ITO,t
Mary
~ ~;;.4^; :'y rLHI l" oose mv n u ;xiE::,y:fi. weypvrn StaqAtvn ; r.:) e /
Griffin Pla n Ar Ia O _ 'Me Carl Stoughton Morolne ~k Plain 0 Redven
~'` SOURIS RIVER PLAIN I I I 1 I ~l 0m .dvle O o; 1 Jy~/ :,Oak _ \1 t.a an a Long Creek .r~ Plain ' ., o+now Sauiis River Volley , cc
~fstlwa~ ~ Antler' ISSOURI ElCOtt Glen Ewen IN COTEA~1~ ' J , ,\I It Pbr~_Pfatn . n..~f`U-----Ln---`-' "" ~-----L---L--.-_-Lh R2 RI R34 R33 R32 R31 R18v»»R14 R13 R12 R11 Rio R9 R8 R7 R6 R5 R4 R3
Fig. 2. Physiographic Map of the Weyburn-Virden Map Sheets. Table 1. Physiographic Divisions ofthe Weyburn-Virden Map Area
SASKATCHEWAN PLAINS REGION Souris River Plain Section . . . ,_:.pnys ;ograpb+c . s : Snb>cction rEIevaUan_ ;,;; :. ' ,;.l.ocai landfocmand Fop~:braphy _ ...... ;, ' > ` ::Dtaiaage . .
Griffin Plain Elevations range from 655 m near the Very gently to gently sloping hummocky Local drainage to sloughs, limited StoughtonMoraine to 560 m adjacent to glacial till and resorted glacial till plain. external drainage to Souris River. the Souris River Valley .
Long Creek Plain Elevations range from 610 m near Long Very gently to gently sloping undulating Local drainage to sloughs andlimited Creek to 580 m adjacent to the Souris glacial till plain. external drainage to Souris River. River.
Huronville Plain Elevations range from 670 m on the east Very gently to gently slopinghummocky Local drainage to sloughs and lakes. side adjacent to the Stoughton Moraine to or dissected glacial till plain. 640 m to the S.W .
Stoughton Moraine Elevations range from 670to 610 m. Gently to steeply sloping hummocky or Local drainage to sloughsand lakes. ridged glacial till, sandytill and Bmvels.
LightningCreek Plain Elevations range from 640m near Moose Gently . . sloping hummocky glacial till Local drainage to sloughsand external Mountain to 490 m mthe SE part ofthe plain with local sandy or gravelly fluvial drainage to the SE. map area. de posits alon g creeks .
Arcola Lake Plain Elevations range from 640 m adjacent to Very gently to gently sloping, undulating External drainage to Moose Mountain the Moose Mountain to 595 m sloping or dissected silty or sandy lacustrine Creek. towardsMoose Mountain Creek. deposits and loamy resorted glacial till .
North Portal Plain Elevations range from 595 m near the Very gently to gently sloping undulating, Local drainage to sloughs and limited U.S . border to 550 m at the Souris River hummocky or dissectedglacial till plain external drainage to Souris River. Valley. with a sandy water-lain veneer.
Pipestone River Plain Elevations range from 640 m adjacent to Gently to moderately sloping glacial till Local drainage to sloughs, and limited the Moose Mountain Upland to 550 m plain with local sandy and gravelly areas. external drainage to Pipestone Creek. near thePipestone Creek and to 520 m in . the bottom ofthe valley.
~I Elcott Plain Elevations range from 550to 580 m. Very gently to gently undulating or Localdrainage to sloughs, and limited hummocky glacial till plainwith local external drainage to Souris River. areasof sandy fluvial materials.
' Glen Ewen Plain Elevations range from 580m in the NW Very gently to gently sloping undulating Local drainage to sloughs, endlimited part of plainto 500 m in the SE near the till plain with local areas of sandy external drainage to Antler River. Antler River. lacustrine and gravelly fluvial materials.
Souris RiverValley Elevations range from about 580 m near Gently to strongly sloping dissected Drainage to Souris River. Weyburn to 520 m near the U.S . border. valley sides.
Antler RiverPlain Elevations range from 550 m in the NW Very gently to gently sloping undulating Local drainage to sloughs, andlimited to 470 m in the extreme SE part of area. sandy and gravelly fluvial plain with external drainage to Antler River. local areas of glacial till and alluvial sediments. 6
Assiniboine River Plain
, Phy Regina Plain Elevations range from 595 to 560 m. Level to very gently sloping undulating clayey lacustrine Local drainage to plain. sloughs, limited external drainage to Souris River. Wascana Creek Plain Elevations rangefrom 610 m in the east Very gently to gently sloping undulating sandy and silty Local drainage to and slope to the west to 580 m. lacustrine plain. sloughs. Moose Mountain Upland ' Phvsiographic Subsection ' Elevations:-,, T LocalL;wdionn and TopoBcaphY: ;. . . .::. __ ., . Drainage Moose Mountain Elevations range from 820 m to 640 m Gently to steeply sloping hummocky glacial till plain with Local drainage to lakes at its base . local areas of clayey lacustrine. and sloughs, limited external drainage to Moose Mountain Creek. Kipling Plain Elevations range from 730 m adjacent Gently to steeply sloping hummocky or ridged glacial till Local drainage to lakes to Moose Mountain to 640 m at the plain with local areas of silty lacustrine, gravel and sand. and sloughs, limited edge of the plain. external drainage to the west by Moose Mountain Creek, and to . the east by thecreeks of the Lightning Creek Plain. ALBERTA PLAINS REGION Missouri Coteau Upland Physiograptuc- ubsectuon> : I tuevations Missouri Coteau Elevations range from 700 m near the Gently to steeply slopinghummocky or dissected glacial Local drainage to SW part of the plain, to 610 m near till plain. sloughs, limited Long Creek. external drainage to Long Creek. 2.3 Geology directly from the ice is called glacial till. It is composed of an unsorted mixture of sand, silt All materials above the bedrock surface are and clay, and includes many stones and termed drift. The thickness ofthis drift ranges boulders. A large proportion ofthe Weyburn- from 0 to about 200 metres in the Weyburn- Virden map area is comprised ofvarious soils Virden map area (Whitaker S.H. 1974, Geo- developed from glacial till. logy and Groundwater Resources ofthe Wey- Another way in which glaciers contributed burn Area (62-E,F) Saskatchewan). In this to the deposition ofmaterial was through the area, the majority ofthe drift is derived from release of water from the glacier as the ice glaciers. melted. Numerous streams and rivers flowed Glaciers resulted in the deposition of from the ice and often created large lakes in materials in several ways. Material deposited . front of the retreating glacier. Materials deposited from these streams and rivers are Weyburn Valley into the bedrock surface. called fluvial or glaciofluvial materials and are The Souris River Valley near Estevan has also comprised of predominantly sand or gravel been incised into the bedrock surface by sized particles. Materials deposited in the erosion caused by glacial meltwater. Sub- lakes created by the glaciers are called glacial erosion under continental ice sheets lacustrine or glaciolacustrine deposits. These also modified the surface topography of the materials range from sands, in areas where bedrock. streams and rivers entered the lake creating The oldest bedrock formation in the area, deltas, to silts and clays in the more central the Pierre Formation forms the bedrock sur- parts ofthe lake where the water was quieter. face in the northwestern, northern and eastern Drift deposits not resulting from glacial parts of the map area. This Cretaceous aged action comprise a small proportion of the formation is composed of noncalcareous, silty Weyburn-Virden map area. Some of these clay - shale which is locally bentonitic and recent deposits are called alluvial deposits and concretionary, and includes several thin sandy occur in the floodplains ofpresent day streams shale zones and sand members that are aerially and rivers or local depressions. Colluvial extensive. deposits occur along the sides of steep slopes The youngest bedrock formation in the area and are due to erosion and slumping along is the Tertiary aged Ravenscrag Formation. these slopes. This formation forms the bedrock surface in the southern and central portions of the map Bedrock Geology area extending from the U.S. border to the Maxim area in the west, and from the U.S. The following discussion ofthe bedrock of border to the top of Moose Mountain where it the Weyburn-Virden area is taken largely caps a bedrock high in the Cretaceous bedrock from Whitaker S.H. 1974, Geology and below. It is composed ofup to 240 m ofinter- Groundwater Resources ofthe Weyburn Area bedded sand, silt, clay and lignite coal with (62-E,F) Saskatchewan, and Simpson, M.A. local carbonaceous zones, kaolinitic zones, 1992 Preliminary Map - Geology and Ground- concretionary zones and calcareous zones. water Resources Series, the Weyburn area 62E Sandwiched between the Tertiary Ravens- and the Virden area 62F. crag and the Cretaceous Pierre Formations are The topography of the bedrock surface in the late Upper Cretaceous aged Frenchman, the Weyburn-Virden map area is the result of Whitemud and Eastend Formations. These erosion during preglacial and post glacial formations form the bedrock surface in small- times. One of the major preglacial fluvial er areas along the edges of the Ravenscrag erosion features that has been identified in the Formation. Together these formations range area is the Estevan Valley. This trench in the up to 90 m in thickness. The upper French- bedrock surface can be traced from the U.S. man Formation is composed of interbedded border, south of Torquay running in a north sand, silt, and clay with local bentonitic zones, easterly direction to north of Hitchcock where carbonaceous zones and calcareous zones. it runs in an easterly direction to the Carnduff The Whitemud Formation underlies this for- area. mation and is composed ofan upper portion of According to Whitaker 1974, fluvial ero- plastic, kaolinitic clay and sand, a middle sion by glacial meltwater eroded the narrow portion composed of carbonaceous, silty clay and a lower portion of partially kaolinized nental. Generally there is agradation from the sand and silt. The Eastend Formation lies west and south west to the northeast and east between the Whitemud Formation and the from a drier warmer climate to a moister Pierre Formation. It is composed of fme climate. The area has warm summers and grained sand and silt with local carbonaceous cold winters and relatively low humidity zones and calcareous zones. throughout the year. A summary of the climatic data for stations within and nearby 2.4 Climate the map area are given in Tables 2 and 3 . The climate of the Weyburn-Virden map area ranges from semiarid to temperate conti- Table 2. Monthly and Annual Averages of Daily Mean Temperatures (°C) for the Weyburn-Virden Map Area Station an . I'e Mar, Apr.;: May'::: June: : lu1J,, Aug Sept 13 Oct 1 " ~fav DMC, Xeaz .;' Broadview -17 -14 - 7 3 10 15 18 17 11 5 - 6 -14 2 Carlyle -17 -13 - 6 4 11 16 19 18 11 5 - 5 -14 2 Estevan -15 -11 - 4 5 12 17 20 19 12 6 - 4 -11 4 Kipling -17 -14 - 7 3 10 15 18 17 10 4 - 6 -14 2 Midale -16 -12 - 5 4 11 16 20 18 12 6 - 4 -12 3 Moosomin -17 -13 - 7 3 11 16 19 18 11 5 - 5 -13 2 Oxbow -17 -13 - 6 4 11 16 19 18 11 5 - 5 -13 2 Weybum -15 -11 -3 5 12 16 20 18 12 6 -4 -12 4 I Yellow Grass -16 -12 - 6 4 11 19 18 12 5 - -13 3 i 16 5 Table 3. Monthly and Annual Averages of Precipitation (cm) for the Weyburn-Virden Map Area "Station Jan, Feb. Mar, Apr - May June July Au~,; r ` Scpt . Opt: ? ; Nov. Des: Yur.,< . Broadview 2.0 1.5- 2.1 2.6 4.6 6.1 5.3 5.3 5.4 2.3 1.7 2.4 41 .3 Carlyle 1 .9 1 .5 2.0 3.1 5.3 6.9 6.0 5.8 4.7 2.1 1.3 1.7 42.3 Estevan 2.1 1.7 2.0 3.2 5.4 6.9 5.9 5.4 4.5 2.2 1.6 2.0 42.9 Kipling 2.2 1.7 2.1 3.1 4.8 6.6 5.9 5.5 5.5 2.7 1.6 2.4 44.1 Midale 1 .8 1 .6 1 .6 3.1 5.4 6.7 5.2 5.3 4.2 2.2 1.4 2.0 40.5 Moosomin 2.1 1 .8 2.3 2.8 5.2 7.3 6.8 6.2 5.8 3.1 1.4 2.0 46.8 Oxbow 1 .8 1 .9 1 .8 3.1 4.9 5.9 6.4 5.3 4.5 2.3 1.5 1.7 41 .1 Weybum 1.4 1 .2 1.6 2.3 6.1 5.4 7.0 3.7 5.4 2.1 1.2 1.8 39.2 f Yellow Grass 1 .5 1 .4 1 .8 2.9 5.4 6.7 6.2 4.6 5.2 2.2 1.4 1.7 41 .0 Precipitation can occur in any month ofthe come early in the fall and remain late into the year although the majority (65 to 70%) of it spring. Average frost free days range from falls in the May to September period. Annual about 80 to over 100. Degree days above precipitation ranges from about 40 to 45 cm. 5.5 °C range from less than 2400 in the Moose A large part of the summer rainfall is in the Mountain area to more than 2800 in the form of intense convective thunder showers Estevan area. which tend to be spotty, and reduce its ef- The climatic ranges noted above have a fectiveness. Winter precipitation occurs usu- marked effect on the distribution of soils in ally in the form of snowfall, which persists on the area. The warmer drier regions in the west the soil surface. Evapotranspiration exceeds and southwest have dominantly Dark Brown precipitation, consequently there is a rainfall Chernozemic soils formed under a grassland deficit, particularly on the western side of the vegetation . The cooler and more moist areas map area where the deficit is the greatest. to the east have Black Chernozemic soils Summers are warm and winters are cold, formed under grassland vegetation, while with a wide differential between temperatures Gray Luvisolic soils are associated with aspen due to the severe winters that occur. As well, vegetation in the upland areas of the Moose frequent invasions of cool polar air reduce Mountain. summer temperatures. Freezing temperatures 10 3. LANDFORMS Fluvial Deposits The term landform refers to the shape Fluvial deposits are materials laid imparted to the land surface by the surface down by glacial meltwater rivers and streams. geologic materials and the way in which they They are usually sandy or gravelly and, like were deposited. the alluvial deposits described above, may There are three classes of landforms in contain beds or layers that are inclined or the map area. The main class contains land- oblique to the main planes of stratification. forms whose formations were directly influ- Materials laid down in direct contact with the enced by the ice sheet (morainal) . The other glacier are termed glaciofluvial deposits, two classes oflandforms are water-lain; those which may be either sandy or gravelly. that resulted from lakes and streams near the melting ice sheet (fluvial or lacustrine), and Lacustrine Deposits those that formed under the influence ofwater after the ice and glacial meltwater disappeared Lacustrine deposits are materials laid (alluvial). down in a glacial lake. These deposits are On the accompanying soil maps, sym- often stratified and characterized by light- and bols are used to depict the different surface dark-coloured beds or layers (varves) reflect- forms and topography. The shape or pattern ing the summer and winter depositional cycles of the land is described in terms ofthe surface in a glacial lake. Lacustrine deposits usually form of the materials, and the steepness of have a high content of silt- or clay-sized mate- slopes (topography) . The type ofsurface geo- rials. They are usually thick but may be thin, logic deposit is indicated in the map legend; like a veneer, and underlain by glacial till. Description ofSoil Association or Complex. Lacustrine deposits may be either sandy, silty, The surface deposit is described in terms of its loamy, or clayey. Materials laid down in particle size and mode of origin. close contact with the glacier are termed glaciolacustrine deposits . 3.1 Surface Deposits Morainal Deposits Water-lain Deposits Morainal deposits, often referred to as Alluvial Deposits glacial till, are materials laid down by the glacial ice. These deposits are generally Alluvial deposits are materials laid comprised of stones and gravels embedded in down by streams and rivers in valley bottoms a matrix of sand-, silt- and clay-sized mate- and collection basins since glaciation. These rials. When this matrix contains nearly equal deposits are stratified and may contain beds or amounts of sand, silt and clay they are called layers that are oblique to the main planes of loamy morainal deposits. When there is a stratification, indicative of their river or preponderance of sand, silt or clay they are stream origin. Alluvial deposits may be either referred to as sandy morainal, silty morainal gravelly, sandy, loamy, silty or clayey. and clayey morainal deposits, respectively . Usually there are fewer stones and gravels present in the silty and clayey morainal 11 deposits than in sandy or loamy types. Dissected Morainal deposits characterized by an abun- dance of surface stones are called bouldery Landscapes with external drainage morainal deposits. Eroded glacial till is also provided by indistinct streams on smoother extremely stony. Glacial till that has been areas, and well-defined gullies on rolling modified by water action is referred to as lands are called dissected. resorted glacial till. Inclined Undifferentiated Deposits Landscapes in which the general slope Areas where the origin ofthe materials is in one direction, only, are called inclined. for the purpose of mapping has not been These occur typically on moderately to steeply specified are termed undifferentiated deposits. sloping lands along valley sides and escarp- These deposits, usually consisting of several ments. materials (morainal, fluvial, lacustrine, or others) occur in areas of steeply sloping land Ridged such as coulees and valley sides. Landscapes that have a linear pattern, 3.2 Surface Forms usually of short and straight parallel ridges but sometimes a single, sinuous ridge or a series Hummocky of intersecting ridges are termed ridged. Landscapes with a complex pattern of Undulating generally short, steep slopes extending from prominent knolls to somewhat rounded de- Landscapes that are characterized by a pressions or kettles are termed hummocky. sequence of long, gentle slopes extending from smooth rises to gentle hollows, that im- Hummocky-ridged part awave-like pattern to the land surface are called undulating. Occasionally, areas have a complex of ridged and hummocky features. They are called hummocky-ridged. 12 4. INTRODUCTION TO SOILS The nature and agriculturally important are derived, in part, from this system. For properties of the soils ofthe area are described example, an orthic profile is a soil whose in succeeding sections of this report. The pre- characteristics are defined as an Orthic sent section, largely adopted from H.C. Moss, Chernozemic soil of the National system. in AGuide to Understanding Saskatchewan In profiles ofmineral soils, three main Soils, deals mainly with features common to horizons are recognized. From the surface most prairie soils. downward, these are designated by the letters A, B, and C. The A horizon may be all or part 4.1 The Soil Profile of the surface soil. It may be dark coloured representing an accumulation of humus, or a A soil is anatural body that occupies a light-coloured horizon from which clay, hu- relatively thin section (usually less than a mus and other materials have been removed. metre or several feet) ofthe earth's surface and The B horizon occurs immediately below the consists of several layers or horizons which A horizon. It may have an accumulation of differ in appearance and composition from the clay and may have been altered to give a underlying material. change in colour or structure. The C horizon The formation of soil from the original occupies the lower portion ofthe soil profile geological deposit involves : the physical and usually represents the parent material. It breakdown of rock fragments; the chemical is relatively unaffected by soil forming weathering of these particles; biological acti- processes operative in the A and B horizons. vities including the growth of plants, the de- composition ofplant remains, and the produc- 4.2 Soil Forming Factors tion of humus; the transfer of certain materials from one part of the soil to another; and, the All soils are formed as a result of the development of soil structure. As a result of combined effects of several natural factors, these processes, which have been operative and in many instances the activities ofman as since deglaciation, changes appear in the ori- well. These factors are parent material, topo- ginal geological deposit in the form of visible graphy, drainage, climate, vegetation, time, layers extending from the surface downward. and man. These factors are discussed to help The whole succession of layers down to and our understanding of why soils differ from including the original geological deposit is place to place. called the soil profile. Each individual layer is called a soil horizon. A particular soil is Parent Material recognized and separated from other soils by identifying the various layers or horizons Parent material, which is the name which make up its profile. The recognition of given to the geological deposit from which the soil profiles forms the basis of soil classifica- soils develop, largely determines soil texture tion and mapping. and the original supply of minerals required The soils of Saskatchewan are classi- by plants. It may also contribute to undesir- fied according to a national system of soil able soil conditions such as salinity, acidity, classification and the names given to the soils and alkalinity. It is also partly responsible for 13 the topographic and drainage characteristics of tions of these features occur from place to a soil. place, forming distinctive landscape patterns. Soil texture, which is the proportion of Surface form and erosional patterns, key sand-, silt- and clay-sized particles present in elements of topography, are described in a soil, is governed by the soil parent material. section "3 .2 Surface Forms" ofthis report. Textural classes are defined by means of a Surface drainage, or runoff, refers to textural triangle (Fig 3). the loss ofwater from an area by flow over the land surface. The water either ends up in local undrained depressions or, following anetwork of local channels, creeks and streams, is carried out of the area. Surface drainage is controlled principally by two factors: (1) the texture and structural characteristics of the soil, and (2) the direction, steepness and frequency of slopes, often referred to as the topography. The texture and structural characteristics ofthe soil, through their effect on its perviousness and water-holding capa- city, dictate, to a considerable degree, the 10 20 30 40 50 6D 70 e0 90 100 amount of surface runoff that takes place. For PERCENT SAND example, sandy soils, being very porous, readily absorb most, if not all, of the water Fig. 3. Textural triangle. that falls on them, whereas clayey soils absorb water slowly or, in some cases, not at all. The latter results from the fact that clay particles, There are many kinds of geological when they become wet, expand, thus effec- deposits in this, as in most, map areas in Sas- tively eliminating the cracks and pores in the katchewan. The main types of surface geo- soil necessary to transmit water downward. logical deposits in this map area are described Thus, all other factors being equal, the higher in section "3 .1 Surface Deposits" of this the clay content of the soil, the more surface report. . runoff. Also of importance is the actual mois- Topography and Drainage ture content of the soil, particularly just prior to freeze-up, which can have a substantial These factors are discussed together effect on the amount of runoffthat occurs the because they are closely related in their effects following spring. on the formation of soils. Topography refers The topography of an area also has a to the features of the surface of the land - marked effect on the extent and type of drain- differences in relief or height between one age pattern that develops, and controls to a place and another, the direction, steepness and large extent the size, location and direction of frequency of slopes, and the comparative the resulting drainage channels. roughness of the surface. Various combina- 14 Climate and Vegetation the extent or rate of change of soil properties induced by the activities of man. Man may Soils throughout Saskatchewan are act as a favourable or unfavourable factor in closely related to the climatic conditions and soil formation. By good management, he may to the type of vegetation that has prevailed maintain or even improve soil quality; by since glacial times. Soils in southwestern neglect or improper management, he may Saskatchewan, having developed under a undo activities of soil formation or even more or less arid climate with sparse grassland destroy the productive capacity of the soil. vegetation, are characterized by a brown sur- face horizon reflecting relatively low amounts 4.3 Kinds and Distribution of Soil of organic matter. To the north and east, as Profiles the climate becomes less arid and the grass- land vegetation more luxuriant, the surface As mentioned previously, an layers of the soil, because of the correspond- understanding of how soils form and the ing increase in the amount of organic matter, factors involved in their formation is become progressively darker. In northern important if we are to understand why soils Saskatchewan, where the climate is more suit- differ from place to place and if we are to ed to the growth of trees than grasses, the sur- successfully predict the extent and distribution face layers ofthe soil exhibit a grayish colour of the various types of soil within the reflecting an almost total lack of organic landscape. In this regard, it is important to matter. These gradual changes in the organic keep in mind that a soil at a particular site in matter content of the surface horizons of the landscape is essentially the result of the Saskatchewan soils, reflected by their colour, combined effects of the soil forming factors, forms the basis of soil zonal separations in the and it is thus said to be in equilibrium with the province, namely Brown, Dark Brown, Black, environment in which it was formed. Thus, if Dark Gray and Gray. one or more of the soil forming factors at a These zonal characteristics of particular site differs from that at another site, Saskatchewan soils are so important that the soils at those sites will also differ. constant reference will be made to this feature The influence of climate and vegeta- throughout this report. tion in creating broad, regional differences in soil characteristics (Brown, Dark Brown, Time and Man . Black, Gray) has been mentioned earlier as has the influence of topography and drainage Time, as a factor in soil formation, is in determining differences in a local area. For considered to be a combination of the actual instance, within a few metres on a single length of time during which a soil has been slope, a succession of soil profiles may be forming, and the intensity or speed with which encountered, each reflecting the particular the physical, chemical, and biological acti- environment in which it was formed. Across- vities responsible for changing raw parent section from a knoll through an adjacent de- material into a recognizable soil profile have pression to another knoll, in areas where the proceeded. Perhaps the most compelling virgin vegetation was comprised of grasses reason for knowing how long it has taken our and light stands of aspen, would reveal a soils to form, comes from the desire to predict succession of mainly Black profiles. This 15 sequence of soils may be repeated time after black soil zone. The various map units ofthe time throughout a soil landscape. Not all soil Oxbow Association reflect variations in the areas, however, are comprised of a single kind and distribution ofOxbow soils from one geological deposit. Quite often, two or more area to the next. deposits occur in close association within an Where two geological deposits occur area. One material may overlay another within a delineated area on the map, two as- regularly, throughout lower slopes or, one sociations are used. As an example, material may overlay the second in an Cudworth-Oxbow is the name given to a irregular pattern, sometimes on the tops of group of soils of the Cudworth and Oxbow hills, sometimes on the side slopes and at soil associations . Different map units of this other times on lower slopes. Thus, a sequence complex are used to reflect variations in the of soils is present whose properties depend not kind and distribution of Cudworth and Oxbow only on relief and drainage aspects, but also soils from one area to the next. on the distribution of materials within the As an exception, areas in which several landscape and the broad, regional climatic and geological deposits occur in a somewhat vegetation influences previously referred to. chaotic and unpredictable pattern throughout the landscape are often given a single name 4.4 The Soil Map and are usually referred to as a complex. For example, Forget is the name given to a highly Ideally, the area represented by each complex mixture of glacial till and sandy soil profile should be shown on the map. water-lain soils. This, however, is only possible where large, It is possible also to find soils re- uniform areas of a single soil occur, or in flecting the characteristics of two soil zones detailed soil surveys where small areas can be within a local area. Under these circumstan- separated on the map. Since, on the semi- ces, two associations are used to reflect these detailed maps, it is rarely possible to delineate different soil properties. For example, Black areas of a single soil, it is almost always and Dark Gray soils that occur together are necessary to combine small areas of several mapped in the Oxbow-Whitewood complex, soils into a larger area. These larger areas are the Oxbow referring to the Black soils and represented on the map by a map unit that Whitewood to the Dark Gray soils. identifies the kinds and distribution of the The soil map, then, attempts to portray component soil profiles. the kinds and distribution of various soil The soil association is used to show the profiles throughout the map area. The sym- relationship between map units that are bols on the map identify the soil map unit, comprised ofsoils that have formed on a simi- mentioned earlier, as well as the slope class. lar geological deposit within a particular soil The map legend, on the margin of the map, zone. The Oxbow Association, for instance, provides a brief description of the soil map is the name given to a group of soil profiles unit. Complete descriptions of the soils are formed on loamy glacial till occurring in the provided in the pages to follow. 16 5. DESCRIPTION OF SOILS AMULET (Am) SOILS Amulet soils are dominantly Dark drained soil with a dark brown Ap horizon, 7 Brown soils formed in clay loam textured, to 12 cm thick, and may have a grayish moderately calcareous glacial till. The brown, calcareous B horizon underlain by a Amulet Association has been separated out of grayish-brown to dark-gray C horizon. These areas previously mapped as the Weyburn soils were thin in their virgin condition, and Association in Soil Survey Report No. 12. It often have been strongly eroded since cultiva- is a heavier textured, darker till containing tion resulting in grayish coloured knolls. conspicuous fragments of olive-gray shale. Eroded Amulet The eroded Amulet Surface horizons are neutral to slightly soil occurs on knolls and upper slopes. Most alkaline with textures ranging from loam to or all of the topsoil has been removed by clay loam. Amulet soils are moderately to erosion, resulting in a light-brown to grayish- slightly stony, with more stones found on brown coloured surface. The eroded Amulet knolls and steeply sloping lands. They occur soil occurs most often on hummocky land- on gently undulating to hilly lands in the scapes with moderate to steep slopes. Missouri Coteau Uplands, and on gently Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained undulating to gently rolling lands in the Souris soils occur in enclosed sloughs or depressional River Plain where they commonly occur in areas that receive runofffrom adjacent upper combination with solonetzic Brooking soils. slopes. They often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab subsurface colours that Kinds of Amulet Soils include reddish spots and streaks. These soils Fourtypes ofAmulet soils occur in the are usually flooded in the spring and most area. They are mainly a result ofthe effect of remain wet long enough to prevent cropping topography in redistributing precipitation and unless drained. _ determining soil drainage. Minor amounts of other Amulet soils Orthic Amulet The Orthic Amulet may occur. The most important of these are soil, occurs on midslopes and on smoother, saline soils which occur on lower slopes and well-drained lower slopes in the Missouri level lands adjacent to sloughs and along Coteau Upland. In the Souris River Plain, the drainageways . Most saline Amulet soils occur orthic Amulet soil occurs on the higher in the AmBk3 map unit in association with portions oflandscapes with solonetzic soils in solonetzic Brooking soils. lower areas. The Orthic Amulet soil has a moderately thick Ap horizon, 8 to 12 cm Map Units of Amulet Soils thick, underlain by a brownish-coloured B Mainly orthic Amulet soils. This Aml horizon, 8 to 20 cm thick, and a grayish- map unit is not extensive, occur- brown to dark-gray C horizon. ring on gently sloping hum- Calcareous Amulet The Calcareous mocky landscapes in the Mis- Amulet soil occurs on locally dry upper slopes souri Coteau Uplands. and knolls where runoffreduces the amount of precipitation entering the soil. It is a well- 17 Mainly orthic Amulet soils, with Brooking soils on lower slopes, and poorly Am2 eroded and calcareous Amulet drained soils in depressions. Solonetzic soils on knolls, and poorly Brooking soils in the map unit are comprised drained soils in depressions. of weak solonetzic Brooking soils occurring These soils occur primarily in the Missouri on level uplands and strong solonetzic soils in Coteau Upland on moderately to steeply slop- lower areas. The AmBk2 map unit occurs on ing hummocky topography. hummocky and undulating landscapes with Mainly orthic Amulet soils, with gentle slopes in the Souris River Plain. Am5 calcareous Amulet soils on upper Mainly a mixture oforthic and AmBk3 slopes and knolls. This map unit calcareous Amulet soils on occurs on gently to strongly slop- mid- to upper slopes and ing dissected and moderately sloping hum- knolls, with a mixture of mocky landscapes in the Missouri Coteau solonetzic and saline Brooking soils in lower Upland. areas, and poorly drained soils in depressions. This map unit occurs on gently to moderately Combination Map Units sloping dissected landscapes on lower por- These are mainly areas ofAmulet soils tions ofthe Missouri Coteau near Oungre, and that include significant amounts of soils of on the Souris River Plain. Saline soils occur other associations. More detailed descriptions on lower slopes adjacent to indistinct run- ofthe included soils can be obtained by refer- ways. ring to the appropriate Association descrip- Mainly amixture oforthic and AmBk4 tions. calcareous Amulet soils on Mainly amixture of orthic and mid- AmAq5 to upper slopes and calcareous Amulet soils on knolls, with a mixture of solo- mid- to upper slopes and netzic and strong .solonetzic Brooking soils in knolls, with a mixture of or- lower areas, and poorly drained soils in de- thic and saline Asquith soils on lower slopes. pressions. Significant proportions of other This map unit occurs in two small areas along soils developed on variable, usually nonstony Long Creek and is probably a result of the sandy, loamy and silty deposits occur through- local deposition of sandy sediments. out the landscape and could not be consis- Mainly orthic Amulet soils, tently mapped AmBkl . The AmBk4 map unit occurs with calcareous Amulet soils primarily on gently sloping hummocky land- on knolls, and solonetzic scapes in the Steelman area, where the water- Brooking soils in lower areas. lain deposits have resulted from local deposi- Strong solonetzic soils are not common. This tion in small ponds during the melting ofthe map unit occurs mainly as one large, well glaciers. drained, gently sloping dissected area on the lower slopes ofthe Missouri Coteau south of Agricultural Properties ofAmulet Soils Torquay. Amulet soils, particularly those on Mainly a mixture of orthic and gently undulating AmBk2 and hummocky topography calcareous Amulet soils on are fair agricultural lands of capability class 3. mid- to upper slopes and They are limited because they occur in a knolls, with solonetzic semiarid climatic region. The clay loam tex- 18 tures (25 to 30% clay) ofthese soils results in The calcareous and eroded Amulet soils, a moderately high water-holding capacity of which occur on upper slopes and knolls, are about 25 cm in the upper 120 cm of soil. The locally dry due to rapid runoff, have low moderate organic matter content is generally reserves of organic matter and nutrients, and adequate to provide reasonable fertility levels are susceptible to wind and water erosion. and good tilth, although management practices Large additions of phosphorus fertilizers or which maintain or increase organic matter barnyard manures to these areas can improve contents are encouraged. Most fields require the fertility. periodic clearing of stones but these are Annual cropping is generally not pos- generally not aserious problem. The soils are sible on poorly drained soils unless they are not usually susceptible to wind erosion pro- drained. During periods of prolonged vided that care is taken to maintain stubble drought, some of these areas are included residues. Water erosion can be a problem, within fields and are cropped, and others are particularly on the hilly lands of the Missouri used for hay production. The wettest sloughs Coteau Uplands. are best suited to nesting and rearing habitat Orthic Amulet soils are the best agri- for waterfowl and other wildlife. cultural lands ofthe Amulet association, with the fewest limitations to agricultural use. ARCOLA (Ao) SOILS Arcola soils are dominantly Black Kinds of Arcola Soils soils formed in silty, water-lain deposits. This There are five different kinds of Ar- association was established to describe the cola soils in the area, with their occurrence silty Black soils that occur within the Arcola related to landscape position, drainage, the Lake Plain. Arcola soils differ from the degree of soil erosion and the presence of soil similar Cudworth soils in that the Arcola soils salinity. _ occur under the slightly drier climatic condi- Orthic Arcola The orthic Arcola soil tions ofthe Black-Dark Brown soil transition occurs on all landscape positions, including zone. Arcola soils are also somewhat more knolls, where the slopes are very gentle. It is saline and have a wider range of textures than a well-drained soil, with a black Ap horizon, the Cudworth soils. . 14 to 16 cm thick, underlain by a brownish- Arcola soils are generally stone free, coloured B horizon that is about 20 to 40 cm although some areas may be slightly stony thick. where they occur in close proximity to glacial Calcareous Arcola . The calcareous till or gravel. Surface horizons are neutral to Arcola soil occurs on upper slopes and knolls. slightly alkaline with textures ranging from It is a well-drained soil with a thin black or silt loam to silty clay loam and clay loam. grayish-black Ap horizon, 12 to 15 cm thick, Arcola soils occur commonly on undulating that may be underlain by athin grayish-brown and dissected landscapes with very gentle to calcareous B horizon. gentle slopes, with local areas that are Eroded Arcola The eroded Arcola moderately sloping and dissected. soil has a thin Ap horizon that represents a cultivated layer composed largely of subsoil. 19 Eroded Arcola soils occur along runways on Mainly orthic Arcola soils on well- Ao3 gently to moderately sloping land where water drained level or gently sloping erosion has removed most of the topsoil. positions of the landscape, with Many ofthese soils appear as grayish areas in calcareous Arcola soils on knolls recently tilled fields. Some eroded Arcola and steeper slopes. This map unit usually soils are the result ofwind erosion. occurs on undulating or dissected landscapes Saline Arcola Saline Arcola soils oc- with gentle slopes and good external drainage. cur on level areas near the base ofthe Moose Mainly eroded Arcola soils, with a Ao4 Mountain Upland in the northern part of the mixture of orthic and calcareous Arcola Lake Plain. The saline Arcola is Arcola soils on the more stable, characterized by the presence of soluble salts, gentle slopes or level lands. This usually within 50 cm ofthe soil surface. The map unit occurs predominantly on the gently salts occur as awhite surface crust or as small, sloping lands along streams such as Swift white specks within the soil, although salts Creek. One area ofAo4 occurs on a severely may not always be visible. Salinity in this wind eroded area in the northwestern part of area results from the upward movement of Tp 9 Rg 6 W2M. salt-containing groundwater to the soil sur- Mainly saline Arcola soils, with Ao5 face. This is thought to be from the artesian poorly drained soils in lower areas. pressure that results from the recharge of These soils occur typically on groundwater at higher elevations in the Moose nearly level areas at the base ofthe Mountain upland. Moose Mountain Upland, and locally through- Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained out the Arcola Lake Plain. soils occur in enclosed depressional areas that receive runoff from adjacent upper slopes. Agricultural Properties of Arcola Soils They often have thick, dark-coloured A hori- Arcola soils are good agricultural soils zons and drab subsurface colours that include of capability class 2, unless saline, poorly reddish spots and streaks. Often they occur in drained or severely eroded. A slight moisture association with saline Arcola soils in broad, deficit, imparted by amoderate water-holding low-lying areas. capacity and the subhumid regional climate, is their main limitation. They have a water- Map Units of Arcola Soils holding capacity of 16 to 20 cm ofmoisture in Mainly orthic Arcola soils. This the upper 120 cm of soil. Arcola soils are Aol map unit occurs on undulating well suited to most crops grown in Saskatche- landscapes with very gentle wan. The well-drained, orthic Arcola soils on slopes. nearly level to very gently sloping lands are Mainly orthic Arcola soils on very some of the best soils in the map area. Cal- Ao2 gentle slopes and low knolls, with careous Arcola soils have somewhat less calcareous Arcola soils on sharper organic matter and maybe locally dry because knolls and slightly steeper slopes, oftheir occurrence on knolls. and poorly drained soils in de- Saline Arcola soils have severe limita- pressions. This map unit typically occurs tions to production because of high salinity on undulating landscapes with very gentle levels. In these areas, the saline Arcola soils slopes. are the result of regional groundwater 20 discharge and therefore the salinity in most of commended. Areas of Arcola soils that have these areas probably can not be improved by been badly eroded require special practices to management within the affected fields. sustain production such as grassing runways Silt loam textured Arcola soils are sus- and steep slopes and by adding extra fertilizer, ceptible to wind erosion. Practices that limit particularly phosphorus. Saline Arcola lands summerfallow, maintain crop residues to pro- are best used for the production of salt- tect the soil from wind erosion, and improve tolerant forage crops. the structure or tilth of surface horizons are re- ASQUITH (Aq) SOILS Asquith soils are dominantly Dark brown, usually calcareous A horizon, 10 to 20 Brown soils formed in weakly to moderately cm thick, and may be underlain by a calcareous loamy sand to sandy loam textured brownish-coloured, calcareous B horizon, and water-lain deposits. Surface horizons are a light-brown, weakly to moderately calcare- neutral to weakly acidic with textures ranging ous C horizon. from loamy sand to fine sandy loam. Asquith Carbonated Asquith The carbonated soils are generally stone free, except for minor Asquith soil is an imperfectly drained soil that areas where they are underlain by glacial till at occurs on lower areas. It has athin A horizon shallow depths. Nearly all Asquith soils occur and a strongly calcareous subsoil. Its general on nearly level to gently sloping, undulating occurrence in lower parts of the landscapes is or hummocky topography. The largest areas thought to be a consequence of high water of Asquith soils are in the Wascana Creek tables and a net upward flow ofwater from the Plain near Osage, western portions of the water table to the surface by capillary rise. Arcola Lake Plain southwest ofMoose Moun- This slows the downward leaching of miner- tain, Souris River Plain south of Estevan, and als, such as lime carbonates, or brings dis- at various locations along Long Creek, the solved carbonates close to the soil surface Souris River Valley, and Moose Mountain where they precipitate to form carbonate-rich Creek. C horizons. Saline Asquith The saline Asquith Kinds of Asquith Soils soil is an imperfectly drained soil that occurs There are several different kinds of on lower slopes. Similar processes that result Asquith soils, with their occurrence related to in the development of a carbonated soil result soil drainage and the presence of soil salinity. in a saline soil if there is a net inflow of Orthic Asquith The orthic Asquith soluble salts. Consequently, soluble salts are soil is a well- to rapidly drained soil that oc- usually present within 50 cm of the surface. curs on nearly level to gently undulating The salts occur as a light-coloured surface landscapes. It has a relatively thin grayish- crust or as small, white specks in the soil, brown A horizon and a thick brownish B although salts may not always be visible. horizon. Saline Asquith soils are most common in Calcareous Asquith The calcareous areas where thin sandy materials overlay Asquith soil occurs on lower slopes. It is a glacial till. Many ofthe lower slope soils are well-drained soil characterized by a dark- saline, particularly when underlain by a less 21 permeable substrate of till or lacustrine mate- Mainly orthic Asquith soils, Aql l rials. with poorly drained soils in Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained Aqll/T enclosed depressions. soils occur in wet depressions. They often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab Combination Map Units subsurface colours that include reddish spots These are mainly areas of Asquith and streaks. Poorly drained Asquith soils are soils that include significant amounts of soils generally heavier textured than the associated of other associations . Except for AqGd5, the soils on upper slopes. soils included in the combinations are of heavier texture than the typical Asquith soil. Map Units of Asquith Soils These other soils also occur in lower parts of Mainly orthic Asquith soils. This the landscape, and usually some salinity is Aql map unit usually occurs on undu- present. These combination map units are not lating landscapes that are very common, occurring in only a few local areas. gently sloping and well to rapidly More detailed descriptions of the included drained but may also occur on moderately soils can be obtained by referring to the appro- sloping hummocky areas. The Aql map unit priate Association descriptions. is most common in the western part of the Mainly orthic Asquith soils on AqAv5 Arcola Lake Plain but may also occur in areas higher parts oflandscapes, with near some of the larger streams. imperfectly to poorly drained, Mainly orthic Asquith soils, with Aq3 often saline, Alluvium soils in saline and/or carbonated Asquith lower areas. The Alluvium soils occur on soils in lower areas. In this map silty-textured materials along small streams unit the orthic Asquith soils occur that have cut through areas of sandy Asquith on the well to rapidly drained uplands, and the soils. saline and/or carbonated Asquith soils occur Mainly orthic Asquith soils on AqEs5 in imperfectly drained areas. The Aq3 map higher parts of the landscape, unit usually occurs on undulating landscapes with saline Asquith soils on with gentle slopes. The saline or carbonated lower slopes, solonetzic Este- soils, which occur in the lower areas, are often van soils in some lower areas, and poorly heavier textured than the associated soils on drained soils in depressions. This combina- higher land. . tion appears to have resulted from localized Mainly orthic Asquith soils on deposition of a relatively thin, sandy deposit Aq9 higher parts of landscapes, with on a smooth till plain. Aq9/T saline and carbonated Asquith Mainly orthic Asquith soils on AqGd5 soils in lower areas, and poorly higher parts of the landscape, drained soils in depressions. The Aq9T map with saline Asquith soils on unit generally has less than 100 cm of sandy lower slopes, and solonetzic materials overlying glacial till. These map Grandora soils in some lower areas. The solo- units occur on undulating landscapes with netzic Grandora soils have a thick A horizon very gentle to gentle slopes and enclosed underlain by a strongly developed B horizon depressions. and saline subsoils. 22 Mainly orthic Asquith soils on improving soil tilth, and for enhancing the AqHy5 higher parts of the landscape, resistance of the soil to wind erosion. Asquith with saline Asquith soils on soils are very susceptible to wind erosion, and lower slopes, solonetzic Han- also to water erosion on rolling landscapes. ley soils in some lower areas, and poorly The best Asquith soils are those of a drained soils in depressions. sandy loam texture that are well drained. Mainly orthic Asquith soils on Loamy sand textured soils have reduced mois- AqWg5 higher parts of the landscape, ture storage and fertility levels. Poorly with saline Asquith soils on drained soils are limited because of excessive lower slopes, and solodic wetness and saline soils often have high levels Wingello soils in some lower areas. As well, ofsoluble salts. Asquith soils are best suited Solonetzic Grandora soils are often associated to cropping rotations that include perennial with the soils on lower slopes. forages. However, on sandy loam textured soils, annual cropping may be a substantial Agricultural Properties of Asquith Soils part ofthe rotation. Loamy sand soils should Asquith soils with very fine sandy be used mainly for perennial forages. At the loam to sandy loam surface textures are poor time of mapping, many of the Asquith soil agricultural soils of capability class 4, and are areas were being used for grazing or hay marginal for the production of common field production. This land use should continue, crops. Depending on the texture, the presence especially in the Aq3 and Aq9 map units that of salinity, and the drainage, some Asquith have aconsiderable amount of saline land. soils may be suitable for improved pasture. Agricultural use of many of the Their agricultural capability is limited by a combination map units that are dominantly strong moisture deficit imparted by a low Asquith is limited by the saline, poorly water-holding capacity and the semiarid re- drained and solonetzic soils that occur in low- gional climate. The water-holding capacity of er areas. In addition, the wide range in tex- these soils is 7 to 10 cm of water in the upper tures between the sandy Asquith soils and the 120 cm of soil for loamy sands, and 10 to 12 associated soils of heavier texture may make cm for sandy loams. Organic matter contents these lands difficult to farm. Many of these are generally low in Asquith soils. Organic areas were used for grazing and forage pro- matter is particularly important in these sandy duction. soils as a source of nutrients, or its effect on ALLUVIUM (Av) SOILS Alluvium soils are dominantly Rego- vium soils are along the Moose Mountain solic soils formed in predominantly silty, Creek and the Souris and Antler Rivers. water-lain deposits. Textures of these depo- Alluvium soils usually occur on nearly level sits, however, do range from sandy to clayey. to very gently sloping undulating and dissect- These deposits occur mainly along streams, ed landscapes . Surface horizons are neutral to with local areas in depressional lands that re- alkaline and range in texture from loam to ceive runoff and alluvial sediments from clay, with clay loam being the most common. adjacent slopes. The largest areas of Allu- 23 Parent materials are moderate to strongly duller colours and reddish spots and streaks, calcareous and sometimes saline. indicative of imperfect soil drainage. Due to their location in the landscape, some of these Kinds of Alluvium Soils soils have become saline and/or carbonated. Differences in drainage and salinity Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained determine the different kinds of Alluvium soils occur in low areas. These areas may be Soils. flooded at spring snowmelt and remain wet Typical Alluvium The typical Alluvi- well into the growing season. They often um soil is an imperfectly to well-drained soil. have thick, dark-coloured Ahorizons and drab These soils have a thin A horizon and no B subsurface colours that include reddish spots horizon. Buried organic matter-rich horizons and streaks. Some poorly drained soils are often occur, indicating the recent deposition of saline and/or carbonated. fresh alluvial sediments on former soils. Solonetzic Alluvium The solonetzic Map Units of Alluvium Soils Alluvium soil occurs most often on lower Mainly typical Alluvium soils. Avl slopes, although on nearly level landscapes it This map unit occurs on well can occur on all slope positions. It is a well- drained nearly level to gently drained soil characterized by a thin A horizon sloping, undulating landscapes and and a dense, clayey B horizon that is very hard occurs most commonly along the Souris when dry. Saline subsoils are common in River. these areas. Mainly typical Alluvium soils, Av2 Saline Alluvium The saline Alluvium with a mixture of saline and soil often occurs on lower slopes, however it carbonated Alluvium soils, and can occur on all slope positions in some occasional solonetzic Alluvium landscapes. It is characterized by the presence soils intermixed. . The typical Alluvium soils of soluble salts, usually within 50 cm of the are imperfectly to well-drained soils. The surface. The salts occur as a white surface Av2 map unit occurs most commonly adjacent crust or as small, white specks within the soil, to Long Creek. although salts may not always be visible. Mainly poorly drained Alluvium Avll Saline Alluvium soils are common, particular- soils, with a mixture of saline ly in the drier, western parts of the map area. and/or carbonated Alluvium soils Carbonated Alluvium The carbonat- interspersed . The Avl 1 map unit ed Alluvium soil occurs on imperfectly occurs along the Souris River just above drained, lower lands. It is characterized by a Estevan, and along the upper parts of Moose highly calcareous A horizon underlain by a Mountain Creek. grayish subsoil containing high concentrations Mainly imperfectly drained Av19 oflime carbonate. Alluvium soils, with a mixture of Imperfectly Drained Alluvium The poorly drained, carbonated and imperfectly drained Alluvium soil occurs in saline Alluvium soils in lower lower areas that have restricted drainage, but areas. The Av19 map unit occurs in the not to the extent ofpoorly drained soils. It has Kipling Plain northeast of the Moose Moun- characteristics similar to the typical Alluvium tain Upland, where local alluvial deposits soil, but because of drainage conditions it has occur in depressional areas among hummocky 24 and ridged landscapes with gentle to moderate ing in markedly different agricultural char- slopes. acteristics for different map units. The soils ofthe Avl map unit are po- Combination Map Units tentially good agricultural soils with loam to These are mainly Alluvium soils that clay textures and moderate to high water- include significant proportions of other soil holding capacities. They are well suited to a types. More detailed descriptions of the in- variety of crops. However, their occurrence in cluded soils are provided under the appropri- narrow bands along rivers results in irregular ate Association descriptions. field-shapes. Similarly the Alluvium soils of Mainly typical Alluvium soils, the AvSfl map unit are good agricultural AvSfl with gravelly and sandy Swift lands. Creek soils on sloping valley The high proportion of saline and sides. The typical Alluvium soil poorly drained lands in areas of Avll and in this map unit is well-drained and occurs on Av19 map units limit their use for arable agri- nearly level to undulating flood plains along culture, thus most ofthese lands are used for streams. grazing. The Av2 map unit has limitations Agricultural Properties of Alluvium Soils due to the presence of saline and solonetzic Alluvium soils are made up of soils of soils that lower the agricultural potential of widely different agricultural potential, result- these soils. BIGGAR (Bg) SOILS Biggar soils are dominantly Dark strongly rolling or hilly lands such as the Lost Brown soils formed in moderately calcareous, Horse Hills. gravelly, water-lain deposits. Although not extensive in the map area, Biggar soils occur Kinds of BiggarSoils over several prominent land features. These There are several different kinds of features, which are a result of deposition by Biggar soils, with their occurrence related fast-moving meltwater in glacial times, in- mostly to topography and its effect on redis- clude the Lost Horse Hills, the esker complex tributing soil moisture. southeast of Stoughton, the long, straight Orthic Biggar The orthic Biggar soil ridge in the Arcola Lake Plain near Kisbey, is well to rapidly drained and occurs on nearly and several major deposits adjacent to Long level to gently sloping undulating landscapes and Moose Mountain Creeks. and the middle part of steeper slopes. Most of Most cultivated Biggar soils are the moisture received as precipitation infil- moderately stony, with a large number of trates into the soil. This soil has a thin dark small stones. Surface horizons are neutral to grayish brown A horizon and, where sandy moderately acidic. The textures ofthe surface materials occur, a moderately thick, brownish materials are usually more sandy than the B horizon. The more gravelly soils usually underlying soil, ranging in texture from gra- have much thinner profiles. velly loamy sand to gravelly sandy loam. Calcareous Biggar The calcareous Biggar soils occur on nearly level landscapes, Biggar soil occurs on steeper slopes, knolls mostly as terraces along streams, and on and where gravelly textures occur close to the 25 soil surface. It is a rapidly drained soil with a usually extend from lower depths to very very low water-holding capacity. It has a thin close to the soil surface. A horizon, and may have a thin calcareous B Mainly orthic Biggar soils, with a Bg3 horizon. mixture ofsaline and/or carbonated Eroded Biggar The eroded Biggar Biggar soils in lower areas. The soil occurs on upper slopes and knolls. It is a Bg3 map unit occurs most often on rapidly drained soil that has had part or all of undulating or hummocky landscapes with the topsoil removed by erosion, resulting in a very gentle to gentle slopes. The saline or car- lighter or more grayish surface colour than bonated soils generally occur on low-lying that of surrounding soils. areas that are somewhat heavier textured and Saline Biggar The saline Biggar soil subject to the influence of high groundwater usually occurs in areas where thin gravelly tables. deposits overlay finer-textured materials such as glacial till. The saline soils often occur in Agricultural Properties of Biggar Soils lower areas. The saline Biggar soil is charac- The agricultural capability of Biggar terized by the presence of soluble salts, soils ranges from class 4, which is poor to usually within 50 cm of the surface. The salts class 6, which is nonarable. This is due to a occur as a white surface crust or as small, high moisture deficit, imparted by the semi- white specks within the soil, although salts arid regional climate and a low water-holding may not always be visible. The saline Biggar capacity. Biggar soils with surface layers of soil usually occurs on poorly sorted gravelly gravelly sandy loam have water-holding capa- loam textured materials. Soil salinity does not cities of about 8 to 10 cm of water in the up- usually occur on deep gravelly deposits. per 120 cm of soil. Gravelly loamy sand or Carbonated Biggar The carbonated sand-textured soils have less storage capacity. Biggar soil is a soil with agrayish, carbonate- Biggar soils are generally low in organic mat- rich horizon underlying the A horizon. It of- ter and not well supplied with nutrients. ten occurs in combination with the saline Those with sandy surface horizons are very Biggar soil. susceptible to wind erosion, with considerable deterioration in soil quality occurring as the Map Units of Biggar Soils finer topsoil erodes and gravelly lags are left Mainly orthic Biggar soils. This behind. Bgl map unit occurs on nearly level to Biggar soils in the map area, for the gently sloping undulating, hum- most part, are not cultivated, and are used pri- mocky or dissected landscapes, marily for grazing. However, their carrying that are well- to rapidly drained. These soils capacity is relatively low. Where Biggar soils usually have a thin, surface layer of loamy are cultivated, rotations should include peren- sand to sandy loam textured material. nial forage crops with reduced emphasis on Mainly orthic Biggar soils, with a annual crops. Annual cropping generally re- Bg2 mixture of eroded and calcareous quires relatively high fertilizer inputs, and the Biggar soils on knolls and steeper low water-holding capacity increases the risk slopes. The Bg2 map unit occurs of substantial yield reductions during dry most often on hummocky landscapes with periods. moderate to steep slopes. Gravelly textures 26 BROOKING (Bk) SOILS Brooking soils are dominantly Dark relatively friable A horizon underlain by a Brown Solonetzic soils formed in loam to clay reddish brown B horizon that is about 20 cm loam textured, moderately calcareous, glacial thick. The B horizon is enriched in clay, but till. The Brooking Association was first es- lacks the high sodium levels of the strong tablished in the Willow Bunch Lake map area solonetzic soils. Consequently, the B horizon to include the solonetzic soils on Amulet-like is reasonably permeable to water, and does not or heavier, dark coloured, glacial till with con- form extremely hard structure when dry. The spicuous olive gray shale fragments. In the upper part of the subsoil is usually nonsaline, present survey, the Brooking-Amulet mapunit with salts generally occurring at about the one combinations cover much of the area desig- metre depth. nated as Weyburn-Estevan on Soil Survey Strong Solonetzic Brooking The Report No. 12, with the Brooking soils includ- strong solonetzic Brooking soil is an imper- ing solonetzic Weyburn profiles and some of fectly to moderately well-drained soil that the more strongly leached, solodic soils for- occurs on lower slopes. This soil has a rela- merly included with the Estevan Association. tively thin Ap horizon of poor tilth, and a Brooking soils are slightly to moder- tough, dark brown to black, clayey B horizon ately stony, with more stones on the gently to about 20 cm thick. The sodium-enriched, moderately sloping, hummocky landscapes. solonetzic B horizon is slowly permeable to Surface horizons are neutral to moderately water, is difficult for roots to grow through, acid, with the most acidic conditions occur- and forms hard masses when dry. Subsoils ring in the more strongly leached solodic are generally saline, usually immediately be- profiles. Surface textures are generally loam low the bottom of the B horizon. Soils with to clay loam, with some lighter loams in areas thin but strongly developed, grayish coloured where Brooking-Weyburn soil combinations lower A horizons and pronounced round- occur. Brooking soils, generally in combina- topped columnar B horizons (solodized- tion with soils of the Amulet Association, solonetz) are included in this group. occupy most ofthe gently sloping, undulating Solodic Brooking The solodic Brook- and hummocky morainal lands of the Souris ing soil is a moderately well to well-drained River Plains. soil that occurs in concave positions in level uplands, on gentle slopes, and in lowlands. Kinds of Brooking Soils This soil has athick grayish brown to gray A There are several different kinds of horizon, that grades to a strongly leached soils within the Brooking Association, with lower A horizon. The A horizon is underlain, their occurrence related to the effects oftopo- at considerable depth, by a B horizon that graphy, both in redistributing precipitation lacks the high sodium levels of the strong and in determining the relative effects of solonetzic soils. Saline subsoils are rare under groundwater tables on soil development. upland solodic Brooking soils but are more Solonetzic Brooking The solonetzic common in lower areas. These soils have a Brooking soil is a well-drained soil that occurs moderate to strongly acidic surface horizon. on the middle portions of gentle slopes and on Saline Brooking Saline Brooking level uplands. This soil has a dark brown, soils, occur sporadically in lower areas adja- 27 cent to sloughs and runways. Many ofthese appropriate Association descriptions . The soils appear to be resalinized solonetzic soils. Brooking-Amulet Map Units are considered a The saline Brooking soil is characterized by special grouping in that the soils have devel- the presence of soluble salts, usually within 50 oped on a similar parent material, and occupy cm of the surface. The salts occur as a white extensive areas in the map area. They are a surface crust or as small, white specks within natural "association" of Dark Brown Solonet- the soil, although salts may not always be zic and normal Dark Brown soils. visible. Mainly solonetzic Brooking BkAml Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained soils on gentle mid-slope and Brooking soils occur in enclosed sloughs and level uplands, with solodic depressional areas that accumulate runoff Brooking soils in lower areas, from adjacent upper slopes. They often have and amixture oforthic and calcareous Amulet thick, dark-coloured Ahorizons and drab sub- soils on upper slopes and knolls. This map surface colours that include reddish spots and unit occurs on the gentle rise from the Souris streaks. Some poorly drained soils are saline River Plain to the Moose Mountain Upland and/or carbonated. north and east of Creelman, where it common- ly occurs on well-drained, hummocky land- Map Units of Brooking Soils scapes with very gentle slopes. Mainly solonetzic Brooking soils Bkg BkAm2 Mainly solonetzic Brooking on gentle slopes and level uplands, soils on gentle mid-slopes and with a mixture of strong solonetzic level uplands, with a mixture and solodic Brooking soils in low- oforthic and calcareous Amu- er areas, and poorly drained soils in depres- let soils on upper slopes and knolls, and poor- sions. This map unit commonly occurs on un- ly drained soils in depressions. This map unit dulating landscapes with very gentle to gentle is very extensiveon undulating or hummocky slopes. landscapes with gentle slopes in the Souris Mainly solonetzic Brooking on River Bk9 Plain. gentle slopes and level uplands, Mainly solonetzic Brooking BkBr5 with a mixture of strong solonet- soils on level uplands, with zic, solodic and saline Brooking saline Bradwell soils in lower soils in lower areas, and poorly drained soils areas, and orthic Bradwell soils in depressions. Saline soils are important fea- on gentle slopes. The Bradwell soils are tures in the landscape and occur on two to five usually shallow and are underlain by glacial percent of the area, commonly on slough till. This map unit occurs west of Midale, and margins and along indistinct runways. The includes a complex mixture of materials and Bk9 map unit occurs on undulating or dis- soils. For example, in addition to the domi- sected landscapes with gentle slopes. nant soils, lesser amounts of solonetzic Wingello soils, developed on sandy sedi- Combination Map Units ments, and solonetzic Estevan soils, devel- These are mainly areas of Brooking oped on resorted glacial till, occur locally in soils that include significant amounts of soils these areas. The sandy sediments overlying of other associations. More detailed descrip- till and the common occurrence ofsaline soils tions of included soils are provided under the are the most distinctive features of this area. 28 Mainly solonetzic Brooking very gentle to gentle slopes. The Weyburn BkEsl soils on mid- to upper slopes, soils are moderately stony with loam to sandy with a mixture of strong solo- loam textures. The Brooking soils are loam netzic and solodic Estevan soils textured which is somewhat lighter textured in lower areas. The BkEs1 map unit common- than typical Brooking soils. ly occurs on undulating landscapes with very Mainly solonetzic Brooking BkWr5 gentle to gentle slopes. soils on gentle slopes and level Mainly solonetzic Brooking uplands, with a mixture of BkEs2 soils on mid- to upper slopes, orthic and calcareous Weyburn with a mixture of strong solo- soils on knolls and low ridges, saline Brook- netz and solodic Estevan soils ing soils in lower areas, and poorly drained in lower areas, and poorly drained soils in de- soils in depressions. Some strong solonetz pressions. The BkEs2 map unit occurs on Brooking soils also occur on lower slopes. gently sloping undulating landscapes, usually The BkWr5 map unit occurs most often on in transitional zones between areas of mainly gently sloping hummocky lands. Textures are Estevan soils at lower elevations and similar to those described for BkWr3 . Brooking-Amulet soil combinations on higher lands. Agricultural Properties of Brooking Soils Mainly a mixture of solonetzic The agricultural capability ofBrooking BkEs3 Brooking and Estevan soils on soils generally ranges from fair (class 3) to mid- to upper slopes, with a poor (class 4), depending mainly on the de- mixture ofstrong solonetzic and gree of solonetzic development and the depth saline Estevan soils in lower areas. Saline to saline subsoils. The loam to clay loam- soils usually account for only about 5 per cent textured soils have a water-holding capacity of of the area but are generally considered to be about 16 to 20 cm of water in the upper 120 a serious problem. cm ofsoil. The solonetzic Brooking soils that Mainly solonetzic Brooking occur on well-drained, undulating to nearly BkFg5 soils on level uplands, with a level landscapes are fair agricultural lands, mixture of calcareous and or- equivalent to the orthic Amulet soils. In thic Forget soils on ridges and comparison, the moderately well-drained knolls, and saline soils on lower slopes and strong solonetzic Brooking soils in lower poorly drained soils in depressions. The areas ofthe landscape are of lower capability. Forget soils occur on a variable mixture of This is a result ofthe tough, clayey B horizons sandy loam to loam glacial till and sandy flu- which restrict rooting and slows the down- vial deposits. Saline soils account for only ward movement of water, causing temporary 5% or less of the area but are generally con- ponding during wet periods. Many of these sidered to be a serious problem. soils have strongly saline layers below the B Mainly solonetzic Brooking horizon, limiting moisture and nutrient use BkWr3 soils on level uplands and from those depths. The solodic Brooking lower areas, with a mixture of soils are also fair agricultural soils, in that orthic and calcareous Weyburn moisture conditions in these deep soils in soils on ridges and knolls. The BkWr3 map concave areas are usually more favourable. unit occurs on hummocky landscapes with However, like some of the strong solonetzic 29 soils, the organic matter content of the A under wet conditions may cause serious com- horizons is relatively low and results in poor paction. Water erosion is generally not a tilth. As well, the surface of these soils may problem on the nearly level to undulating be loose and powdery when dry, puddle easily lands, but stubble residues should be main- when wet, and dry with hard surface crusts. tained to protect soils from wind erosion. Yields are reduced and sometimes eliminated Practices which increase production, such as on saline Brooking soils. Poorly drained soils the proper use of fertilizers and a minimal use are usually not cultivated, but where they are, of sununerfallow, will help to maintain or cropping is usually possible only in dry years. increase soil organic matter contents and im- Brooking and associated soils are suit- prove soil tilth. There is some evidence that ed to annual crop production. However, spe- over-use of summerfallow during wet years cial attention must be given to timeliness of has resulted in an increase in the area of saline tillage, particularly on the poorly structured, soils. strong solonetzic and solodic soils. Tillage BRADWELL (Br) SOILS Bradwell soils are dominantly Dark Orthic Bradwell The orthic Bradwell Brown soils formed in fine sandy loam to soil is a well-drained soil, with a moderately loam textured, nonstony, moderately calcare- thick dark grayish brown A horizon, and ous water-lain deposits. Bradwell soils like brown B horizon. It occurs on very gently Asquith soils, are sandy but contain more than sloping undulating landscapes and on some 15% clay while Asquith soils have less than level areas. 15% clay. Bradwell soils are not common in Eroded Bradwell The eroded Brad- the map area, occurring mostly on the~ well soil, as the name implies, is a Bradwell Wascana Creek Plain near Osage. soil whose topsoil has been partially or totally Bradwell soils are stone free except for removed by erosion. It occurs on knolls and those in the BrEs5 map unit where they may upper slopes and can be easily recognized in be slightly stony. Surface horizons are neutral cultivated fields by its light-brown to grayish- to alkaline and usually have afine sandy loam coloured surface. It occurs on hummocky texture but may range .from sandy loam to landscapes with moderate slopes. loam. Bradwell soil areas in the map area Carbonated Bradwell The carbonat- contain considerable amounts of saline soils. ed Bradwell soil is an imperfectly drained soil Bradwell soils usually occur on undulating or that has a grayish brown A horizon which is dissected landscapes that have very gentle underlain by a grayish white subsoil of high slopes. carbonate content. It occurs on lower areas that are influenced by high water tables. The Kinds of Bradwell Soils carbonated Bradwell soil is often associated There are several different kinds of with the saline Bradwell soil. Bradwell soils, with their occurrence related Saline Bradwell The saline Bradwell to landscape position, soil drainage and soil soil has characteristics similar to the carbona- salinity. ted Bradwell soil, plus the occurrence of solu- 30 ble salts. Soluble salts appear as whitish able occurrence ofsandy loam textured depo- crusts on the dry soil surface, and as white sits overlying glacial till, salinity which occurs specks in the A horizon. on 10 to 25% of the area, and the poorly Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained drained depressions. soils occur in wet depressions. They often Mainly orthic Bradwell soils BrWg5 have thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab on slightly higher parts of the subsurface colours that include reddish spots landscape, with a mixture of and streaks. saline and solonetzic Wingello soils in lower areas. The low ridges and Map Units of Bradwell Soils knolls have sandier textures than loam- Mainly orthic Bradwell soils, with textured Wingello soils, while silty soils Br5 a mixture of saline and/or carbon- occasionally occur in lower areas. Br5/T ated Bradwell soils in lower areas. Agricultural Properties of Bradwell Soils Mainly a mixture of saline and/or Bradwell soils are fair agricultural Br7 carbonated Bradwell soils. The soils of capability class 3 ; a moderate mois- Br7 map unit occurs in low areas ture deficit, imparted by the semiarid regional where the soils are poorly to imper- climate and a moderate water-holding capa- fectly drained. city, is their main limitation. They have a water-holding capacity of 10 to 16 cm of Combination Map Units water in the upper 120 cm of soil . In the map These are areas of Bradwell soils that area, the general occurrence of salinity in all include significant amounts of soils of other Bradwell soil areas reduces the agricultural associations. More detailed descriptions of capability of this soil. In areas where salinity the included soils are provided under the ap- is severe, such as in areas ofthe Br7 map unit, propriate Association descriptions. the soils are nonarable. In areas ofBr5, BrEs5 Mainly a mixture of orthic and and BrWg5, salinity occupies a significant BrEs5 saline and/or carbonated Brad- area and must be considered in the manage- well soils, with solonetzic Este- ment of these lands. Severely saline areas van soils in lower areas, and should be seeded to salt-tolerant forages. poorly drained soils in depressions. The Nonsaline lands should be continuous cropped BrEs5 areas consist of soils formed in very and summer fallowed as infrequently as complex mixtures of sandy to loam-textured possible to avoid an increase in salinity. materials, interspersed with heavier textured Snow should be retained on upland sites to glacial till, or thin silty, water-lain deposits reduce runoff into wet and saline areas. overlying glacial till. A large area of BrEs5 Bradwell soils are susceptible to wind occurs in Tp 7 Rg 15 W2M, on gently sloping erosion. Tillage practices which retain pro- hummocky topography. The most important tective covers of stubble residues are recom- features ofthis area are the general, but vari- mended for wind erosion control. 31 CUDWORTH (Cd) SOILS Cudworth soils are dominantly Black Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained soils formed in silty, nonstony, strongly cal- soils occur in depressions that receive runoff careous water-lain deposits. They occur on from adjacent slopes. They often have thick, materials similar to those on which Arcola dark-coloured A horizons and drab subsurface soils occur, but differ in that Arcola soils oc- colours that include reddish spots and streaks. cur in a slightly drier area, transitional to the Dark Brown soil zone and have more strongly Map Units of Cudworth Soils developed soil profiles and a wider range of Mainly orthic Cudworth soils, Cd8 textures. Surface horizons of Cudworth soils with calcareous Cudworth soils on are neutral to moderately alkaline and are upper slopes and low knolls, and usually silt loam in texture. Cudworth soils poorly drained soils in depres- occur north of Moose Mountain, usually in sions. The Cd8 map unit is of minor extent, combination with Oxbowsoils on hummocky occurring in three small areas with undulating landscapes with gentle to moderate slopes. landscapes and very gentle slopes. Kinds of Cudworth Soils Combination Map Units The different kinds of Cudworth soils These are mainly areas of Cudworth are mainly a result of the effect topography soils that include significant amounts ofsoils has in redistributing precipitation. of other associations. More detailed descrip- Orthic Cudworth The orthic Cud- tions ofincluded soils are provided under the worth soil is a well-drained soil occurring on appropriate Association descriptions. nearly level to undulating lands and on the Mainly orthic Cudworth soils CdOac2 middle portion of steeper slopes. It has a on. nearly level areas and the moderately thick, black A horizon, and a thin, lower parts of slopes, with a brown B horizon. mixture of orthic and calcare- Calcareous Cudworth The calcare- ous Oxbow soils on upper slopes and knolls, ous Cudworth soil occurs on steeper slopes and poorly drained soils in depressions. This and knolls where water is lost due to runoff map unit occurs on hummocky morainal resulting in soil erosion. Soil profiles are thin, landscapes with gentle to moderate slopes. consisting of only a grayish-black A horizon and little or no B horizon. Agricultural Properties of Cudworth Soils Carbonated Cudworth The carbon- Cudworth soils are good agricultural ated Cudworth soil occurs on lower slopes, soils of capability class 2 . They are limited frequently surrounding sloughs or poorly only by a slight moisture deficit imparted by drained depressions. It has a highly calcare- the subhumid regional climate. Cudworth ous Ahorizon, 10 to 20 cm thick, underlain by soils have moderate water-holding capacities a highly calcareous B or C horizon. The B of 12 to 16 cm ofwater in the upper 120 cm of and C horizons often have drab colours and soil. The well-drained, orthic Cudworth soils reddish spots and stains, indicative of imper- are some ofthe best soils in the map area. The fect soil drainage. calcareous Cudworth soils have less organic 32 matter, are less fertile and are generally drier and utilize crop residues to protect the soils than the orthic Cudworth. from erosion and improve the tilth of surface Most Cudworth soils are well-suited to horizons. Silty Cudworth soils are susceptible most crops grown in Saskatchewan. Practices to wind erosion, and also to water erosion are recommended that limit summerfallow, when they occur on sloping lands. CROOKED LAKE (CL) SOILS Crooked Lake soils are dominantly Map Units of Crooked Lake Soils Black soils formed in extremely stony, eroded Mainly thin Black Crooked Lake CL3 glacial till. These soils occur on the steeply soils on steep slopes. The CL3 sloping lands of the southwestern part of the soils occur on strongly to steeply escarpment ofthe Moose Mountain Upland, in sloping dissected landscapes. a band that is one to two kilometres wide. The dominant surface texture is loam, with Agricultural Properties of Crooked Lake local areas of sandy or gravelly textures. Soils Crooked Lake soils are nonarable, of Kinds of Crooked Lake Soils capability class 6, and are suitable only for The kinds of Crooked Lake soils are unimproved pasture and native grazing. The mainly the result of the relatively dry, south- main limitations ofthese soils are steep slopes ern exposures and high rates of natural ero- and a high degree of stoniness. These lands sion on the landscapes on which they occur. are primarily used for grazing. Care must be This results in thin and weakly developed soil taken to avoid overgrazing, in that the reduced profiles. vigour of the vegetative cover could result in Thin Black Crooked Lake The thin water erosion. This would result in soil Black Crooked Lake soil has a thin black to deterioration in both the eroded areas and grayish-black Ah horizon that may be under- lands receiving" the sediments. lain by a brown B horizon and a gray, calcare- ous subsoil. These soils are well to rapidly drained and occur on strong to steep slopes. ESTEVAN (Es) SOILS Estevan soils are dominantly Dark sulted from a relatively short-term inundation Brown Solonetzic soils formed in loam to clay of this area by glacial Lake Regina. In com- loam textured, moderately calcareous, resorted parison to the Weyburn soils, which are con- glacial till. The Estevan soils occur primarily sidered to be a normal or nonsorted till, Este- in the Weyburn area, adjacent to areas of, and van soils are less stony and have siltier surface at slightly higher elevations than the clayey textures. lacustrine Regina and Tuxford soils. The re- Surface horiions of Estevan soils are sorted nature of the Estevan till probably re- neutral to moderately acidic, with the most 33 acidic reactions occurring in the strongly that is about 20 cm thick. The B horizons of leached solodic profiles. Subsoils are usually the solonetzic soils are clayey with a distinct saline, with salts occurring at shallower depths blocky structure, but are not as tough as the B in the strong solonetzic soils. horizons ofthe strong solonetzic Estevan soil. Strong Solonetzic Estevan The Kinds of Estevan Soils strong solonetzic Estevan soil usually occurs Several kinds ofEstevan soils occur on in lower areas, particularly where Estevan the nearly level to undulating landscapes. soils occupy the lower land in combination They often occur in close combination to each with other soils in higher areas. They also other and are not obviously related to topo- occur on level lands where internal soil drain- graphic position. Their occurrence in the age is somewhat restricted. This soil has a landscape is due to slight differences in topo- relatively thin, poorly structured, A horizon graphic position, differences in groundwater underlain by a tough, relatively impermeable, and geology in the deep subsoil environment, well-developed solonetzic B horizon about 15 and to conditions that have influenced the cm thick. Saline subsoils often occur immedi- soils early in their development. ately below the B horizon. The solodized- Solodic Estevan The solodic Estevan solonetz profiles with thin grayish lower A soil is a moderately well to well-drained soil horizons and round-topped columnar B hori- that has a relatively thick, leached A horizon zons are included with the strong solonetzic and a deep weakly developed solonetzic B group. horizon. It occurs on level to slightly concave Saline Estevan The saline Estevan positions in the landscape. The thickness of soil usually occurs in imperfectly drained low- the A and B horizons is, on average, 50 cm, er slopes and shallow depressional areas. It is which is deeper than most soils of the map characterized by the presence of soluble salts, area. Their grayish brown to gray surface usually within 50. cm of the surface. The salts horizons are easily visible in newly tilled occur as a white surface crust or as small, fields. Salts are generally leached to depths white specks within the soil, although salts greater than one metre, although in some soils, may not always be visible. This soil is an salts may occur immediately below the B important feature ofthe Es10, Es 11 and Es12 horizon. map units. Orthic Estevan The orthic Estevan Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained soil, occurs on upper slopes and well drained soils occur in depressional areas and are often level areas. This soil has a moderately thick, associated with saline Estevan soils. They dark brown A horizon with relatively good often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons soil structure, underlain by a brownish- and drab subsurface colours that include red- coloured B horizon, and a grayish-brown to dish spots and streaks. dark-gray C horizon. Solonetzic Estevan The solonetzic Map Units of Estevan Soils Estevan soil occurs on the upper positions of Mainly solodic Estevan soils, with Esl undulating landscapes and through well- solonetzic Estevan soils inter- drained level areas. This soil has a dark spersed. This map unit occurs in a brown A horizon, with relatively good soil single area southwest of Halbrite structure, underlain by abrownish B horizon on dissected landscapes with gentle slopes. 34 Mainly solodic Estevan soils, with Mainly a mixture of strong Es2 Es12 a mixture of solonetzic and orthic solonetzic Estevan and poorly Estevan soils interspersed. The drained soils, with saline Estevan Es2 map unit occurs on nearly level soils interspersed. The Es12 map to gently sloping undulating landscapes. In- unit occurs typically in large depressional clusions of water-lain, stone free Elstow soils areas (50 to a few hundred hectares in size) in occur within this map unit. the Souris River Plain, and occasionally along Mainly amixture of solonetzic and wet and saline drainageways which are cut Es8 orthic Estevan soils on very gentle into the morainal lands. Most of these areas slopes and well drained level areas, have aclay loam to clay surface texture. with a mixture of solodic Estevan soils in concave areas and strong solonetzic Combination Map Units Estevan soils in lower areas. The Es8 map These are mainly areas of Estevan unit occurs near Weyburn, mainly on undu- soils that include significant amounts of soils lating or dissected landscapes with very gentle of other associations. More detailed descrip- slopes. tions of included soils are provided under the Mainly amixture of solonetzic and appropriate Association descriptions . Es9 orthic Estevan soils on very gentle Mainly a mixture of solonetzic EsBk3 slopes and well drained level areas, Estevan and Brooking soils on with a mixture of solodic and very gentle slopes and well- strong solonetzic Estevan soils in lower areas, drained level areas, with a mix- and poorly drained soils in shallow depres- ture of strong solonetzic and saline Estevan sions. The Es9 map unit occurs mainly on un- soils in lower areas, and poorly drained soils dulating or dissected landscapes that have in depressions. This map unit is common in very gentle slopes. transitional areas between Estevan and Mainly a mixture of solonetzic Brooking-Amulet soil areas. It also occupies Es10 and solodic Estevan soils on near- local, relatively level areas in the morainal ly level lands, with a mixture of lands of the Souris River Plain. Saline soils strong solonetzic and saline Este- occupy relatively minor amounts (about 5%) van soils in lower areas. Saline soils occupy of the landscape but are an important feature. about 5 to 10% of these areas. Mainly a mixture of solonetzic EsBrl Mainly a mixture of solonetzic and orthic Estevan soils, with Esll and solodic Estevan soils on near- strong solonetzic Estevan soils ly level lands, with a mixture of in lower areas, and local areas strong solonetzic and saline Este- of orthic Bradwell soils interspersed. The van soils in lower areas, and poorly drained EsBrl map unit occurs near Fillmore, on un- soils in depressions. Saline Estevan soils ac- dulating landscapes with very gentle slopes. count for 5 to 10% of these areas, usually in Mainly amixture of solonetzic, EsRbl imperfectly drained areas adjacent to sloughs, solodic and orthic Estevan and along indistinct runways. The Es l l map soils, with orthic Roughbark unit occurs on very gently sloping undulating soils intermixed. In these areas, landscapes, and in long narrow very gently Roughbark soils have sandy loam to loam sur- sloping dissected bands along drainageways. faces, underlain by thick_ gravelly lenses 35 which grade to glacial till. They occur on and calcareous Weyburn soils on upper slopes very gently sloping undulating landscapes, and knolls. The EsWr5 mapunit is most often usually near creeks that probably deposited found on hummocky landscapes with gentle the gravelly materials in glacial times. slopes. Saline soils occupy about 5 to 10% of Mainly a mixture of solonetzic these areas. EsRb5 Estevan and orthic Roughbark soils, with stronger solonetzic Agricultural Properties of Estevan Soils Estevan soils in lower areas, Estevan soils range from fair agricul- and a mixture of saline and poorly drained tural soils of capability class 3, to poor agri- Estevan soils in some lower areas. These cultural soils of capability class 4. A moder- areas are similar to areas of the EsRbl map ate moisture deficit, imparted by the semiarid unit in terms ofmaterials, but have significant regional climate and a moderate water-holding saline and poorly drained soils. This map unit capacity, is the main limitation for the solodic, occurs most often on undulating or hum- solonetzic and orthic Estevan soils. These mocky landscapes with gentle slopes. loam to clay loam-textured soils have awater- Mainly a mixture of solonetzic holding capacity of 16 to 20 cm in the upper EsTu4 Estevan and Tuxford soils, with 120 cm of soil. The strong solonetzic Estevan strong solonetzic Tuxford soils soil is a poor soil, limited by a hard B horizon. in lower areas and saline Tux- These soils have amoderate amount of ford soils in some lower areas. This map unit organic matter in the A horizon. They are occurs near Cedoux, at the margin of the neutral to moderately acid in reaction, low in Regina Lake Plain, on very gently sloping available phosphorus and high in available undulating lands. potassium. The hard B horizon, that occurs in Mainly a mixture of solodic the rooting zone, is often the most limiting EsWg5 Estevan and Wingello soils, factor to the production of common field with a mixture of strong solo- crops, particularly on the strong solonetzic netz and saline Estevan soils in Estevan soils. This hard B horizon, which lower areas. This map unit occurs on undu- prevents normal water infiltration and root lating landscapes with very gentle to gentle development, restricts the uptake of moisture slopes, where Estevan soils are mixed with the and nutrients by crops and results in depressed sandy Wingello soils. Saline soils occupy yields in most years. Crops grown on these about 5% of these areas. soils often have awavy appearance at maturity Mainly amixture of solonetzic caused by the relatively poor crop growth in EsWr2 and solodic Estevan soils, with those areas where the B horizon is most a mixture oforthic and calcare- strongly developed (hardest). ous Weyburn soils on upper The organic matter content of the A slopes and knolls, and poorly drained soils in horizons is relatively low and may result in depressions. This map unit occurs on hum- poor tilth in that surface soils may be loose mocky landscapes with gentle slopes. and powdery when dry, puddle easily when Mainly a mixture of solonetzic wet and dry with hard crusts. Yields are EsWr5 and solodic Estevan soils, with reduced and sometimes eliminated on saline saline Estevan soils in lower Estevan soils. Poorly drained soils are usually areas, and a mixture of orthic not cultivated, and where cultivated, cropping ..,, . I I .'., ,I ., .,. 36 is usually possible only in dry years . Special Practices which increase production, such as attention must be given to timeliness of till- the proper use of fertilizers and a minimal use age, particularly on the poorly structured of summerfallow, will help to maintain or in- strong solonetzic and solodic soils, in that crease soil organic matter contents and im- tillage under wet conditions causes serious prove soil tilth. There is some evidence that compaction . Water erosion is generally not a over-use of summerfallow during wet years problem on the nearly level to undulating has resulted in an increase in the area ofsaline lands, but stubble residues should be soils. The Estevan soils are slightly stony and maintained to protect soils from wind erosion. may require an occasional clearing ofstones. ELSTOW (Ew) SOILS Elstow soils are dominantly Dark easily recognized in cultivated fields by its Brown soils formed in silty, nonstony, moder- light-brown coloured surface. ately calcareous water-lain deposits. Surface Saline Elstow The saline Elstow soil horizons are neutral to moderately alkaline occurs in lower areas where the upward move- and are silt loam or silty clay loam in texture. ment of subsurface water results in the The main area ofElstow soils (in combination deposition of salts in the upper horizons. with Bradwell soils) occurs on either hum- Soluble salts are usually present within 50 cm mocky topography with moderate slopes, or of the surface. The salts occur as a white undulating topography with very gentle surface crust or as small, white specks within slopes. the soil, although salts may not always be visible. Kinds of Elstow Soils The different kinds ofElstow soils are Map Units of Elstow Soils result the effect topography has in Mainly orthic Elstow soils. This mainly a of Ewl redistributing precipitation. map unit occurs on undulating Orthic Elstow The orthic Elstow landscapes that have very gentle soils occur on well-drained, nearly level to slopes. gently sloping lands. It has adark-coloured A horizon, 10 to 12 cm thick, underlain by a Combination Map Units brown B horizon. These are mainly areas of Elstow soils Calcareous Elstow The calcareous that include significant amounts of soils of Elstow soil occurs on upper slopes and knolls. other associations . More detailed descriptions This soil is not as thick as the orthic Elstow of the included soils are provided under the soil and mayhave a grayish-brown, calcareous appropriate Association descriptions . Mainly orthic Elstow soils, B horizon. EwBr5 Eroded Elstow The eroded Elstow, as with a mixture of eroded and the name implies, is an Elstow soil whose calcareous Elstow and Brad- topsoil has been partially or totally removed well soils on knolls, and saline by erosion. It occurs on knolls and can be Elstow soils in lower areas. The EwBr5 map unit occurs on hummocky lands with 37 moderate slopes in the western part of the Elstow soil, which has a thinner topsoil and Arcola Lake Plain, and on nearly level lands less organic matter. in the Souris River Plain. Elstow soils are well suited to most crops that are produced in the semiarid part of Agricultural Properties of Elstow Soils Saskatchewan. However, they are susceptible Elstow soils are fair agricultural lands to both wind and water erosion, and practices of capability class 3. They have a moderate to protect the soil with crops or stubble moisture deficit imparted by the semiarid re- residues are required. Saline Elstow soils, in gional climate and a moderate water-holding the EwBr5 map unit, have serious limitations capacity. The silt loam and loam-textured to crop production. Annual cropping with soils have water-holding capacities of 15 to 18 salt-tolerant cereal crops such as barley is cm of water in the upper 120 cm of soil, with recommended, except for the most severely slightly higher capacities on the silty clay saline lands where salt-tolerant forage may loam textured soils. The orthic Elstow soils produce best. are a slightly better soil than the calcareous FORGET (Fg) SOILS Forget soils are Dark Brown soils that cally on hummocky or ridged landscapes with have formed in a mixture of variable-textured gentle to moderate slopes within the sandy deposits that overlie glacial till, and Stoughton Moraine, and as isolated, slightly sandy loam to loam textured, moderately to rougher land in the Souris River Plain. strongly calcareous glacial till. The sandy deposits are loamy sand to fine sandy loam in Kinds of Forget.Soils texture, and range in thickness from 15 to 100 The different kinds of Forget soils are cm, with the thickest part ofthe deposit being the result of variations in both parent material on the middle part ofgentle slopes. Cnavelly and topography. lenses often occur at the sandy overlay-till Orthic and calcareous Weyburn soils interface, and in the till. Most areas of Forget are included within the Forget Soils. These soils were mapped as Weyburn light loam on soils consistently occur on knolls and ridges, Soil Survey Report No. 12 . Forget soils in- and range from the typical Weyburn soils clude varying proportions of Weyburn loam developed on loam textured glacial till, to soils, but is used to indicate the variable, soils with variable, sandy loam till with many sandy and gravelly nature of the till, and the gravelly lenses. A description ofthese soils is general occurrence of sandy overlays in some included in the section describing Weyburn areas. soils. Forget soils are slightly to excessively Orthic Forget The orthic Forget soil stony, with knolls and ridges generally more is a well-drained soil that occurs on gently stony than lower areas. The surface horizons sloping to nearly level lands, and on the range from neutral to moderately acid, with concave parts of steeper slopes. This soil has the most acidic conditions occurring in the a 20 to 100 cm veneer of loamy sand to fine deeper, sandier soils. Forget soils occur typi- sandy loam material overlying glacial till. It 38 has amoderately thick, dark brown A horizon overlays are thin or absent. These soils occur and a thick, brown to reddish brown B hori- near the village of Forget, and in areas zon. bordering the Souris Valley west of Midale. Solodic Forget The solodic Forget Mainly a mixture of orthic and Fg3 soil is a well-drained, deeply leached soil, that solodic Forget soils, with a mixture occurs on concave portions of the landscape of orthic and calcareous Weyburn and is often associated with the orthic Forget soils on uplands, and a mixture of soil. This soil has a thick, dark brown upper saline Forget and poorly drained soils in lower A horizon, underlain by a thick, grayish areas. The Fg3 map unit is most common on brown lower Ahorizon and ablack B horizon gently sloping hummocky landscapes, where at 50 to 80 cm depth. This soil is moderately till ridges or knolls are interspersed with areas acidic. It is thought that the black B horizons where the sandy overlays cover the glacial till. relate to the origin of these soils as solod soils. Salinity occurs on about 5% ofthe land area. Calcareous Forget The calcareous Mainly a mixture oforthic and cal- Fg4 Forget soil occurs on knolls and ridges. This careous Forget and Weyburn soils, soil has a dark brown A horizon, and may with solodic Forget soils in upland have a thin calcareous B horizon. It generally concavities, and occasional saline occurs where the sandy overlays are relatively Forget soils. The Fg4 areas are dominated by thin. loam to sandy loam textured glacial till, with Saline Forget The saline Forget soil sandy overlays on gentle, usually concave occurs in lower areas, particularly adjacent to slopes and in depressional areas. Salinity sloughs. Salinity is relatively common where occurs sporadically throughout, but can be thin sandy deposits overlie glacial till. significant in local areas. The Fg4 map unit is Soluble salts are usually present within 50 cm most common on hummocky landscapes with of the surface. The salts occur as a white sur- gentle slopes and ridged landscapes with face crust or as small, white specks within the moderate slopes. soil, although salts may not always be visible. Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained Combination Map Units soils occur in enclosed depressions. Many of These are mainly areas of Forget soils these depressions are long and narrow, occur- that include significant amounts of soils of ring between glacial till ridges. They often other associations . More detailed descriptions have thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab of the included soils are provided under the subsurface colours that include reddish spots appropriate Association descriptions. and streaks. Mainly a mixture of orthic FgBk5 Forget and calcareous Weybum Map Units of Forget Soils soils, with solonetzic Brooking Mainly a mixture of orthic and soils on gentle slopes, and sa- Fgl solodic Forget soils, with calcare- line or poorly drained soils in lower areas. ous Forget soils on low knolls. The Forget and Weyburn soils occur on ridges The Fgl map unit occurs on nearly and knolls, with the Brooking soils on the level to undulating landscapes with gentle lower parts of slopes, and on the more level slopes where sandy deposits cover the glacial upland areas between ridges. till except for occasional low knolls, where the 39 Agricultural Properties of Forget Soils soils. Stone amounts vary throughout the The best Forget soils are those with a landscape and periodic clearing is required. loam surface texture. These are fair agricul- The potential for wind erosion is fairly high tural soils of capability class 3 . A moderate on these soils because of their sandy texture moisture deficit, imparted by the semiarid and weak structure, which make it difficult to regional climate and amoderate water-holding keep a rough surface that is resistant to wind capacity, is their main limitation. Forget soils erosion. Water erosion is generally not a seri- with a lighter surface texture (sandy loam or ous problem (due to high infiltration rates) gravelly sandy loam), and consequently a low- except on steeply sloping lands or in areas er water-holding capacity, are considered to be with long slopes. It is recommended that soil poor agricultural soils. conservation practices, such as the mainte- The low to moderate organic matter nance of crop residues through reduced tillage content and sandy nature ofForget soils result or leaving stubble standing, strip cropping, in soils of moderate fertility that are not easily grassing runways, cultivation across slopes kept in good tilth. Nutrient reserves, particu- and establishment of forages, be used to con- larly reserves ofphosphorus, are low in these trol soil erosion. FREMANTLE (Fe) SOILS Fremantle soils are dominantly Black areas were not considered to be part of the soils formed in loam to clay loam textured, Fremantle Association. Those local water-lain slightly stony, moderately to strongly calcar- or alluvial sediments are a normal part of till eous resorted glacial till. Resorted glacial till landscapes, a result of slow, but steady is characterized by surface layers with fewer downslope movement offine soil materials by stones and slightly more silt and clay than erosion over time. unsorted glacial till, and local areas of thin, Surface horizons are neutral to moder- silty textured, water-lain deposits. The almost ately alkaline and have textures that range stone free water-lain deposits usually occur in from loam to clay loam. Clay loam textures lower areas. Resorted glacial till is thought to are more common in the area north and west result from the existence of shallow lakes that of Carlyle, within the Arcola Lake Plain. persisted for a relatively short time period at Fremantle soils are slightly stony and require the time of the glacier's melting. The Fre- only occasional clearing of stones. Fremantle mantle soils in the map area occur in parts of soils typically occur on undulating landscapes the former Arcola Lake Basin, just to the east with very gentle to gentle slopes, and to a of this basin, and in isolated areas near the lesser extent in areas that are gently sloping Antler River Plain. Areas mapped as and dissected. Fremantle were often considered to be Cudworth-Oxbow soil complexes on Soil Sur- Kinds of Fremantle Soils vey Report No. 12. Fremantle soils were The different kinds of Fremantle soils mapped only where they were the dominant are mainly a result of the effects of topo- soil in a land area. The less stony, slightly graphy in redistributing precipitation and heavier soils in the lower parts of Oxbow soil determining soil drainage. 40 Orthic Fremantle The orthic Fre- slopes, where they grade to calcareous Fre- mantle soil is a well-drained soil that occurs mantle soils on knolls. on nearly level to undulating lands and on the Mainly orthic Fremantle soils on Fe3 middle and lower parts of steeper sloping level land and on very gentle topography. This soil has a black Ap horizon slopes, with calcareous Fremantle that is about 10 to 16 cm thick, underlain by a soils on low knolls. This is the well developed, brownish B horizon. most common Fremantle map unit. Calcareous Fremantle The calcar- Mainly a mixture of poorly and im- Fe4 eous Fremantle soil occurs on locally dry perfectly drained Fremantle soils in knolls where a significant proportion of the large, depressional areas. This map precipitation runs off. It is awell-drained soil, unit is not extensive, occupying with a black to grayish black Ap horizon that small low lying areas mostly surrounded by is slightly thinner than those of the orthic Oxbow soils. Fremantle. Underlying the A horizon, there may be agrayish brown to brown, calcareous Combination Map Units B horizon. These soils were thinner than the These are mainly areas of Fremantle orthic Fremantle in their virgin condition, and soils that include significant amounts of soils have generally lost some topsoil by erosion of other associations. More detailed des- since cultivation. criptions of the included soils are provided Poorly and imperfectly drained Fre- under the appropriate Association descrip- mantle Poorly and imperfectly drained soils tions. occur in depressional areas. These depres- Mainly orthic Fremantle soils, FeHm2 sional areas, or sloughs, are not as common in with local areas of orthic and Fremantle soil areas as in Oxbow areas, but do calcareous Hamlin soils, and occur in areas of the Fe2 and Fe4 map unit. poorly drained soils in depres- They often have thick, dark-coloured A hori- sions. Hamlin soils occur on sandy loam to zons and drab subsurface colours that include loam textured, nonstony, water-lain deposits. reddish spots and streaks. These features, The FeHm2 map unit occurs mainly near which indicate restricted drainage, are more Wordsworth, occupying an area mapped as intensely developed in the poorly drained Oxbow-Asquith complex on Soil Survey soils. Report No. 12 . In this area, the Hamlin soils occur on mid- to lower slopes, with Fremantle Map Units of Fremantle Soils soils on low, broad knolls and ridges. Mainly orthic Fremantle soils. Mainly a mixture of orthic and Fel FeMe5 This map unit occurs on undu- calcareous Fremantle soils, lating landscapes with very gentle with a mixture of orthic, saline slopes. and poorly drained Meota soils Mainly orthic Fremantle soils, with in lower areas. The FeMe5 map unit occurs Fe2 calcareous Fremantle soils on within the Arcola Lake Plain near the town of lower knolls, and poorly drained Arcola. Saline soils are common in this area, soils in depressions. Orthic and occupy 5 to 10% of the land area in this Fremantle soils occur on well-drained level map unit. land and well up the slope on very gentle 41 Agricultural Properties of Fremantle Soils Most Fremantle soils are well suited to Fremantle soils are good agricultural commonly grown crops in Saskatchewan. soils ofcapability class 2 and are some of the Practices are recommended that limit summer- best in the map area. They are limited by a fallow, and utilize all available crop residues slight moisture deficit imparted by the sub- to protect the soil from wind erosion and im- humid regional climate and a moderate water- prove the structure or tilth of the surface holding capacity. They have a water-holding horizon. Fremantle soils are not easily eroded capacity of 16 to 22 cm of moisture in the by wind, and most nearly level to undulating upper 120 cm of soil. Because the fields are land is not affected by water erosion. Saline slightly stony, only occasional clearing of soils, which occur mostly in the FeMe5 map stones is required. Orthic Fremantle soils are unit, are usually associated with the sandy a slightly better soil than the calcareous Fre- Meota soils. mantle, which has a thinner topsoil with less organic matter. GRANDORA (Gd) SOILS Grandora soils are dominantly Dark descriptions of the Asquith soil are provided Brown Solonetzic soils formed in loamy sand under that soil Associations description. to sandy loam textured, nonstony water-lain Mainly orthic Asquith soils on AqGd5 deposits. Surface horizons are slightly acid to higher parts of the landscape, neutral and have a loamy sand to sandy loam with saline Asquith soils on texture. These soils occur, in association with lower slopes, and solonetzic Asquith soils, on the lower slopes of gently Grandora soils in some lower areas. This map sloping undulating landscapes. Grandora soils unit occurs on undulating landscapes with occur in areas west of Tribune and Osage. gentle slopes. Kinds of Grandora Soils Agricultural Properties of Grandora Soils Solonetzic Grandora The solonetzic Grandora soils are poor agricultural Grandora soil is a well-drained soil that has a soils of capability class 4. A strong moisture thick dark-brown A horizon underlain by a deficit, imparted by the semiarid regional cli- strongly developed solonetzic B horizon. The mate and a low water-holding capacity, toge- B horizon is moderately hard and darkly ther with a hard B horizon and a saline C stained by organic matter that has been horizon, present serious limitations to the pro- leached out ofthe A horizon. The subsoils are duction of common field crops. The water- saline. holding capacity ofthese soils is 7 to 10 cm of water in the upper 120 cm of soil for loamy Map Units of Grandora Soils sands, and 10 to 12 cm for sandy loams. Grandora soils do not form the domi- These soils have a low amount of or- nant soil type in the map area. They occur ganic matter in the A horizon and are low in only as the subdominant member of an phosphorus. Infiltration ofwater and root de- Asquith-Grandora complex. More detailed velopment is hindered by the hard B horizon 42 which, together with salts that may occur in water erosion. It is recommended that soil the lower B or upper C horizons, interferes conservation practices, such as maintenance of with the uptake of moisture and nutrients. trash cover through reduced tillage or leaving Together, these factors commonly result in stubble standing, strip cropping, frequent depressed crop yields in most years. Grandora inclusion of a forage in crop rotations and soils have a moderate to high susceptibility to shelterbelts, be used to control soil erosion. GAPVIEW (Gv) SOILS Gapview soils are dominantly Black Calcareous Gapview The calcareous soils formed in loam textured, nonstony Gapview soil occurs on slightly steeper areas water-lain deposits underlain by gravel at and knolls than the orthic Gapview soils. It is depths of 30 to 60 cm. These soils occur in a a well-drained soil, with a black to grayish narrow band near the base ofthe southwestern black A horizon that may be underlain by a part ofthe Moose Mountain escarpment. The thin calcareous B horizon. It is generally gravel deposits form alluvial fans or aprons underlain by gravel at shallower depths than that have resulted from the deposition of the orthic Gapview soil. coarse-textured sediments eroded from the escarpment and adjacent uplands. The gravel- Map Units of Gapview Soils ly deposits were then covered with a 30 to 60 Mainly orthic Gapview soils, with Gvl cm thick veneer of a loamy water-lain, lacus- calcareous Gapview soils on low trine or alluvial deposit. Gapview soils are knolls and slightly steeper slopes. slightly to moderately stony, with most stones occurring in areas where the loamy surface Agricultural Properties of Gapview Soils layers are thinnest. Most Gapview soils are cultivated and used in annual crop production. They are fair Kinds of Gapview Soils . agricultural soils of capability class 3, with a The different kinds of Gapview soils reduced water-holding capacity due to the are mainly a result of the effect topography gravelly subsoils. Soils with the thickest has in redistributing precipitation and deter- loam-textured overlays are the best for agri- mining soil drainage. . culture. The importance of maintaining the Orthic Gapview The orthic Gapview relatively thin surface layers of loamy soil occurs on well drained, very gently to materials indicates the necessity of cropping gently sloping dissected landscapes. It has a practices which protect the soil from wind and moderately thick Ap horizon, underlain by a water erosion. Minimum use of summerfal- brownish B horizon that grades to gravel at 30 low, maintenance of stubble residues on the to 60 cm depths. surface, and the use of perennial forage crops on the most sensitive areas are recommended. 43 HILLSBOROUGH (Hb) SOILS Hillsborough soils are dominantly a Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained mixture Dark Brown and Dark Brown Solo- soils occur in association with the solonetzic netzic soils formed in stony, eroded glacial Hillsborough soil, occupying depressional till. Hillsborough includes soils designated as areas that are low enough that runoff waters Weyburn, extremely stony phase, in Soil Sur- are collected from adjacent lands. They often vey Report No. 12. have thick, dark-coloured Ahorizons and drab Most Hillsborough soils occur in long, subsurface colours that include reddish spots narrow bands on the upper, less steeply slop- and streaks. ing parts ofboth sides ofthe Souris River Val- ley. The extremely stony till resulted from Map Units of Hillsborough Soils erosion by running water in glacial times. Mainly well-drained, thin Hills- Hbl Thin, gravelly and sandy deposits occur local- borough soils. This map unit ly on top of the eroded till. Hillsborough occurs on very gently to moder- lands are dissected and range from very gently ately sloping lands. to strongly sloping. The steeper sloping lands Mainly well-drained, thin Hills- Hb2 that form the valley sides of the Souris River borough soils, with solonetzic were mapped as Hillwash soils. Hillsborough Hillsborough soils in lower areas soils also occur in the Souris River Plain, and poorly drained soils in depres- mostly northeast of Weyburn, where they oc- sional areas. The Hb2 map unit occurs on cupy broad runways. undulating or dissected landscapes that have very gentle to gentle slopes. Kinds of Hillsborough Soils The different kinds of Hillsborough Combination Map Units soils are mainly a result of the effect topo- These are mainly areas of Hillsbor- graphy has in redistributing precipitation and ough soils that include significant amounts of determining soil drainage. soils ofother associations. More detailed des- Thin Hillsborough The thin Hills- criptions ofthe included soils are provided un- borough soil is well drained and occurs on der the appropriate Association descriptions . very gently to moderately sloping lands with Mainly thin Hillsborough soils, HbSx good external drainage. This soil has a thin, with bedrock exposures of the dark brown A horizon and a thin, brown B Short Creek soils interspersed . horizon. It occurs on stony, loam-textured This map unit occurs on strongly glacial till with local overlays and lenses of to steeply sloping inclined lands along the gravel and sand. Souris River Valley west of Halbrite. Solonetzic Hillsborough The solo- netzic Hillsborough soil occurs on very gently Agricultural Properties of Hillsborough to gently sloping, lower areas. The solonetzic Soils Hillsborough soil has a thin, dark grayish Hillsborough soils on very gently to brown A horizon underlain by a clayey, gently sloping topography are not suited for strongly structured, dense B horizon. Salts arable agriculture, primarily because of the usually occur in the deeper subsoil. extremely stony surfaces. A small proportion of these lands are cultivated, but stone lands. Future demand for agricultural land clearing is a major problem. Most of these may result in the conversion of the more level lands are presently used for grazing which is Hillsborough soil areas to agriculture, but this the best land use, particularly on the Hb2 would be difficult and costly due to the map unit and on moderately to steeply sloping presence of stones. HAMLIN (Hm) SOILS Hamlin soils are dominantly Black Calcareous Hamlin The calcareous soils formed in sandy loam to loam textured, Hamlin soil is a well-drained soil that occurs moderately calcareous water-lain deposits. most often on low knolls, but can also occur They differ from Meota soils by the amount of on level areas. This soil has a relatively thin clay in the parent material. The Hamlin soils black Ap horizon underlain by a grayish have over 15% clay whereas the Meota soils brown B horizon that contains some carbonate have less than this. Hamlin soils are not minerals. Many of the calcareous Hamlin extensive in the map area, occurring in the soils occur in the Antler River Plain, and Antler River Plain and to the south of the usually represent Hamlin soils that were Arcola Lake Plain along Moose Mountain severely eroded decades ago. Creek. Hamlin soils more commonly occur in Carbonated Hamlin The carbonated complex with Oxbow soils than they do alone. Hamlin soil occurs in imperfectly drained Hamlin soils have fine sandy loam to lower areas and level lands. It has a thin very fine sandy loam surface textures. This is grayish black (gray when dry) Ap horizon slightly heavier than the similar Meota soil. underlain by grayish white subsoil with a high Surface horizons are neutral to slightly lime carbonate content. alkaline. Most areas of Hamlin soils are stone Saline Hamlin The saline Hamlin soil free, except for areas with till substrates is often associated with carbonated Hamlin (Hm5/T, Hm9/T and Hmll/T) which are soil in lower areas. Soluble salts are usually usually slightly stony. Hamlin soils occur on present within 50 cm ofthe surface. The salts undulating landscapes with very gentle to occur as a white surface crust or as small, gentle slopes. white specks within the soil, although salts may not always be visible. Kinds of Hamlin Soils Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained There are several different kinds of soils occur in depressional areas. They are Hamlin soils, with their occurrence related to collection areas for runoff from adjacent drainage, landscape position, the influence of lands, and are usually too wet in spring for high water tables and soil salinity. cultivation. They often have thick, dark- Orthic Hamlin The orthic Hamlin coloured A horizons and drab subsurface soil is a well-drained soil that occurs on level colours that include reddish spots and streaks. to gently sloping undulating lands. It has a black Ap horizon, 12 to 15 cm thick, underlain by a brown B horizon, 20 to 35 cm thick. 45 Map Units of Hamlin Soils soils are thought to be soils that were severely Mainly orthic Hamlin soils, with wind eroded in the Hm5 1930's. These areas have poorly drained soils in depres- 15 to 100 cm of fine sandy loam textured Hm5/T sions. The Hm5/'r map unit in- material overlying glacial till . cludes areas with a nearly con- tinuous veneer of a fine sandy loam deposit Agricultural Properties of Hamlin Soils overlying glacial till. The sandy materials The orthic and calcareous Hamlin soils range in thickness from a few centimetres to range from good agricultural soils of capa- more than ametre but are usually between 40 bility class 2 to fair agricultural soils of capa- to 70 cm thick. bility class 3. They are limited by a moderate Mainly orthic Hamlin soils on moisture deficit, imparted by the subhumid re- Hm9/T the upper parts of very gentle gional climate and a moderate water-holding slopes and low knolls, with a capacity. They have awater-holding capacity mixture of saline and/or car- of 10 to 12 cm of water in the upper 120 cm of bonated Hamlin soils in lower areas, and poor- soil. Hamlin soils have moderate organic ly drained soils in depressions. The Hm9/T matter contents, but practices which maintain map unit occurs on very gently sloping un- or increase organic matter levels are dulating materials which overly glacial till in recommended, primarily to enhance their the Antler River Plain. resistance to wind erosion. These soils are Mainly orthic Hamlin soils on susceptible to wind erosion and protective Hm10 very gentle slopes, with calcare- covers of stubble or vegetation are necessary. ous Hamlin soils on low knolls. Carbonated Hamlin soils are generally The Hm10 map unit occurs on more moist, and are often flooded temporarily very gently sloping undulating lands in the in spring. However, they may be quite Antler River Plain. productive unless. saline. Saline Hamlin soils Mainly calcareous Hamlin are best seeded to salt tolerant forages, parti- Hmll/'r soils over much of the land- cularly deep rooted crops that can lower water scape, with orthic Hamlin tables. Poorly drained soils are generally soils on some gently sloping, flooded in spring, and annual cropping is slightly concave areas. Many ofthe calcareous restricted in most years. HILLWASH (Hw) SOILS The Hillwash soils are thin soils thinner. Materials are variable but are usually formed in various deposits of the steeply stony, eroded glacial till with gravelly sloping valley-sides of the major streams in materials in some areas. Surface textures are the map area. The thin calcareous, eroded and also variable but tend to be sandy loam or orthic soils are the most common kinds of loam. Major areas of Hillwash soils occur Hillwash soils. These soils have character- along the Souris River, Moose Mountain, istics similar to other upland soils in the Wolfand James Creeks. adjacent areas although soil profiles are often 46 Agricultural Properties of Hillwash Soils and the loss ofcover, as well as the formation Hillwash soils are usually nonarable, of trails by livestock, often results in water of capability class 6, and suitable only for erosion, the deepening of gullies, and the native grazing because of steep slopes, deposition of sediment on lower slopes. stoniness or gravelly textures. Hillwash lands, Grazing on Hillwash lands should be light, although usually only used for grazing, have and restricted to spring and summer when poor to fair grazing potential. Overgrazing these droughty soils are most productive. HANLEY (Hy) SOILS Hanley soils are dominantly Dark darkly coloured, and has a columnar structure Brown Solonetzic soils formed in silty, stone with distinct rounded tops. The tops of the free, strongly calcareous water-lain deposits. columns are light gray to white in colour and Hanley soils may be considered to be the the sides are darkly stained with organic mat- solonetzic equivalent of the Elstow soils. ter and clay leached from the surface horizons. Hanley soils occur in local lacustrine basins The underlying C horizon is grayish-brown in near Cedoux and west ofFillmore. colour and is weakly to moderately saline. Surface horizons are weakly acidic to Solodic Hanley The solodic Hanley neutral and usually have a silty clay loam or soil is a moderately well to imperfectly silt loam texture. Parent materials are usually drained soil that has a thick (12 to 20 cm), saline. Hanley soils in the map area occur on grayish A horizon underlain by a weakly undulating landscapes with gentle slopes. developed solonetzic B horizon. Saline layers usually occur at about 1 m depth. This soil Kinds of Hanley Soils occurs in slightly .concave parts ofnearly level The different kinds of Hanley soils lands. represent different degrees of development of Saline Hanley The saline Hanley soil asolonetzic B horizon, severity of salinity and occurs in the Hy5 map unit, and represents drainage or wetness. local areas where soluble salts have moved Solonetzic Hanley The solonetzic upward from the subsoil, resulting in saline Hanley soil is a moderately well-drained soil surface horizons. The salts occur as a white that has a grayish-brown A horizon that is 10 surface crust or as small, white specks within to 12 cm thick underlain by a clayey, moder- the soil, although salts may not always be ately hard B horizon. Subsoils are usually visible. saline. This soil occurs on level lands and on Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained slightly higher, gently undulating lands. soils occur in depressions that receive runoff Strong Solonetzic Hanley The strong from adjacent slopes. Depressions are broad solonetzic Hanley soil is a moderately well- and shallow, and may be cultivated in dry drained soil with a dark grayish-brown Ahori- years. They often have thick, dark-coloured A zon, overlying a grayish-coloured layer from horizons and drab subsurface colours that in- which organic matter and clay have been clude reddish spots and streaks. leached. The B horizon is usually very hard, 47 Map Units of Hanley Soils Mainly a mixture of solonetzic HyEwl Mainly solonetzic Hanley soils, and solodic Hanley with Hy3 soils, with solodic Hanley soils in con- orthic Elstow soils on low cave areas. Most ofthe solonetzic knolls. Elstow soils are the soils are not strongly developed, Dark Brown nonsolonetzic soil equivalent to however, in lower areas they often have Hanley soils. Strong solonetzic Hanley soils strongly developed or tough B horizons, with occur in some lower areas. some strongly developed solonetz (solodized- solonetz) soils with round-topped columnar B Agricultural Properties of Hanley Soils horizons occurring. This map unit occurs on Most Hanley soils are fair and poor undulating landscapes with very gentle to agricultural soils of capability classes 3 and 4. gentle slopes. The dense B horizon present in most Hanley Mainly a mixture of strong soils, the low organic matter content of the Hy5 solonetzic and saline Hanley soils. Hanley solods, and the salinity associated with This map unit occurs in low-lying the Hanley parent material are the main limit- areas. ations that these soils have to the production Mainly a mixture of solonetzic of common field crops. The silt loam to silty Hy8 Hanley soils on mid- to upper clay loam textures result in a water-holding slopes and solodic Hanley soils in capacity of 15 to 22 cm of water in the upper concave areas, and poorly drained 120 cm of soil. Hanley soils are not suscep- soils in depressions . tible to water erosion because of their occur- rence on relatively level land, but are moder- Combination Map Units ately susceptible to wind erosion. These are mainly areas ofHanley soils The solonetzic and solodic Hanley that include significant amounts of soils of soils are suitable for agricultural use although other associations . More detailed descriptions a strongly developed, solonetzic B horizon of the included soils are provided under the does occur in some lower areas and may re- appropriate Association descriptions . duce the agricultural potential of these areas. Mainly a mixture of solonetzic These soils may HyEs8 have lower yields in dry years and solodic Hanley and Estevan and require careful tillage management. Poor- soils, with a mixture of strong ly drained soils are too wet for farming during solonetzic and saline Hanley years with high rainfall. Improvement of soils in lower areas, and poorly drained soils these marginal agricultural soils by subsurface in depressions. The Estevan soils in this map drainage may not be feasible because close unit occur on slightly higher landscape posi- spacing of drains is required which may be tions than the Hanley soils. This map unit in- prohibitively expensive. Areas of saline Han- cludes areas of weakly developed solonetzic ley soils are best used for the production of soils on glacial till on the slightly higher land, perennial forages. and silty clay loam to silt loam textured water- lain deposits in lower areas. 48 MEOTA (Me) SOILS Meota soils are dominantly Black soils Carbonated Meota The carbonated formed in loamy sand to sandy loam textured, Meota soil is an imperfectly drained soil that moderately calcareous water-lain deposits. occurs in lower slope areas and extensive low- Meota soils occur in the eastern part of the lying lands. It has a thin grayish A horizon map area. They occur extensively within the and a strongly calcareous subsoil . This soil Antler River Plain near Carnduff, on the east generally appears as grayish-white areas in side of Moose Mountain Creek north of Ox- cultivated land. Its origin is related to high bow, and in small areas in the southeastern groundwater tables, which are often found part of the Arcola Lake Plain. within 125 cm ofthe surface, and a net upward Meota soils are generally stone free, movement ofcarbonate-rich water towards the except for minor areas, with glacial till sub- soil surface. Many carbonated Meota soils are strates (MeOx2 map unit), that may be also saline. slightly stony. Surface horizons are neutral to Saline Meota The saline Meota soil is alkaline and are usually loamy sand to sandy an imperfectly drained soil that occurs in loam textured, with fine sandy loam textures lower areas. The occurrence of salts results occurring less frequently. Meota soils usually from the same factors that result in carbonated occur on undulating, hummocky or dissected soils - the high water tables and a net move- landscapes with very gentle to gentle slopes. ment of saline water towards the soil surface. The salts occur as a white surface crust or as Kinds of Meota Soils small, white specks within the soil, although There are several different kinds of salts may not always be visible. Meota soils, with their occurrence related to Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained landscape position, soil drainage, the presence soils occur in depressional areas that receive of high groundwater tables and soil salinity. extra runoff water from adjacent lands. They Orthic Meota The orthic Meota soil often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons is a well- to rapidly drained soil that occurs on and drab subsurface colours that include red- nearly level to undulating lands. It has a dish spots and streaks. moderately thick dark gray to black A horizon and abrown B horizon. The average depth of Map Units of Meota Soils (the A and B horizons) is 40 to Mainly orthic Meota soils. This a soil profile Mel 50 cm. map unit occurs on well drained, Calcareous Meota The calcareous level to undulating sand plains. Meota soil is a moderately well-drained soil Most Mel soils occur adjacent to that occurs on level to undulating lands that and above stream valleys, where there is good have relatively high water tables. This soil soil drainage. Several areas of the Me l map has athin dark gray to black A horizon, under- unit occur along Moose Mountain Creek. Mainly orthic Meota soils, with a lain by a grayish brown B horizon which Me3 contains carbonates. Many ofthese soils have mixture of carbonated and/or been severely wind-eroded in the past, and saline Meota soils in lower areas. appear to be weakly developed soils forming The Me3 map unit occurs on level in subsoil material. to undulating lands, with high water tables 49 affecting the imperfectly drained carbonated dissected topography. Minor amounts of or saline soils. Hamlin and Fremantle soils also occur in this Mainly calcareous Meota Me8 soils, area. with orthic Meota soils on some Mainly a mixture of orthic Me8/T MeWs2 low knolls and gentle slopes, Meota and Whitesand soils, and poorly drained soils in de- with a mixture of calcareous pressions. The Me8 map unit usually occurs Meota and Whitesand soils on in the Antler River Plain on nearly level to lower slopes and on some low knolls, and undulating land. Areas ofthe Me8/T map unit poorly drained soils in depressions. The have 15 to 100 cm of sandy materials over- MeWs2 map unit includes a complex mixture lying glacial till with some deeper sandy of . sandy (Meota) to sandy-gravelly and deposits, and occasional, stony glacial till gravelly (Whitesand) materials deposited by knolls. running water, and is associated with streams Mainly orthic Meota soils on Me9 in the Antler River and Lightning Creek midslopes and low knolls, with Plains. Me9/T a mixture of saline and/or car- Mainly a mixture of orthic MeWs3 bonated soils in lower areas, Meota and Whitesand soils, and poorly drained soils in depressions. This with a mixture of carbonated map unit is most common in the Antler River and saline Meota soils in Plain, in areas thought to be affected by high lower areas, and poorly drained soils in water tables which result in saline and depressions. The saline and carbonated soils carbonated soils in lower areas. Areas of are a result of high water tables and the Me9/'r have 15 to 100 cm of sandy materials upward movement of soluble elements in the overlying glacial till with some deeper sandy water to the surface by capillary rise. The deposits and occasional, stony glacial till range in materials in this mapunit is similar to knolls. MeWs2 map unit. The largest area ofMeWs3 is south of Carievale in the Antler River Plain. Combination Map Units These are mainly areas of Meota soils Agricultural Properties of Meota Soils that contain significant amounts of soils of The best Meota soils, those of a sandy other associations. More detailed descriptions loam to fine sandy loam texture, are fair agri- of the included soils are provided under the cultural soils ofcapability class 3. These soils appropriate Association descriptions . have a moderate moisture deficit and a low Mainly orthic Meota soils on water-holding . Me0a2 capacity They have a water- lower to midslopes and level holding capacity of 8 to 12 cm of water in the areas, with a mixture of orthic upper 120 cm of soil, compared to 6 to 8 cm and calcareous Oxbow soils on in loamy sand soils. The moderate organic upper slopes and knolls, and poorly drained matter contents of Meota soils result in soils soils in depressions. In this map unit, most oflow fertility. Meota soils, particularly those Meota soils are underlain by glacial till at with the sandier textures, are very susceptible depths of 15 to 100 cm. The largest area of to wind erosion. Within Meota landscapes, MeOx2 is in the western part of Tp 4 Rg 33 the well-drained orthic Meota soil is the best W1 M and occurs on very gently sloping agricultural soil. Calcareous Meota soils 50 generally have lower organic matter and turn of all crop residues to the soil and mini- fertility levels than the orthic soil. Carbonated mal use ofsummerfallow are practised. These soils, ifthey are not saline, produce well when will minimize erosion and maintain or in- seeding is not restricted by ponding in spring. crease the organic matter content of the soil. Growth on saline lands ranges from none The loamy sand Meota soil and the Meota- where surface horizons are strongly saline, to Whitesand soil areas are best used with near normal where salts occur in the subsoil. rotations that include forage crops. Crops Poorly drained soils are not generally suited to with deep roots such as alfalfa, are often able annual cropping, because of ponding in to use moisture from shallow water tables. spring. The MeOx2 soils are generally Forage crops protect the soil from wind ero- superior to pure Meota soils, because of the sion, and increase the erosion resistance after associated loam-textured Oxbow soils, and the fields are returned to annual cropping by glacial till substrate which improves the mois- adding organic fibre to the soil. In addition, ture status of the Meota soils. Meota- forages make more effective use of poorly Whitesand soils are generally poor soils drained and saline lands. Reductions in for- because of gravelly textures. age acreages that resulted from a decline in Cropping practices on the sandy loam livestock farming in the 1970's resulted in the to fine sandy loam Meota soils can be based conversion of much forage land to annual on annual cropping, provided management cropping, increasing the potential for soil practices such as the use of fertilizers, the re- erosion. MOOSE MOUNTAIN (Mm) SOILS Moose Mountain soils are dominantly dic to neutral and. have clay or heavy clay tex- Gray Luvisol soils formed in clayey, water- tures. Moose Mountain soils occur on hum- lain deposits within the Moose Mountain Up- mocky landscapes with gentle to strong land. These soils have formed in areas where slopes. wooded vegetation has had a strong influence on soil formation. Soils formed under these Kinds of Moose Mountain Soils conditions are highly leached, resulting in low The different kinds of Moose Moun- organic matter levels, and, hence, dark gray to tain soils are mainly the result of the effect gray surface colours. These water-lain materi- topography has in redistributing precipitation als are thought to have resulted from the depo- and in determining soil drainage, and the sition of clayey materials in a large lake that effect vegetation has on soil formation. occurred on the surface of the glacier that Orthic Moose Mountain The orthic once covered this area. The clayey sediments Moose Mountain soil is an imperfectly to are not continuous, mantling the hummocky moderately well-drained soil that occurs on surface of the underlying glacial till, and nearly level to gently sloping land. This soil occurring in close combination with the occurs primarily under forest vegetation. It glacial till. has a thin leaf mat or litter horizon underlain Moose Mountain soils are generally by a thin, dark gray to gray, granular A hori- stone free. Surface horizons are slightly aci- zon, and a relatively thick, dark gray to olive 51 gray-coloured, B horizon. The C horizon is a poorly drained soils in depressions. This map gray, calcareous clay. unit occurs on hummocky landscapes with Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained gentle to moderate slopes. soils occur in enclosed depressions which characterize many of the hummocky land- Agricultural Properties ofMoose Mountain scapes on Moose Mountain. They often have Soils thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab sub- Moose Mountain soils are fair agricul- surface colours that include reddish spots and tural soils of capability class 3 . They are streaks. limited by an Ahorizon that is low in organic matter and is susceptible to crusting after Map Units of Moose Mountain Soils heavy rainfalls, and a dense, compact B hori- Mainly orthic Moose Mountain zon that restricts root penetration. The ma- Mml soils. This map unit occurs on jority of the Moose Mountain soils, however, gently to strongly sloping hum- occur within Moose Mountain Provincial Park mocky landscapes. and are not used for agriculture. The orthic Mainly orthic Mm2 Moose Mountain Moose Mountain soils support mixed stands soils, with poorly drained soils in of aspen, balsam poplar and ash. Poorly depressions. This map unit oc- drained soils have open, sedge-dominated curs on hummocky landscapes meadows used for grazing and native hay with gentle to moderate slopes. production. The Moose Mountain soils within the Combination Map Units White Bear Indian Reserve have been cleared, These are mainly areas of Moose and seeded pastures established, although Mountain soils that include significant some areas are used for annual crops. These amounts of soils of other associations. More soils are cool and wet in spring, which often detailed descriptions of the included soils are delays seeding. They have a high moisture provided under the appropriate Association holding capacity, but the slow infiltration rates descriptions . ofthese clayey soils results in surface ponding Mainly orthic Moose Moun- of water. Farming MmWv2 practices that increase the tain soils on gentle slopes organic matter content of surface horizons will and level areas, with orthic improve the tilth ofthese soils and result in a Waitville soils on steeper soil that is easier to cultivate. slopes and around some depressions, and MINE SPOILS (MSp) Mine Spoils are the overburden waist Agricultural Properties of Mine Spoils of coal strip mining operations . They contain Mine Spoils are not generally suitable variable amounts of soil and bedrock materials for agricultural use. They may require level- and have a variable landscape pattern ofridges ling, as well as fertility amendments either in and cones. Mine spoils are extremely variable the form of applied fertilizer or organic mat- in terms of their origin, texture and chemical ter. Some Mine Spoils may be coarse textured composition. and, therefore, droughty whereas others may 52 have more favourable soil textures. Mine may be difficult to establish a vegetative Spoils may also be saline and/or sodic and growth on without extensive amendments to may not be suitable for the production of the soil. annual crops. Extremely saline or sodic areas MEADOW (Mw) SOILS Meadow soils are poorly drained soils Map Units of Meadow Soils that occur on moderately extensive depres- Mainly poorly drained soils in Mw sional lands. They are flooded in spring and depressional lands or sloughs. parts of these areas may remain flooded ex- cept in dry years. Surface horizons are of variable texture. They often have thick, dark- Agricultural Properties of Meadow Soils coloured A horizons and drab subsurface Areas of Meadow soils are not usually colours that include reddish spots and streaks. cultivated because of their wetness. These They are uncultivated, usually supporting lands may be used for grazing or for the pro- willow, reed and sedge vegetation . duction of low-quality hay from native spe- cies. They are, however, valuable for water- fowl habitat. NORTH PORTAL (No) SOILS North Portal soils are dominantly Dark soils occur typically on undulating lands with Brown Solonetzic soils that have formed in relatively long gentle slopes, with local areas sandy deposits underlain by sandy loam to of very gently sloping undulating or gently to loam-textured glacial till . North Portal is a moderately sloping hummocky landscapes. new association set up to describe the variable textured, solonetzic sandy soils that occur Kinds of North Portal Soils south ofthe Souris Valley in the North Portal There are a large number of different area. These soils were mapped as Weyburn- kinds of soils occurring in areas mapped as Estevan sandy clay loam in Soil Survey North Portal, ranging from well-drained, thick Report No. 12 . Dark Brown soils on sandy deposits overlying Surface textures ofNorth Portal soils glacial till, to strongly developed, strong are typically sandy loam and fine sandy loam solonetzic soils in lower areas. but range from loamy sand to loam. Areas Solonetzic North Portal The solonet- mapped as North Portal range from stone free zic North Portal soil is a well-drained soil that to moderately stony, with slightly stony lands has a dark-brown A horizon, 10 to 15 cm being the most common. Surface horizons are thick, underlain by a reddish brown, weakly neutral to slightly acidic, and parent materials developed, solonetzic B horizon. Saline sub- are moderately calcareous. Saline subsoils are soils often occur in soils in lower areas. This common in low lying lands. North Portal is the most common North Portal solonetzic 53 soil and occurs on nearly level lands with Mainly a mixture of solonetzic and No2 gentle slopes. solodic North Portal soils on Solodic North Portal The solodic gentle slopes and smooth uplands, North Portal soil is a well-drained soil oc- with a mixture of strong solonetzic curring on upland concave areas. This soil and saline North Portal soils in lower areas, has a thick A and B horizon (usually about 60 and poorly drained soils in depressions. The cm). Subsoils are usually not saline. They are No2 map unit occurs on undulating or often associated with solonetzic North Portal hummocky landscapes with very gentle to soils, where deep (50 to 100 cm) sandy depo- gentle slopes. sits overlay the glacial till. Strong Solonetzic North Portal The Combination Map Units strong solonetzic North Portal soil occurs in These are mainly North Portal soils lower areas that may be imperfectly drained. that include significant soils of other It has a tough, clayey B horizon and a saline associations . More detailed descriptions of subsoil. the included soils are provided under the Saline North Portal The saline North appropriate Association description. Portal soil is an imperfectly drained soil that Mainly a mixture of solonetzic NoBkl has high concentrations of soluble salts in sur- and solodic North Portal soils face horizons. The salts occur as awhite sur- on gentle slopes and concave face crust or as small, white specks within the parts of the landscape, with soil, although salts may not always be visible. solonetzic Brooking soils on broad, very Like the strong solonetzic North Portal soil, gently undulating uplands. The solonetzic the saline North Portal soil occurs in lower Brooking soils are not strongly developed and areas. include some orthic Amulet soils. Poorly Drained Poorly drained soils Mainly a mixture of solonetzic NoEs2 occur in depressional areas that receive runoff and solodic North Portal soils from adjacent slopes, and remain wet well into on gentle slopes and smooth the growing season most years. .They often uplands, with a mixture of have thick, dark-coloured Ahorizons and drab strong solonetzic and saline Estevan soils in subsurface colours that include reddish spots lower areas, and poorly drained soils in de- and streaks. pressions. This map unit occurs on undulating lands, with the clay loam-textured Estevan Map Units of North Portal Soils soils occupying lower areas ofthe landscape. Mainly a mixture of solonetzic Nol North Portal soils on mid- to upper Agricultural Properties of North Portal slopes and solodic North Portal Soils soils in concave areas. Inclusions of some North Portal soils are fair agricultural nonsolonetzic Dark Brown soils occur on soils of capability class 3. Their sandy loam some upper slopes. This map unit occurs , to loam texture results in a low water-holding typically on undulating landscapes with gentle capacity of 10 to 16 cm of water in the upper slopes. 120 cm of soil. These soils are moderately susceptible to water erosion and quite suscep- 54 tible to wind erosion. Practices are recom- Areas ofNo1 and NoBk1 are uniform- mended that protect the soil by maintaining ly fair agricultural land, with minor amounts vegetative or stubble residues and minimize ofstrong solonetzic soils with saline subsoils tillage and the frequency of sununerfallow. only in some lower slope areas. Yields are The inclusion ofperennial forages in rotations reduced on these soils in dry years. Areas of on loamy sand and sandy loam areas is recom- No2 and NoEs2 have more strongly developed mended, both to reduce erosion and increase solonetzic soils, and saline soils. Conse- soil organic matter content. Narrow strips of quently, the production potential of these standing forage remaining uncut, help to areas is limited. Severely saline areas are best retain snow and replace the moisture depleted suited to the production of salt-tolerant by the forage. forages. OXBOW (Ox) SOILS Oxbow soils are dominantly Black Kinds of Oxbow Soils soils formed in loam to clay loam textured, The different kinds ofOxbow soils are moderately to strongly calcareous glacial till. mainly a result ofthe effect topography has in In this survey the OxbowAssociation includes redistributing precipitation and determining soils formerly included within the Ryerson soil drainage, and the effects of regional and Association of Soil Survey Report No. 12. A local groundwater conditions within land- study ofthe parent material in areas ofOxbow scapes. and Ryerson soils did not indicate any major Orthic Oxbow The orthic Oxbow soil differences in composition. It was concluded is a well-drained soil that occurs on gentle that the differences in the nature ofthe soils, slopes and on the middle portion of steeper particularly the more common occurrence of slopes. It has a black Ap horizon that is about high lime (carbonate) and saline soils of the 8 to 16 cm thick (average 13 cm) underlain by Ryerson soils, are a result oflocal conditions a brownish B horizon that is about 17 cm that can be differentiated with a special map thick. unit, Ox12 for example, of the Oxbow Calcareous Oxbow The calcareous Association. Oxbow soil occurs on locally dry knolls and Surface textures. of Oxbow soils are hills, and on the upper portions of steep slopes loam, with some areas designated as sandy where a substantial proportion of the precipi- loam, gravelly phase (sl(g)) or gravelly sandy tation runs off. It is awell-drained soil with a loam, where surfaces are sandy and thin black Ap horizon that is 7 to 15 cm thick. A gravelly lenses occur in the subsoil. The Ox- calcareous, grayish brown to brown B horizon bow soil surface horizons are neutral to may underlie the A horizon. These soils had moderately alkaline and are moderately to thin profiles in their virgin condition, and ero- very stony. Oxbow soils occur on nearly level sion since cultivation has resulted in consider- to gently sloping, hummocky and ridged lands able soil losses. The most strongly eroded in the Lightning Creek and Glen Ewen Plains, soils are readily visible as gray knolls in culti- and on undulating to hilly lands in the Kipling vated fields. Plain and Moose Mountain. 55 Carbonated Oxbow The carbonated scapes with gentle to steep slopes with Oxbow soil occurs on imperfectly drained enclosed or undrained depressions. This map lower slopes, usually in rings just above unit occurs throughout the eastern part of the enclosed depressions. This soil is strongly map area. calcareous, and has a grayish black Ap Ox10 Mainly orthic Oxbow soils, with horizon underlain by gray or grayish white calcareous Oxbow soils on knolls subsoil. Their origin is thought to be a con- and upper slopes. The Ox10 map sequence of high water tables. The high unit occurs throughout the amounts of groundwater recharge from adja- eastern part of the map area, particularly on cent depressions results in the upward move- gently to moderately sloping dissected lands ment of carbonates as water moves to the adjacent to the indistinct runways that cross surface by capillary flow. These same condi- the Lightning Creek Plain. tions also lead to the occurrence of saline Mainly a mixture of orthic and Ox12 soi*Is, and many areas of carbonated Oxbow calcareous Oxbow soils on soils are also saline. midslopes to knolls, with a Saline Oxbow The saline Oxbow soil mixture of saline and carbonated has a similar origin to the carbonated Oxbow Oxbow soils on lower slopes adjacent to soil except for the presence of soluble salts in sloughs, and poorly drained soils in sloughs or the groundwater. The salts occur as a white depressions. This map unit occurs almost surface crust or as small, white specks within always on gently sloping hummocky the soil, although salts may not always be landscapes in the Lightning and Pipestone visible. River Plains, and includes most of the land Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained mapped as Ry0 (Ryerson-Oxbow) in Soil soils occur in wet sloughs or depressions that Survey Report No. 12. receive runoff from adjacent upper slopes. These soils are ponded in spring and remain Combination Map Units wet long enough to prevent cultivation unless These are mainly areas ofOxbow soils drained. They often have thick, dark-coloured that include significant amounts of soils of A horizons and drab subsurface colours that other associations . More detailed descriptions include reddish spots and streaks. of the included soils are provided under the appropriate Association descriptions. Map Units of Oxbow Soils Mainly a mixture of orthic and OxAq2 Oxl Mainly orthic Oxbow soils. The calcareous Oxbow soils on Ox1 map unit occurs on very gentle slopes and on knolls, gently to gently undulating with a mixture of orthic and landscapes. This map unit is not calcareous Asquith soils in lower areas, and extensive, occurring in minor areas in the poorly drained soils in depressions. The Glen Ewen Plain. Asquith soils are underlain by glacial till. The Mainly orthic Oxbow soils, with OxAq2 Ox8 map unit occurs in the Black-Dark calcareous Oxbow soils on upper Brown soil transition zone in that part of the slopes and knolls, and poorly Souris River Plain enclosed by the bends of drained soils in depressions. The the Souris River near Oxbow. Ox8 map unit occurs on hummocky land- 56 Mainly a mixture of orthic and drained soils in depressions. The sandy water- OxBkl calcareous Oxbow soils on lain deposits are usually less than 1 m thick upper slopes and knolls, with and are underlain by glacial till. solonetzic and occasional Mainly a mixture orthic and OxMe2 of strong solonetzic Brooking soils in lower calcareous Oxbow soils on the areas. The OxBkl map unit is not common, upper parts of the landscape, occurring on very gently sloping undulating or with a mixture of orthic and dissected landscapes, and hummocky or dis- calcareous Meota soils in lower areas, and sected landscapes with gentle slopes in the poorly drained soils in depressions. The Black-Dark Brown transition zone in the Meota sandy water-lain deposits are generally southern part ofthe map area. The glacial till less than 1 m thick and are underlain by on which this map unit occurs is transitional glacial till. between the darker, more saline, clay-loam Mainly orthic Oxbow soils on OxWhl textured Brooking-Amulet type till of the upper slopes and knolls, with west, and the more calcareous, loamy Oxbow orthic Whitewood soils on till encountered further east. mid- to lower slopes. This Mainly a mixture of orthic map unit occurs in the moist northeastern OxHm2 and calcareous Oxbow soils portion of the map area, mostly within the on the upper parts of the Pipestone River Plain on dissected and hum- landscape, with a mixture of mocky landscapes with gentle to moderate orthic and calcareous Hamlin soils in lower slopes. The orthic Whitewood soils have a areas, and poorly drained soils in depressions. dark gray A horizon, and a strongly developed The sandy loam to loam textured water-lain brownish B horizon. Hamlin deposits are usually less than 1 m Mainly orthic Oxbow soils on OxWh2 thick and are underlain by glacial till. The upper slopes and knolls, with OxHm2 map unit occurs on undulating lands orthic Whitewood soils on in the southeastern part of the map area. mid- to lower slopes, and Mainly a mixture of orthic poorly drained soils in depressions. Calcar- OxHm4 and calcareous Oxbow soils eous soils occur on some knolls. The OxWh2 on the upper parts of the map unit occurs mostly on hummocky landscape, with a mixture of landscapes with slopes ranging from gentle to orthic and calcareous Hamlin soils on mid- to steep. These soils occur in the northeastern lower slopes. The sandy loam to loam part of the map area, particularly in the Moose textured, water-lain Hamlin deposits are Mountain Upland, Pipestone River and Kip- usually less than 1 m thick and are underlain ling Plains. by glacial till. The OxHm4 soils occur on Mainly a mixture oforthic and OxWs2 undulating lands in the southeastern part of calcareous Oxbow soils on the map area. smooth upper slopes and low Mainly a mixture of orthic knolls, with a mixture of thin OxHm6 and calcareous Oxbow soils orthic and calcareous Whitesand soils on on the upper parts of the gravelly ridges, and poorly drained soils in landscape, with sandy and depressions. This map unit occurs on moder- saline Hamlin soils in lower areas, and poorly 57 ately sloping ridged lands on the plains north calcareous Oxbow soils are thinner than the and east ofMoose Mountain. orthic soils, occurring on eroded knolls and Mainly a mixture oforthic and hills that are locally dry because of runoff. OxWs4 calcareous Oxbow soils on They also have lower organic matter and upper slopes and low knolls, fertility levels than the orthic soils, and are with a mixture of orthic and susceptible to erosion. Carbonated Oxbow calcareous Whitesand soils on gravelly soils, which occur in lower slope areas, often deposits in lower areas. The OxWs4 map unit are wet in spring but generally produce good occurs on dissected landscapes with gentle crops unless they are also saline. The grayish slopes in the Glen Ewen Plain. carbonated soils often become very loose and soft ifthey dry after tillage, making it difficult Agricultural Properties of Oxbow Soils to prepare a good seedbed. Productivity is Oxbowsoils are good agricultural soils reduced on saline lands, usually showing a of capability class 2 . They are limited by a gradation from a bare, white soil where slight moisture deficit imparted by a moderate salinity is most severe to stands with slight water-holding capacity and the subhumid yield reductions due to saline conditions in the regional climate. Water-holding capacities in subsoil. Poorly drained soils are generally not the upper 120 cm of soil range from 12 to 16 cultivated unless drained, and are used only cm ofwater in areas with sandy loam to loam for spring and fall grazing, hay production or textures, to 16 to 20 cm in areas with loam wildlife. Many of these sloughs have been soil textures. Organic matter content of the cleared, to permit the use of larger farm top soil is moderate although it does vary over machinery. Where drained they~ have good the landscape, and may be low on the eroded production potential. Without drainage they or calcareous knolls. Management practices may remain wet when the remainder of the are recommended which maintain or increase field is ready for .planting. soil organic matter contents. Clearing of Details of the characteristics of other stones is required periodically, but stoniness is associations included in dominantly Oxbow not generally a serious problem except on map units (the soils in OxWh2, some very stony knolls and on hilly or steeply for example) can be found in the description sloping lands. The soils are moderately sus- of the included association. Most of the ceptible to wind erosion, particularly where combination map units are quite similar to large areas of the native aspen bluffs have pure Oxbow units, except for those that have been cleared. Management practices which soils of quite different texture. For example, maintain a protective trash cover on the soil the OxAq2 and OxMe2 map units have con- are recommended. Water erosion can be seri- siderable proportions of sandy soils, that have ous on bare or unprotected lands, particularly a lower moisture holding capacity and greater on rolling to hilly topography. The lands of susceptibility to wind erosion than the the Ox8 and Ox 12 map units are more diffi- medium textured Oxbow soil. Areas of cult or inconvenient to farm because of the OxWs2 and OxWs4 have gravelly soils. Ro- many small sloughs present in the landscape. tations that include forage crops are The well-drained, orthic Oxbow soil recommended on these areas to help protect has few limitations to agricultural use if it these soils and to stabilize or improve the occurs on gently sloping landscapes. The quality ofthe soil in these areas. ,' ,I , , .:..,J_ ~.:.. .. ~u .,._; 58 PHEASANT RUMP (Ph) SOILS Pheasant Rump soils are dominantly ring in concave areas. Orthic Black soils with Black soils formed in silty, nonstony, strongly brownish B horizons are rarely found. calcareous water-lain deposits. These soils Poorly Drained Soils The poorly occur on the rolling uplands in the western drained soils occur in depressional areas that part ofthe Moose Mountain. It is thought that receive runoff from adjacent upland areas. these silty materials were deposited on the Many ofthe depressions are large, with fairly surface of the glacial ice. As the glacial ice steep sides. These soils are ponded in spring melted, this veneer of silty materials was laid and remain wet long enough to prevent down on the uneven surface ofthe underlying cultivation unless drained. They often have glacial till. The main area of Pheasant Rump thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab soils occurs close to the Dark Brown-Black subsurface colours that include reddish spots soil zone boundary. This was mapped as El- and streaks. stow silty clay in Soil Survey Report No. 12. However, during this survey, it was felt that Map Units of Pheasant Rump Soils the properties of these soils required a new Mainly typical Pheasant Rump Phi grouping. Furthermore, these soils occur in a soils. This map unit occurs on locally cool climatic area that has a shorter hummocky landscapes with gentle growing season due to their occurrence on to moderate slopes. Moose Mountain. Mainly typical Pheasant Rump Ph2 Most Pheasant Rump soils are culti- soils, with poorly drained soils in vated, and are nonstony or slightly stony large, flat-bottomed depressions. where the silty deposits are thin overlying gla- This map unit occurs on moder- cial till. Surface horizons are neutral to mod- ately sloping hummocky landscapes. erately alkaline and are usually silty clay loam in texture. Pheasant Rump soils occur on Combination Map Units hummocky landscapes with gentle to moder- These are mainly areas of Pheasant ate slopes that are relatively long. Rump soils that include significant amounts of soils of other associations . More detailed Kinds of Pheasant Rump Soils descriptions ofthe included soils are provided The different kinds of Pheasant Rump under the appropriate Association descrip- soils are mainly a result of the effect topo- tions . graphy has in redistributing precipitation and Mainly typical Pheasant Rump PhOx2 determining soil drainage. soils, with a mixture of orthic Typical Pheasant Rump The typical and calcareous Oxbow soils on Pheasant Rump soil is a well-drained soil that larger hills. These soils occur has a thin black to grayish black Ap horizon in areas where the silty, water-lain deposits underlain by a gray, calcareous subsoil. This are thin or discontinuous. This map unit oc- soil occurs on gentle slopes and knolls. The curs on hummocky landscapes with gentle to Ap horizons are thinner on knolls, with a moderate slopes. thicker Ap and underlying Ah horizon occur- 59 Mainly typical Pheasant Rump that occur in PhWnl soils the Carlyle area. Although soils, with orthic Windthorst data are not available it appears that the soils interspersed . This map growing season is a few days shorter and unit was mapped in two areas, cooler, on this upland area in the Moose both of which have a wide variety of soils in Mountain, therefore increasing the frost a complex mixture. These soils occur on hazard. The relatively thin topsoil, often low hummocky landscapes with gentle to strong in organic matter for Black soils, results in slopes. generally lower levels of fertility, particularly for nitrogen and phosphorus. In addition, the Agricultural Properties of Pheasant Rump silty texture coupled with relatively long Soils slopes results in asoil quite susceptible to wa- Pheasant Rump soils are good agricul- ter erosion. The thin topsoil on slopes tural soils of capability class 2. They are lim- coupled with thick, lower slope soils indicates ited by a slight moisture deficit imparted by a serious water erosion in the past. Deep gullies moderate water-holding capacity and the sub- that have cut down into the soil also indicate humid regional climate. These silty clay loam considerable past erosion. The soils are also textured soils can store approximately 20 cm easily eroded by wind. ofwater in the upper 120 cm of soil. They are Agricultural practices are recommend- generally suitable for the production of most ed which limit summerfallow in order to crops grown in Saskatchewan. There are, minimize erosion, protect the soils with however, some special properties of this soil stubble residues or crop cover and adapt to the which limit productivity in comparison to somewhat shorter growing season. other similar soils, such as the silty Arcola REGINA (Ra) SOILS Regina soils are dominantly Dark Grumic Regina The grumic Regina Brown soils formed in heavy clay-textured, is awell-drained soil that has a dark brown A nonstony, moderately calcareous water-lain horizon, about 10 or 12 cm thick, underlain by materials. The Regina soils in the map area weakly calcareous, dark grayish brown clay to occur near Weyburn, at the edge of the Regina about 1 m depth. This soil is equivalent to the Lake Plain. Regina soils occur on level to Rego and Calcareous Dark Brown Regina very gently sloping undulating or dissected soils of the Willow Bunch Lake Report. landscapes. Surface horizons are neutral to Characteristic features of grumic soils include moderately alkaline with heavy clay textures. high clay contents and marked changes in volume depending upon soil moisture content, Kinds of Regina Soils as evidenced by the formation of wide cracks The different kinds of Regina soils are in dry soils. mainly aresult ofthe effect topography has in Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained redistributing precipitation and determining soils occur in relatively large, flat-bottomed soil drainage. depressional areas. These soils receive extra water by runofffrom adjacent uplands, and re- 60 main ponded because of slow infiltration into have a high water-holding capacity of 25 to 30 the soil. They have drab subsurface colours cm ofwater in the upper 120 cm of soil. Their that include reddish spots and streaks. heavy clay texture reduces the rate at which water enters the soil, so ponding often occurs Map Units of Regina Soils at snowmelt and after heavy rains. The timeli- Mainly grumic Regina soils. This ness of tillage is important, and should be Ral map unit occurs on level to very avoided when the soils are wet, as soil gently sloping undulating or compaction or rough, cloddy surfaces are dissected landscapes. often the result. These soils, which occur on Mainly grumic Regina soils, with nearly level lands, are not susceptible to water Ra2 poorly drained soils in broad, flat erosion, but wind erosion in early spring can depressional areas. This map unit be serious. The alternate freezing and thawing occurs on level to very gently or wetting and drying cycles breaks down sloping undulating landscapes. larger soil aggregates to silt and sand-sized aggregates that can be carried away by wind. Agricultural Properties of Regina Soils The retention of stubble residues is important, Regina soils are good agricultural soils both to protect the soil and maintain organic of capability class 2 and are among the best matter contents. Although these soils do not grain producing soils in the map area. They have serious limitations for agriculture they do are limited by a slight moisture deficit impart- have limitations for engineering uses. ed by the semiarid regional climate. They ROUGHBARK (Rb) SOILS Roughbark soils are dominantly Dark Surface textures vary from loam to Brown soils formed in complex mixtures of gravel but are mostly a gravelly sandy loam. glacial till, water-lain sand and gravel deposits The surficial materials grade to poorly sorted over till, and stony, water-eroded till. Rough- gravel in the subsoil, which in turn is nearly bark soils are a complex of soils such as always underlain by glacial till. Roughbark Weyburn and Biggar soils but because of the soils are slightly to very stony, with the most complex intermingling and variability of the stones in areas of eroded glacial till or coarse soil parent material they are grouped into a gravelly materials. Most areas of Roughbark single complex designated as Roughbark. All soils occur along narrow drainageways, with occurrences of this complex are where the nearly level bottoms and gently sloping dis- influence ofdeposition and erosion by running sected sides. Some larger expanses of Rough- water is strongly evident. These soils occur in bark soils have very gently sloping undulating long narrow bands along drainageways, in or dissected landscapes, with a few larger areas where two or more drainageways hummocky areas with moderate to strong come together, or are associated with large slopes. streams such as Long Creek and the Souris River. 61 Kinds of Roughbark Soils Mainly orthic Roughbark soils, Rb4 The different kinds ofRoughbark soils with a mixture of saline Rough- relate mostly to soil drainage and salinity. bark and poorly drained soils in Orthic Roughbark The orthic lower areas and depressions. The Roughbark soil is a well to rapidly drained Rb4 map unit occurs on undulating or dis- soil, with relatively thin A and B horizons. It sected landscapes with very gentle to gentle occurs on level to undulating lands, and on slopes and along indistinct drainageways gently sloping sides of some drainageways. lacking a well-developed channel. Some calcareous soils are usually associated with the orthic Roughbark soil. Combination Map Units Saline Roughbark The saline Rough- These are mainly areas of Roughbark bark soil occurs mostly in larger areas of soils that include significant amounts of soils Roughbark soils, particularly those that lie of other associations. More detailed descrip- well below the general elevation of the sur- tions ofthe included soils are provided under rounding land. They are found in lower land- the appropriate Association description. scape positions, and are often heavier textured Mainly orthic RbAvl Roughbark than adjacent well-drained soils. The salts oc- soils along valley-sides, with cur as a white surface crust or as small, white typical Alluvium soils on flood specks within the soil, although salts may not plains. always be visible. Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained Agricultural Properties ofRoughbark Soils soils occur in the bottoms of drainageways, Much of the land within Roughbark particularly the smaller less evident streams soil areas occurs along narrow bands adjacent that carry water only during spring runoff. to streams and drainageways and are generally They occur as sloughs and wet areas that re- used for grazing. Where cultivated the soils main when the streams stops running. .They are poor to fair for agriculture (classes 4 and often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons 3), with limitations of low moisture holding and drab subsurface colours that include capacity because of sandy and gravelly reddish spots and streaks. textures, stoniness in some areas, and poor drainage in other areas. These lands are the Map Units of Roughbark Soils natural runways for spring runoff. Where a Mainly orthic Roughbark soils. shallow but distinct drainage channel is Rbl This map unit occurs on evident, the channel should remain in grass to hummocky or dissected landscapes eliminate or control water erosion. Lands of with gentle to strong slopes along the Rb4 map unit are further limited by the drainageways, or as terraces adjacent to larger occurrence ofsaline soils and are best used for streams. These areas generally have a well grazing. developed stream that provides good drainage to the area. 62 ROULEAU (Ru) SOILS Rouleau soils are dominantly poorly Map Units of Rouleau Soils Mainly drained Rouleau drained soils formed in heavy clay, water-lain Rul poorly deposits. Rouleau soils occur in low lands, soils, with grumic Rouleau soils where lakes appear to have existed in recent on slightly higher areas in the times. Rouleau soils occur on level to landscape. There is one area of depressional lands. Surface horizons are this map unit, on level to depressional heavy clay-textured and alkaline. topography southwest of Weyburn. Kinds of Rouleau Soils Agricultural Properties of Rouleau Soils The different kinds of Rouleau soils Rouleau soils are fair agricultural soils are mainly a result of the effect topography of capability class 3, limited mostly by poor has in redistributing precipitation and drainage. They have a high water-holding determining soil drainage. capacity of25 to 30 cm ofwater in the upper Grumic Rouleau The grumic Rou- 120 cm of soil. Their heavy clay texture leau soil occurs on level lands that are reduces the rate at which water enters the soil, imperfectly drained. These soils, like the so ponding often occurs at snowmelt and after grumic Regina soils, form wide and deep heavy rains. Most areas of Rouleau soils have cracks when dry, and have loose, granular surface drains, but problems of surface surface horizons. ponding still occur. Subsurface drainage is Poorly Drained Rouleau Poorly not recommended on these clayey soils, drained Rouleau soils occur in broad, flat- because the close spacing of drains that is bottomed depressional areas. These soils required would be prohibitively expensive. pond in spring or after heavy rains. Water Timeliness of tillage is important. Rough, infiltration is very slow because ofthe heavy cloddy surfaces and hard crusts will result clay texture. Many of these poorly drained from tillage when the soil is too wet. soils have artificial surface drainage systems to carry away excess water. RUNWAY (Rw) SOILS Runway soils are formed in various Agricultural Properties of Runway Soils deposits associated with the sides and bottoms Runway soils are usually nonarable in of shallow drainage channels. This group of that the bottom lands are poorly drained and soils range from weakly developed to poorly the side slopes are usually too steep to permit drained and are primarily associated with cultivation. A few areas where slopes permit dissected landscapes. As a result, surface crossing with field implements have some texture, degree of stoniness, slope class and potential for cultivation. As well, many areas salinity are extremely variable. will have little potential for grazing land as 63 they occur as narrow strips cutting through pasture land depending upon steepness of cultivated areas. Where they are large enough slope, density of tree cover and availability of to be fenced, they do have some value as water. SWIFT CREEK (Sf) SOILS Swift Creek soils are dominantly drainage conditions, the degree of soil erosion Black soils formed in complex mixtures of and the occurrence of soil salinity. loam-textured glacial till, water-lain sand and Orthic Swift Creek The orthic Swift gravel deposits, and stony, water-eroded gla- Creek soil is a well-drained soil that occurs on cial till. This complex of soils occurs mostly nearly level to very gently undulating lands along drainageways in the Lightning Creek and low knolls. It has a black A horizon of and Pipestone River Plains, forming relatively variable thickness due to extremes of erosion narrow soil areas that may extend for up to 20 and deposition. The Ahorizon is underlain by or 30 km in a north-south direction. Where a brown-coloured B horizon which, in turn, is several drainageways come together larger underlain by a light-coloured, calcareous C areas of Swift Creek soils occur. The mate- horizon. rials on which Swift Creek soils occur are Calcareous Swift Creek The cal- thought to have been deposited in glacial careous Swift Creek soil occurs on steeper times when water from the melting glacier ran slopes mostly along the margins of drainage- across slopes in a generally southern direction ways. Runoff reduces the amount of water along the front of the glacier. This running entering the soil, resulting in a thinner soil water deposited the sandy and gravelly mate- with less organic matter than the orthic Swift rials, and eroded the glacial till resulting in a Creek soil. It has. a thin, usually calcareous A stonier till. horizon and may have a thin, calcareous B Surface textures vary from sand to gra- horizon. This soil is often affected by erosion, vel but are generally designated as gravelly but to a lesser degree than the eroded Swift sandy loam, sl(g), on the map. Swift Creek Creek soil. soils are moderately to very stony with local, Eroded Swift Creek The eroded sandy areas that may have few stones. Most Swift Creek soil is a shallow soil whose areas of Swift Creek soils occur along topsoil has been partially or totally removed dissected drainageways that have relatively by erosion. It occurs on extreme knolls and flat bottoms, and gently (less than 5%) sloping upper slopes and can be easily recognized in sides. Most larger areas of Swift Creek soils a cultivated landscape by its light brown to are dissected or undulating with very gentle grayish surface colour. slopes. Saline Swift Creek The saline Swift Creek soil occurs adjacent to poorly drained Kinds of Swift Creek Soils soils in some indistinct drainageways, and The different kinds of Swift Creek throughout some of the larger areas of Swift soils that are used in the separation of map Creek soils in the Pipestone River Plain. The units delineated on the soils map are related to salts occur as awhite surface crust or as small, 64 white specks within the soil, although salts Mainly orthic Swift Creek soils on SO may not always be visible. gently sloping, undulating parts of Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained drainageways, with a mixture of soils occur along indistinct streams in the saline and poorly drained soils bottoms of the drainageways, or as sloughs intermixed in lower areas or along the bottoms which now occupy the drainageway. They of indistinct drainageways. Calcareous and often have thick, dark-coloured A horizons eroded Swift Creek soils occur on some ofthe and drab subsurface colours that include steeper sloping areas. The SO map unit is not reddish spots and streaks. common in the map area but does indicate local areas with both saline and gravelly soils. Map Units of Swift Creek Soils Mainly orthic Swift Creek soils on Agricultural Properties of Swift Creek Soils Sfl level to gently sloping, undulating Swift Creek soils are fair to poor agri- lands, with a mixture of thin cultural soils of capability classes 3 and 4. calcareous and eroded Swift Creek The Swift Creek soils are often sandy or gra- soils on low knolls and steeper slopes along velly, with a total water-holding capacity of the margins of the drainageways. The Sfl 10 to 12 cm in the upper 120 cm of soil, and a map unit generally occurs in areas with awell resulting greater susceptibility to drought. In developed stream or channel that provides many areas these soils remain in their native good drainage to the area. condition or are planted to perennial forage Mainly orthic Swift Creek soils on crops. They form long, narrow pastures or Sf2 level to gently sloping, undulating haylands within areas that are mostly Oxbow lands, with amixture of calcareous soils and used for grain production. This is and eroded Swift Creek soils on particularly the case in areas where the Sf2 steeper slopes and knolls, and poorly drained map unit occurs. In other areas the Swift soils in lower areas along indistinct drainage Creek soils along the drainageways are culti- channels or sloughs in the bottoms of drain- vated and included with adjacent soils of bet- ageways. This is the most common map unit ter quality. Swift Creek soils are quite suscep- of the Swift Creek soils, occupying most of tible to water and wind erosion. Where these the long, narrow drainageways in the soils are cultivated and a drainage channel is Lightning Creek Plain. evident, the channel should remain in native or seeded grass to reduce erosion during spring runoff. The SO map unit has severe limitations for agricultural use because of gravelly soils, salinity and poor drainage and is best used for grazing. SUTHERLAND (Su) SOILS Sutherland soils are Dark Brown soils occur north of Weyburn, adjacent to and in formed in silty clay to clay-textured, stone slightly higher areas than the heavy clay soils free, water-lain deposits. These soils mainly of the Regina Association. Surface horizons 65 of Sutherland soils are clay-textured and tions of the included soils are provided under neutral to moderately alkaline. Sutherland the appropriate Association descriptions . soils occur on very gently to gently sloping SuTul Mainly orthic Sutherland soils, undulating or dissected landscapes. with solonetzic Tuxford soils in lower areas. This map unit Kinds of Sutherland Soils occurs north of Weyburn. The There are two types of Sutherland soils solonetzic Tuxford soils have more strongly that occur in the map area. They are mainly a developed B horizons than the Sutherland result of the effect topography has in soils and saline subsoils are common. redistributing precipitation and in determining soil drainage. Agricultural Properties of Sutherland Soils Orthic Sutherland The orthic Suther- Sutherland soils are good agricultural land soil occurs on well-drained level to soils ofcapability class 2. They are limited by undulating lands. It has a thin, dark-brown Ap a slight moisture deficit imparted by the horizon, 8 to 12 cm thick, underlain by a semiarid regional climate. These soils have a brown to reddish-brown B horizon. Calcare- water-holding capacity of 25 to 30 cm of ous subsoils occur at a depth of about 30 cm. water in the upper 120 cm of soil . They have Calcareous Sutherland The calcar- moderate amounts of organic matter and good eous Sutherland soil is awell-drained soil that natural fertility. Water erosion is not con- has an Ap horizon, 8 to 12 cm thick, that may sidered to be a serious problem on level lands, be underlain by a grayish-brown, weakly but can be serious on sloping lands in the calcareous B horizon. It can occur on low Missouri Coteau Uplands. A moderate sus- knolls where erosion has reduced the thick- ceptibility to wind erosion indicates the need ness of topsoil. for tillage systems that protect the soil with crop or stubble .residues. The high water- Map Units of Sutherland Soils holding capacity of Sutherland soils makes Mainly orthic Sutherland soils, them well-suited to alternate crop-fallow rota- Su2 with thin calcareous Sutherland tions, but summerfallow is recommended only soils on low knolls. The Su2 map when soils are dry in spring and reduced unit occurs locally in the Missouri tillage is practised in order to maintain stubble Coteau Upland, occupying small basins that residues on the surface. contain water-lain, clay.deposits. The soils of the SuTul map unit are generally well suited to grain production. The Combination Map Units occurrence of some strong solonetzic soils in These are mainly areas of Sutherland lower areas reduces yields in very dry years, soils that include significant amounts ofsoils and requires more careful management of till- ofother associations. More detailed descrip- age operations in order to maintain good soil structure. 66 SHORT CREEK (Sx) SOILS Short Creek soils are dominantly expo- Agricultural Properties of Short Creek sures of Ravenscrag bedrock, and associated Soils thin soils over bedrock. These soils are simi- Short Creek soils are nonarable soils of lar to some of the soils mapped as Exposure capability class 6 and are suited only for Complex in the Willow Bunch Lake Survey. native grazing. Small areas adjacent to Allu- Short Creek soils are specific to the soft, san- vium soils in the bottom of the Souris River dy textured, Ravenscrag bedrock. Short Creek Valley are occasionally cultivated, but are of Complex was mapped in the Estevan and low capability because of shallow soils and Roche Percee areas, on the eroding sides of sandy textures. These soils are best used for the Souris River Valley. Short Creek soils, in grazing. Livestock numbers should be limited combination with Hillsborough soils on erod- to prevent overgrazing which could result in ed glacial till, occur along the Souris River erosion of these steeply sloping, fragile lands. Valley southeast of Weyburn. Map Units of Short Creek Soils Mainly thin soils and bedrock Sz outcrops along the steeply sloping valley-sides ofthe Souris River. TROSSACHS (Tr) SOILS Trossachs soils are dominantly Dark areas. Cultivated fields in these areas have a Brown Solonetzic soils formed in clay loam to grayish-brown colour, a result of the grayish clay textured, moderately calcareous glacial A horizons associated with solodic and strong till. The glacial till is dark-gray in colour, solonetz (solodized solonetz) soils. In addi- with conspicuous olive-gray shale fragments tion, the organic matter content of A horizons and gypsum concentrations . Surface horizons are generally lower in Trossachs soils than in are clay loam textured and neutral to moder- Brooking soils. ately acid. Trossachs soils are slightly stony, and occur on nearly level to very gently undu- Kinds of Trossachs Soils lating lands. These soils occur in a band, 10 The different kinds of Trossachs soils to 15 km wide, along the base ofthe Missouri appear to be a result of differences in soil Coteau. drainage, slight but important differences in Compared to the similar Brooking topography (slightly concave versus slightly soils, Trossachs soils have more strongly convex surfaces) and the underlying geologi- developed solonetzic characteristics such as cal and hydrological conditions. Examination thin often poorly structured Ahorizons, tough, of uncultivated Trossachs soils suggests that clayey B horizons and saline subsoils. Saline local movement of A horizon material by ero- soils adjacent to sloughs, and saline sloughs sion removes soil from the unproductive and are more common in Trossachs than Brooking poorly vegetated "burn-out" areas, gradually 67 adding it to adjacent soils with slightly thicker soil that has a thin, poorly structured A A horizons and more vegetation. This further horizon underlain by a tough, clayey B hori- promotes good vegetative growth and en- zon and saline subsoils. Some of these soils hances the infiltration of water, leading even- are strongly solonetzic. It occurs in slightly tually to the development of deep solodic lower areas of the landscape . After heavy profiles. Solodic and strong solonetzic soils rainfalls, and in the spring after snowmelt, this often occur in close juxtaposition on nearly soil may be flooded for a period of time. level lands. Saline Trossachs soils are not Because it is water saturated for a time, it has included in any map unit descriptions, but do reddish spots and streaks indicative of poor occur commonly throughout the area. They drainage. occupy small (less than 5% of the areas) but Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained locally significant areas. They occur most soils occur in relatively large, shallow depres- often in low-lying lands and in some sloughs. sional areas. They often have thick, dark- Strong Solonetzic Trossachs The coloured A horizons and drab subsurface strong solonetzic Trossachs soil is a moder- colours that include reddish spots and streaks . ately well-drained soil that has a thin, poorly structured A horizon underlain by a tough, Map Units of Trossachs Soils clayey B horizon and saline subsoils. Some of Mainly a mixture of strong Tr2 these strong solonetzic soils are "burn-out" or solonetzic Trossachs and "burn- eroded solodized-solonetz soils under virgin out" soils. The burn-out soils have conditions . A "bum-out" solonetzic soil has had their A horizons partially or little or no A horizon, and consists primarily totally removed by erosion. This map unit of a thin but very tough clayey B horizon at occurs mainly on uncultivated land at the the surface underlain by a strongly saline western boundary of the map area. subsoil. This soil has had part or all of the A Mainly strong solonetzic Trossachs Tr5 horizon removed by erosion. Where it is cul- soils, with poorly drained soils in tivated there has been a redistribution of lower areas. Some of the soils in topsoil across the landscape and mixing of the lower areas of this map unit are A horizon with parts of the upper B horizon. imperfectly drained. This map unit occurs on Ponding is general after moderate rains. very gently sloping, undulating land in the Solodic Trossachs The solodic extreme western part ofthe map area. Trossachs soil is a moderately well- to well- Mainly solodic Trossachs soils, Tr8 drained soil that has a thick (14 to 20 cm) A with strong solonetzic Trossachs horizon underlain by a B horizon that is less soils interspersed. The Tr8 map clayey and not as tough as those of strong unit occurs on very gently sloping, solonetzic Trossachs soils. This soil is most undulating lands in the Tribune to Torquay often found in slightly concave locations in area. the landscape and appears as gray or gray- Mainly strong solonetzic Tros- Trl l brown areas in recently cultivated fields. Sub- sachs soils, with imperfectly soils range from nonsaline to saline. drained strong solonetzic Tros- Imperfectly Drained Solonetzic sachs soils in lower areas. This Trossachs The imperfectly drained solonet- mapunit occurs on very gently sloping, undu- zic Trossachs soil is an imperfectly drained lating landscapes southeast of Torquay. 68 Mainly strong solonetzic Tros- water-holding capacity of about 20 to 25 cm Tr12 sachs soils, with imperfectly in the upper 120 cm of soil. drained solonetzic Trossachs soils Trossachs soils have a low amount of in lower areas, and poorly drained organic matter in the A horizon. They are soils in large, shallow depressions . neutral to slightly alkaline in reaction but surface horizons may be slightly acidic in Combination Map Units areas that are strongly leached. They are low These are mainly areas of Trossachs in available phosphorus but high in available soils that include significant amounts ofsoils potassium. of other associations. More detailed descrip- The solodic Trossachs soils are the tions of the included soils are provided under best Trossachs soils due mainly to the the appropriate Association descriptions . increased depth ofthese soils and their occur- Mainly strong solonetzic Tros- rence in more moist parts of the landscape. TrAq3 sachs soils, with low ridges of Crusting on these soils may, however, cause sandy orthic Asquith soils, and problems with seedling emergence in some saline Asquith soils. The As- years. The strong solonetzic Trossachs soils quith soils occur on sandy, water-lain deposits are somewhat poorer due to the adverse struc- overlying glacial till. This map unit occurs ture and shallow depth of soil. The eroded near Long Creek south of Tribune, and ap- solodized solonetz or "burn-out" is the poorest pears to be a result of local deposition of of the Trossachs soils due to its very adverse sandy sediments. structure. Salinity in this soil can also affect production to varying degrees. Agricultural Properties of Trossachs Soils Trossachs soils generally have a low to Trossachs soils are fair to poor agricul- moderate susceptibility to wind and water ero- tural soils of capability classes 3 to 4, sion. It is important, however, that crop respectively . Their main agricultural limita- residues be conserved carefully through re- tions are a moderate moisture deficit imparted duced tillage or leaving stubble standing, and by the semiarid regional climate and a that other soil conservation practices, such as moderate water-holding capacity, and adverse strip cropping and shelterbelts, be used to soil structure that limits root penetration and provide dependable protection against erosion water infiltration . Where the soil structure is particularly during afallow year or extended particularly severe, these soils are rated as dry periods. These soils are generally slightly agricultural capability class 5. The clay loam stony and occasional clearing of stones is to clay textures results in a moderately high required. TUXFORD (Tu) SOILS Tuxford soils are dominantly Dark Regina Lake Plain. They also occur south of Brown Solonetzic soils formed in clayey the towns ofFillmore and Creelman. Surface textured, nonstony, calcareous water-lain horizons range from weakly acidic to deposits. Most Tuxford soils in the map area moderately alkaline and have silty clay and occur north of Weyburn at the margin ofthe clay textures. Tuxford soils occur on level to 69 very gently sloping undulating landscapes . breaks readily into small, blocky structures The parent material ofthese soils is calcareous that are hard to very hard when dry. It is not and often saline. a common soil in the map area. Imperfectly Drained Solonetzic Kinds of Tuxford Soils Tuxford The imperfectly drained solonetzic The different kinds of Tuxford soils Tuxford soil occurs in lower-lying and depres- are a result of differences in soil drainage or sional areas. This soil receives some runoff wetness, salinity and the degree of develop- from adjacent lands, and remains wet into the ment of solonetzic properties. early growing season because of slow infil- Solonetzic Tuxford The solonetzic tration. It is similar to the solonetzic Tuxford Tuxford soil is a moderately well to well- soil except it often has drab subsurface drained soil that occurs on level to gently colours and reddish spots or streaks . undulating land. This soil has an A horizon Saline Tuxford The saline Tuxford that is about 6 to 10 cm thick, underlain by a soil usually occurs in association with im- clayey, solonetzic B horizon that often perfectly drained Tuxford soils. The salts oc- exhibits a weak columnar structure with dark cur as a white surface crust or as small, white staining due to organic matter leached out of specks within the soil, although salts may not the A horizon. The soils with the toughest B always be visible. horizons occur in lower-lying areas and are Poorly Drained Tuxford Poorly often underlain by saline subsoils. drained Tuxford soils occur in enclosed de- Strong Solonetzic Tuxford The pressions that collect runoff and remain wet strong solonetzic Tuxford soil usually occurs well into the growing season. They occur in on lower slopes. It is a moderately well- relatively large sloughs that usually do not dry drained soil with a dark grayish-brown Ahori- up in wet years. They often have thick, dark- zon, 10 to 15 cm thick, underlain by a thin, coloured A horizons and drab subsurface grayish-coloured, leached horizon which, in colours that include reddish spots and streaks. turn, is underlain by a dark-brown B horizon These soils are most common in areas south of that is characterized by very tough, impervi- Fillmore and Creelman. Many poorly drained ous, columnar structures with distinct round Tuxford soils are also saline. tops. The tops are light-gray to white in colour and the columns are darkly stained Map Units of Tuxford Soils with organic matter leached from the surface Mainly solonetzic Tuxford soils on TO horizons. The B horizon is underlain by a level to very gently undulating moderately calcareous C horizon which may lands, with deeper solodic Tuxford be slightly to moderately saline. soils in concave areas. This map Solodic Tuxford The solodic Tuxford unit is not extensive, occurring in two small soil is a well-drained soil with thicker A and areas in the Regina Lake Plain south of B horizons than the solonetzic Tuxford soil, Colfax. and usually occurs in concave areas in the Mainly solonetzic Tuxford soils on Tu4 landscape. The A horizon overlies a lighter the slightly higher parts of the coloured, leached horizon, and a tough, dark landscape, with a mixture of wet- grayish-brown B horizon. The B horizon is ter, imperfectly drained solonetzic darkly stained by leached organic matter, and Tuxford soils and saline Tuxford soils in low- 70 er areas. This map unit occurs near Cedoux, Mainly a mixture of solonetzic TuEs2 in areas where soil salinity is a serious prob- Tuxford and Estevan soils on lem. level lands, with solonetzic Mainly a mixture of imperfectly Estevan soils on low knolls, and Tu7 drained solonetzic and poorly poorly drained Tuxford soils in depressions . drained Tuxford soils, with The TuEs2 map unit is most common on very solonetzic Tuxford soils on higher gently sloping undulating landscapes. land. The Tu7 map unit includes a high pro- Mainly a mixture of solonetzic TuEs4 portion ofwet soils, and occurs mostly in low- Tuxford and Estevan soils on lying areas south of Fillmore and Creelman. the higher parts of nearly level These lands have large depressional areas or lands, with a mixture of saline sloughs that are usually flooded in spring and Tuxford and Estevan soils in lower areas. The may remain wet through the summer months TuEs4 map unit, like the similar Tu4 map in years with above average rainfall. unit, occurs in areas near Cedoux where soil Mainly solonetzic Tuxford soils, salinity is a serious problem. TO with poorly drained Tuxford soils in lower areas. This map unit is Agricultural Properties of Tuxford Soils similar to Tu7, but has a higher Tuxford soils are at best fair agri- proportion of well-drained land and fewer, cultural soils of capability class 3 . They are usually smaller sloughs. limited by a slight moisture deficit imparted by the semiarid regional climate. Other Combination Map Units Tuxford soils, especially those with a very These are mainly areas of Tuxford dense solonetzic B horizon are poor agricul- soils that include significant amounts of soils tural soils of capability class 4. Tuxford soils of other associations. In this map area, Este- have a silty clay pr clay texture and can store van soils are the only ones that form combina- 25 to 30 cm of water to 120 cm depth. They tions with Tuxford soils. These combinations occur on nearly level land so water erosion is occur in areas that have been covered by lake- usually not considered to be a serious prob- waters in the past, resulting in thin to discon- lem. Tuxford soils have a moderate suscepti- tinuous deposits of clayey, water-lain mate- bility to wind erosion and soil conservation rials. The Estevan soils occur on resorted practices, such as maintenance of crop resi- glacial till, which occupies the slightly higher dues through reduced tillage or leaving parts ofthe landscape. More detailed descrip- stubble standing and strip cropping are tions of the included soils are provided under recommended. Saline soils have a reduced the description of Estevan soils. production potential, and possibilities for Mainly a mixture of solonetzic improvement are limited by their clayey tex- TuEsl and solodic Tuxford soils on ture. Perennial, salt-tolerant forages are re- level lands, with solonetzic commended for the most severely affected Estevan soils on slightly higher areas. gentle upper slopes. The TuEs 1 map unit Management problems and recom- occurs on gently undulating lands west of mended agricultural practices vary with the Weyburn and Fillmore. map unit. The Tul, TuEsl and TuEs2 map 71 units are generally fair agricultural lands, soils when they are too wet. The Tu7 and Tu8 well-suited to large-scale grain farming. Most map units have high proportions ofpoorly and of the solonetzic soils in these areas are not imperfectly drained soils. Cropping poorly strongly developed and do not appear to be drained lands during wet years is usually not more difficult to manage than other clay soils. possible, but many ofthese areas produce well The Tu4 and TuEs4 map units have signifi- in dry years. Similarly, the imperfectly cant amounts of strong solonetzic and saline drained Tuxford soils may be too wet during soils, reducing their potential for agriculture. the early growing season unless drained. Sub- Yields are usually reduced on strong solonet- surface drainage systems do not work well in zic soils in dry years. Careful management of clayey soils unless drainage lines are very those soils with a high proportion of poorly closely spaced, resulting in prohibitively high drained soils is needed to prevent the spread costs. ofsalinity and to avoid cultivation of these WINGELLO (Wg) SOILS Wingello soils are dominantly Dark strongly developed B horizon than the similar- Brown Solonetzic soils formed in fine sandy textured Bradwell soils. loam to loam-textured, nonstony, moderately Solonetzic Wingello The solonetzic calcareous water-lain deposits. Wingello soils Wingello soil is a moderately well-drained have textures similar to Bradwell soils. soil that has a grayish-brown A horizon that is Wingello soils are not common in the map 10 to 12 cm thick underlain by a clayey, fairly area, with local occurrences on the Souris tough solonetzic B horizon. Subsoils are River Plain south of Weyburn and near often saline. . Midale. Wingello soils also occur in map Solodic Wingello The solodic units that are composed mainly of Asquith, Wingello soil is a well-drained soil, that Bradwell and Estevan soils. occurs in concave areas of the landscape, and Wingello soils occur on nearly level to has a thick A horizon, underlain by a thick undulating lands. Surface textures are fine weakly developed solonetzic B horizon. sandy loam, very fine sandy loam and loam. Subsoils may be saline. This soil is the most Surface horizons range from moderately common Wingello soil in the map area. acidic in leached, solodic Wingello soils, to Saline Wingello The saline Wingello moderately alkaline in some saline Wingello soil occurs mostly on lower slopes, often on soils. Parent materials are often saline. lands where sandy deposits overlie glacial till or heavy textured lacustrine materials. These Kinds of Wingello Soils soils appear to be developed in solonetzic The different kinds of Wingello soils soils where soluble salts have moved upwards are the result of the effect topography has in from the subsoil into the B or Ahorizon. The redistributing precipitation and in determining salts occur as a white surface crust or as small, the effect groundwater tables have on soil white specks within the soil, although salts development. Wingello soils have a more may not always be visible. 72 Map Units of Wingello Soils till. Saline and orthic Bradwell soils and Mainly solodic Wingello soils. solonetzic Estevan soils occur locally in this Wg3 This map unit occurs on well- area. drained undulating landscapes with gentle slopes. Some Brad- Agricultural Properties of Wingello Soils well soils may be interspersed. Wingello soils are poor agricultural soils of capability class 4. A hard B horizon Combination Map Units and alow water-holding capacity are the main These are mainly areas of Wingello agricultural limitations of these soils. They soils that include significant amounts of soils have a water-holding capacity of 10 to 16 cm of other associations . More detailed descrip- of water in the upper 120 cm of soil. Saline tions ofthe included soils are provided under Wingello soils are also poor agricultural soils. the appropriate Association description. Where substantial areas of saline soils Mainly solodic Wingello soils, (WgBk5, AqWg5 and BrWg5 map units) WgBk5 with saline Wingello soils in occur, the land is better suited to forage than lower areas, and solonetzic grain production. Salt-tolerant forages should Brooking soils on smooth be included in rotations. uplands. The WgBk5 map unit occurs on Wingello soils are susceptible to wind hummocky landscapes with gentle slopes west erosion. Use of tillage practices that retain of Midale. This area represents a complex stubble residues to protect the soil, minimal mixture ofsaline and solonetzic soils on sandy summerfallow and forage crops in rotation are deposits, sandy deposits over till, and glacial recommended. WHITEWOOD (Wh) SOILS Whitewood soils are dominantly Dark to neutral. Most Whitewood soils in the Gray soils formed in loam to clay loam tex- Moose Mountain occur on moderately to tured, calcareous glacial till. Whitewood soils strongly sloping hummocky topography. occur mostly on Moose Mountain and on lands northeast of Moose Mountain. These Kinds of Whitewood Soils Dark Gray soils are thought to result from The different kinds of Whitewood forest vegetation invading a grassland, soils are mainly the result of the effect resulting in a soil with properties intermediate topography has in redistributing precipitation between the Black soils ofthe grasslands and and in determining soil drainage. Gray soils of forest regions. Orthic Whitewood The orthic White- Surface horizons of Whitewood soils wood soil is a well-drained soil that has a are mostly loam-textured, with some sandy moderately thick, dark-gray A horizon loam in areas with hummocky terrain north of underlain by a brownish B horizon. The B Moose Mountain. Whitewood soils are mod- horizon usually has slightly more clay than erately to very stony, with the clearing of surface horizons, indicating a downward stones required for cultivation. These soils movement of clay during soil formation. have surface horizons that are slightly acidic Uncultivated orthic Whitewood soils 73 occurring under forest vegetation, have a thin, Mainly a mixture of orthic WhWv5 leaf litter horizon overlying the mineral soil. Whitewood and orthic The lower part of the A horizon is lighter in Waitville soils, with poorly colour, indicating the lower organic matter drained soils in depressions. content and leaching typical of Gray soils. The WhWv5 map unit occurs on moderately Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained to strongly sloping hummocky lands in Moose soils occur in depressional areas. These soils Mountain. The gray Waitville soils are a usually have grass, sedge and willow vegeta- result of a longer period ofdevelopment under tion and are not cultivated unless drained. forest vegetation, resulting in a more strongly They often have thick, dark-coloured A hori- developed, forest-type soil than the zons and drab subsurface colours that include Whitewood soils. reddish spots and streaks. Agricultural Properties of Whitewood Soils Map Units ofWhitewood Soils Most Whitewood soils in the maparea, Mainly orthic Whitewood soils. particularly the WhWv5 map unit, not Whl are This map unit occurs on hum- cultivated. Where cultivated, the Whitewood mocky landscapes with moderate soils are considered to be good agricultural to strong slopes. There is one soils of capability class 2, similar to Oxbow large area ofthe Whl map unit, on the eastern soils. They have a slight moisture deficit slopes of Moose Mounlain. This area has imparted by the subhumid regional climate relatively long, east-facing slopes of 6 to 15%, and a moderate water-holding capacity. although most of the slopes are moderately Whitewood soils have water-holding sloping or less than 9%. capacities of about 20 cm of water in the Mainly orthic Whitewood soils, upper 120 cm ofsoil. Organic matter contents Wh5 with poorly drained soils in of Ap horizons .are moderate and generally depressions. This map unit adequate except in some of the more strongly occurs in Moose Mountain, in an leached soils. . Agricultural practices that area with strongly sloping hummocky topo- maintain or increase organic matter are re- graphy. commended. These soils are not particularly susceptible to water erosion. However, their Combination Map Units occurrence on moderately to strongly sloping These are mainly areas of Whitewood lands requires that practices to control water soils that include significant amounts of soils erosion, particularly the formation of gullies, of other associations. More detailed descrip- are used. tions of the included soils are provided under the appropriate Association description. WINDTHORST (Wn) SOILS Windthorst soils are dominantly Black pockets of gravel. Some areas of Windthorst soils formed in complex mixtures of loam- soils are similar to Oxbow soils, but these textured glacial till, and sandy deposits under- areas are much more variable than is typical of lain by glacial till with occasional lenses or Oxbow soil areas. Windthorst soils occur on 74 strongly calcareous materials. Surface hori- Map Units of Windthorst Soils zons are neutral to slightly alkaline and have Mainly orthic Windthorst soils, Wn2 textures that range from loam to sandy loam, with calcareous Windthorst soils and occasionally fine sandy loam. Most ofthe on upper slopes, knolls or ridges, Windthorst soils in the map area occur north and poorly drained soils in of Moose Mountain, on hummocky or depressions. The Wn2 map unit occurs on hummocky ridged landscapes with gentle hummocky or hummocky ridged landscapes slopes. In these areas the ridges or knolls are with gentle to moderate slopes. mostly comprised of sandy till, with sandy deposits overlying till on mid slopes and in Combination Map Units areas between the ridges or knolls. These are mainly areas of Windthorst soils that include significant amounts of soils Kinds of Windthorst Soils of other associations. More detailed descrip- The different kinds of Windthorst soils tions ofthe included soils are provided under are mainly a result of the effect topography the appropriate Association description. has in redistributing precipitation, but are also Mainly a mixture oforthic and WnCd7 influenced by the kind of parent material. calcareous Windthorst soils, Orthic Windthorst The orthic Wind- with a mixture of silty orthic thorst soil is a well-drained soil that has a and carbonated Cudworth black Ahorizon, 10 to 15 cm thick, underlain soils in lower areas, and poorly drained soils by a brownish B horizon where sandy deposits in depressions. This map unit occurs north of overlie the glacial till. This soil occurs on the Moose Mountain in areas with complex middle and lower parts of slopes. mixtures of glacial till, sandy deposits and Calcareous Windthorst The calcar- local, silty deposits. Topography ranges from eous Windthorst soil occurs on upper slopes gently to moderately sloping hummocky. and knolls. This soil has a thin Ahorizon and may have athin, grayish-brown B horizon that Agricultural Properties ofWindthorst Soils contains carbonates . Some eroded Windthorst Windthorst soils are fair agricultural soils may be interspersed, usually occurring lands of capability class 3 . They are limited on sharp knolls. These soils have lost con- by a moderate moisture deficit that is imparted siderable amounts of topsoil through erosion. by a moderate water-holding capacity and the They have light-coloured, calcareous subsoil subhumid regional climate. Their sandy loam mixed into the cultivated layer resulting in a to loam texture has a water-holding capacity grayish surface colour. of 10 to 13 cm ofwater in the upper 120 cm of Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained soil. Organic matter contents are moderate in soils occur in sloughs and low-lying depres- lower slopes, but generally low in upper slope sional areas. These soils have thick, black A or eroded areas. horizons and subsoils with drab grayish col- Organic matter is particularly impor- ours and reddish spots and streaks. These tant in these sandy soils in terms ofsoil fertili- soils are usually too wet for arable agriculture ty and resistance to erosion. Windthorst soils unless drained. are susceptible to both water and wind ero- 75 sion, especially the sandy loam soils. Agricul- crops and their inclusion in rotations is tural practices that reduce tillage and maintain recommended. Forages are particularly im- crop or stubble residue cover are recommend- portant on the moderately sloping lands to ed. Sandier areas are well suited to forage control erosion and enhance organic matter. WEYBURN (Wr) SOILS Weybum soils are dominantly Dark brownish to grayish brown, calcareous B Brown soils formed in loam textured, moder- horizon about 5 to 15 cm thick. These soils ately to strongly calcareous glacial till. The had thin profiles in their virgin condition, and Weyburn Association includes a more restrict- erosion since cultivation has resulted in ed range of soils in the present survey as considerable soil loss. compared to Soil Survey Report No. 12. The Eroded Weyburn The eroded Wey- heavier clay loam textured soils are now burn soil, as the name implies, is a Weyburn included in the Amulet Association, and the soil whose topsoil has been partially or totally lighter, sandy loam and light loam textured removed by erosion. The most strongly soils are part of the Forget Association. eroded Weyburn soils are readily visible as Weyburn soils are moderately to very stony. gray knolls in cultivated fields. Surface horizons are slightly acid to slightly Saline Weyburn The saline Weyburn alkaline and are loam textured. Weyburn soils soil occurs on lower slopes and in areas occur on gently to strongly sloping, hum- adjacent to sloughs. It is not an extensive soil mocky lands in the Souris River Plain and in the map area, but in local areas may be Moose Mountain Upland. significant. The salts occur as awhite surface crust or as small, white specks within the soil, Kinds of Weyburn Soils although salts may not always be visible. The different kinds of Weyburn soil Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained are mainly a result of the effect topography soils are characteristic of wet sloughs or has in redistributing precipitation and deter- depressions that receive runoff from adjacent mining soil drainage. lands. These soils are ponded in spring and Orthic Weyburn The orthic Wey- normally remain wet long enough to prevent bum soil is a well-drained soil that occurs on cultivation unless drained. They often have gentle slopes and on the middle portion of thick, dark-coloured A horizons and drab steeper slopes . It has an Ap horizon that is subsurface colours that include reddish spots about 8 to 12 cm thick, underlain by a brown- and streaks. ish B horizon that is 8 to 20 cm or more in thickness. Map Units of Weyburn Soils Calcareous Weyburn The calcareous Mainly orthic Weyburn soils, with wr2 Weyburn soil occurs on locally dry knolls and a mixture of eroded and calcar- hills and on the upper portions of steep slopes eous Weyburn soils on knolls and where a substantial proportion ofprecipitation upper slopes, and poorly drained runs off. It is a well-drained soil that has a soils in depressions. The Wr2 map unit oc- dark brown Ap horizon, and may have a curs primarily on hummocky landscapes with 76 moderate slopes in the Stoughton Moraine, gentle slopes and lower areas, saline Brooking with local occurrences in the Souris River soils in some lower areas, and poorly drained Plain. soils in lower areas and depressions. The Mainly orthic Weyburn soils, with WrBk5 map unit occurs commonly on Wr4 a mixture of eroded Weyburn hummocky landscapes with gentle to moder- soils on the sharpest hills and ate slopes. The Weyburn and Brooking soils steepest slopes and calcareous have local characteristics described above for Weyburn soils on upper slopes and low the WrBk3 map unit. knolls. The Wr4 map unit is most common on Mainly a mixture oforthic and WrEs5 the Stoughton Moraine west ofMoose Moun- calcareous Weyburn soils on tain, on moderately to strongly sloping hum- mid- to upper slopes, with a mocky, ridged or dissected landscapes. mixture of solonetzic and Mainly orthic Weyburn soils, saline Estevan soils in lower areas, and poorly Wr12 with calcareous Weyburn soils drained soils in depressions. The WrEs5 map on upper slopes and knolls. The unit occurs primarily in the Souris River Plain Wrl2 map unit occurs on undu- near Goodwater. In these areas, and lating landscapes with very gentle to gentle particularly those on rougher topography slopes and hummocky or dissected landscapes (moderately sloping dissected or hummocky), with gentle to moderate slopes, and occasion- the Weybum soils are variable textured with ally on ridged landscapes with gentle slopes. lenses of sand and gravel and are moderately to very stony. The Estevan soils are usually a Combination Map Units loam texture, and include local areas of nearly These are mainly areas of Weyburn stone free, water-lain deposits, with Dark soils that include significant amounts of soils Brown profiles similar to the Weyburn soils. of other associations. More detailed descrip- Mainly amixture of orthic and WrOz2 tions of the included soils are provided under calcareous Weyburn soils on the appropriate Association description. mid- to upper slopes, with W Mainly amixture of orthic and orthic Oxbow soils on gentle rBk3 calcareous Weyburn soils on slopes, and poorly drained soils in depres- mid- to upper slopes, with sions. The Weyburn soils tend to occur on solonetzic Brooking soils on slopes with southern aspects, and the Oxbow gentle slopes and lower areas. The Weyburn soils on slopes with northern aspects. This soils occur mostly on indistinct ridges and combination occurs along the Dark Brown- knolls and are somewhat lighter textured Black zonal soil boundary in the western (loam to sandy loam) and more stony than the portion of the Moose Mountain Upland, on Brooking soils. The Brooking soils in the hummocky landscapes with gentle to moder- WrBk map combinations are usually a loam ate or steep slopes. texture, while they are usually a heavy loam to clay loam texture in other areas. Agricultural Properties ofWeyburn Soils WrBk5 Mainly a mixture of orthic and Weyburn soils are fair agricultural calcareous Weyburn soils on soils of capability class 3 . A moderate mid- to upper slopes, with moisture deficit, imparted by the semiarid solonetzic Brooking soils on regional climate and a moderate water-holding 77 capacity is their main limitation. A Weyburn erosion can be serious on unprotected lands on soil with a loam texture (15 to 20% clay) has gently and moderately sloping landscapes. a water-holding capacity of 12 to 16 cm of The well-drained, orthic Weyburn water in the upper 120 cm of soil. The soils have few limitations to agricultural use. moderate organic matter content is generally The calcareous Weyburn soils, particularly adequate to provide reasonable fertility levels those that have been eroded and occur on and good tilth. Management practices that uplands are locally dry because of runoff, maintain or increase organic matter are have low organic matter contents and fertility encouraged. Clearing of stones is required levels, and are susceptible to erosion. periodically, but stoniness is not a serious The poorly drained soils are usually problem except on some very stony knolls and ponded in spring and remain wet into the steeply sloping lands. The soils are moderate- growing season, preventing annual cropping ly susceptible to wind erosion and manage- in most years. Some of these areas may be ment practices which maintain stubble resi- used for hay and pasture. dues for soil protection are required. Water WHITESAND (Ws) SOILS Whitesand soils are dominantly Black Kinds of Whitesand Soils soils formed in gravelly, moderately to There are several different kinds of strongly calcareous water-lain deposits. Whitesand soils, with their occurrence related Whitesand soils occur mostly on the gravelly to soil drainage, the presence of high water deposits associated with the southern stretches tables and/or soluble salts and the amount of of streams such as Lightning, Gainsborough past soil erosion. . and Moose Mountain Creeks and the Antler Orthic Whitesand The orthic White- River, and in the Antler River Plain. There are sand soil is a well-drained soil that has a also small areas of Whitesand soils in the grayish-black to black Ahorizon underlain by northeastern part of the map area, often in a brownish B horizon. The B horizon is combination with Oxbow soils as in the thickest and best developed where sandy WsOx4 and OxWs2 map units. surface deposits are deepest. This soil occurs Most cultivated .Whitesand soils are on nearly level to undulating land, and on the moderately stony, with large numbers ofsmall middle portions of gentle slopes. Most ofthe stones. Surfaces textures are usually more moisture that is received infiltrates into the sandy than the subsoil, and are usually a soil. gravelly sandy loam but range in texture from Calcareous Whitesand The calcar- gravelly loamy sand to gravelly loam. Surface eous Whitesand soil occurs on low knolls and horizons are neutral to moderately alkaline. ridges, where local soil conditions are drier. Whitesand soils usually occur on very gently This soil is thinner and not as well developed to gently sloping areas that are either undulat- as the orthic Whitesand soil. The calcareous ing, hummocky or dissected. Minor areas of Whitesand soil has a thin grayish- black to moderately sloping ridged lands also occur. black A horizon and may have a thin, calcare- 7s ous grayish-brown B horizon. This soil is Mainly orthic Whitesand soils, WO often more gravelly than those in lower with a mixture of eroded and landscape positions. calcareous Whitesand soils on low Eroded Whitesand The eroded knolls and ridges, and a mixture of Whitesand soil occurs in association with the carbonated and saline Whitesand soils in calcareous VVhitesand soil on low knolls and lower areas. This map unit occurs only in a ridges. This soil has lost sufficient topsoil by few small areas, and is mapped where thin, erosion that the present Ap or cultivated layer gravelly loam textured deposits occur in low- is composed mainly of the gray, calcareous lying land and along very indistinct subsoil. These soils are usually very gravelly. drainageways. Saline Whitesand The saline White- Mainly orthic Whitesand soils, WO sand soils usually occur in lower-lying areas with a mixture of calcareous and where gravel deposits are thin and overlie fin- eroded Whitesand soils on low er textured materials such as glacial till. knolls and ridges. Much of the These lower-lying areas usually have a gravel- Ws7 map unit occurs in the Antler River Plain ly loam texture. The salts occur as a white and along the lower stretches of creeks and surface crust or as small, white specks within rivers in the eastern part of the map area. This the soil, although salts may not always be map unit occurs on undulating or dissected visible. landscapes with very gentle to gentle slopes. Carbonated Whitesand The carbon- The thinner calcareous soils occur in areas ated Whitesand soil has a grayish carbonate- where wind erosion has reduced topsoil depth, rich horizon below a calcareous A horizon. usually on land that is only slightly higher The subsoil horizons may have reddish spots than the rest of the field. In areas with and stains indicative of imperfect soil drain- rougher local topography, the calcareous and age. The carbonated Whitesand soil often oc- eroded soils are found on knolls and ridges. curs in association with saline Whitesand soils. Combination Man Units Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained These are mainly areas of Whitesand soils occur mainly in sloughs and other low- soils that include significant amounts of soils lying depressional areas. They occur in areas of other associations . More detailed descrip- that collect runoff from heavy rains and tions of the included soils are provided under snowmelt, and usually remain wet for much of the appropriate Association description. the growing season. They often have thick, Mainly a mixture of orthic and WsMe2 dark-coloured Ahorizons and drab subsurface calcareous Whitesand soils on colours that include reddish spots and streaks. very gentle slopes and low knolls, with a mixture of car- Map Units of Whitesand Soils bonated, saline or poorly drained Meota soils Mainly orthic Whitesand soils. in lower areas. This map unit occurs mainly Wsl These soils usually have a thin, on undulating landscapes with very gentle surface layer with a loamy sand to slopes, and on hummocky or dissected land- sandy loam texture. scapes with gentle slopes in the Antler River Plain. Saline soils occupy only 5 to 10% of 79 the land, but are a significant limitation on wind erosion. Many ofthese soils were badly land that is marginal for arable agriculture. eroded in the 1930's. The quality of these WsOx4 Mainly a mixture oforthic and soils deteriorates quickly if surface layers are calcareous Whitesand soils on lost by erosion, leaving only the gravelly the slopes and upper parts of subsoil remaining. ridges, with orthic Oxbow Whitesand soils, when used for annual soils intermixed. The orthic Oxbow soils oc- cropping, should be managed with practices cur in areas of glacial till between low, that limit erosion. This includes minimizing gravelly ridges. tillage operations and the maintenance of stubble mulches on the surface to protect the Agricultural Properties of Whitesand Soils soil. Summerfallow should be avoided as Whitesand soils are fair to poor agri- much as possible, particularly since the low cultural soils of capability classes 3 and 4 water-storage capacity of the soil allows for respectively. Their sandy surface textures, the storage of only a small proportion of the coupled with gravelly subsurface textures, precipitation received during a fallow period. result in low to very low water-holding capa- Whitesand soils have less organic matter and cities. The Whitesand soils with gravelly sur- natural fertility than other Black soils such as face textures have a water-holding capacity of Oxbow and relatively high fertilizer inputs are about 8 to 10 cm of water in the upper 120 cm usually required. All areas of Whitesand soils of soil, mostly within the finer textured sur- can benefit from the growth of forage crops face layers. Gravelly loamy sand and gravel such as alfalfa, to limit soil erosion and build have a lower water-holding capacity. The up soil fertility. Diversified fanning opera- Whitesand soils with gravelly sandy loam tions that include livestock make best use of surface layers are also very susceptible to these lands. WAITVILLE (Wv) SOILS Waitville soils are dominantly Gray Kinds of Waitville Soils Luvisol soils formed in loam to clay loam- The kinds ofWaitville soils are mainly textured, calcareous glacial till. Waitville the result of the effect topography has in soils occur on Moose Mountain, under mixed redistributing precipitation and in determining stands ofaspen, birch and ash. soil drainage, and the effect vegetation has on Surface horizons of Waitville soils are soil formation. slightly acidic and loam-textured. Waitville Orthic Waitville The orthic Waitville soils are usually moderately to extremely soil is a well-drained soil, which under stony. Most of the Waitville soils in the map forested conditions, has a thin, leaf litter area occur on strongly sloping hummocky horizon on the mineral soil surface. Under- morainal lands, that have small relatively lying the litter there may be a very thin dark steep knolls and deep depressions intermixed. coloured Ah horizon underlain by a gray, 80 strongly leached, Ae horizon, 7 to 12 cm tions ofthe included soils are provided under thick and a strong brown B horizon 10 to 15 the appropriate Association description. cm thick. The B horizon has a blocky struc- Mainly orthic Waitville soils WvMm2 ture and has a higher clay content (clay loam on steeper slopes, with orthic texture) than the Ae or C horizons. Moose Mountain soils on Poorly Drained Soils Poorly drained smooth uplands, and poorly soils occur in relatively small, steep-sided drained soils in depressions. This map unit in- depressions. They collect surface water from cludes areas with significant amounts of adjacent upper slopes, ponding in early spring clayey water-lain (Moose Mountain) soils but drying up by early summer in most years. interspersed with areas of Waitville soils on These areas have willow and balsam poplar hummocky glacial till. vegetation, or sedges, rushes and reeds where they are wettest. Some of the sloughs persist Agricultural Properties of Waitville Soils through the summer, and are important Waitville soils are fair agricultural waterfowl habitat. They often have thick, soils of capability class 3. Virtually all dark-coloured A horizons and drab subsurface Waitville soils in the map area occur in the colours that include reddish spots and streaks. central part of Moose Mountain, on strongly to steeply sloping morainal lands. These Map Units of Waitville Soils lands remain in forest and have little potential Mainly orthic Waitville soils, with for arable agriculture. The steep topography, Wv2 poorly drained soils in depres- stoniness, and high frequency of sloughs all sions. This mapunit covers much limit agricultural potential. Some Waitville of the central portion of Moose soils have been cleared and seeded to pasture Mountain, on strongly to steeply sloping within the White Bear Indian Reserve. These hummocky landscapes with pronounced areas are reasonably productive grazing lands. knolls and relatively deep depressions. The low organic matter content of the soil results in a structure that makes seedbed Combination Map Units preparation difficult and also makes the soil These are mainly areas of Waitville susceptible to crusting after heavy rains, soils that include significant amounts of soils which could significantly limit these soils if of other associations. More detailed descrip- they are used for the growth of annual crops. 81 6. SOIL CAPABILITY FOR AGRICULTURE The soil capability classification for CLASS 3 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE agricultural use is an interpretive classification MODERATE LIMITATIONS THAT RE- of soils based on limitations affecting their use STRICT THE RANGE OF CROPS OR for production of annual crops. These REQUIRE SPECIAL CONSERVATION limitations are categorized according to degree PRACTICES. or severity and kind of limitation. Degree of limitation is represented by the capability CLASS 4 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE class and kind is represented by the capability SEVERE LIMITATIONS THAT RESTRICT subclass. Capability classes and subclasses THE RANGE OF CROPS OR REQUIRE are briefly outlined below. A complete ex- SPECIAL CONSERVATION PRACTICES planation of the system of soil capability OR BOTH. classification for agriculture is contained in the publication, A Guide to Soil Capability CLASS 5 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE and Land Inventory Maps in Saskatche- VERY SEVERE LIMITATIONS THAT RE- wan. STRICT THEIR USE TO THE PRODUC- TION OF NATIVE OR TAME SPECIES OF Capability Class (Degree of Limitation) PERENNIAL FORAGE CROPS . IM- The mineral soils of Saskatchewan are PROVEMENT PRACTICES ARE FEA- grouped into seven capability classes. Soils SIBLE. rated Class 1 to 3 are considered suitable for sustained production of common, cultivated CLASS 6 SOILS IN THIS CLASS ARE field crops, those rated Class 4 are considered CAPABLE OF PRODUCING NATIVE marginal for sustained production of common, FORAGE CROPS ONLY. IMPROVEMENT cultivated field crops, those rated Class 5 are PRACTICES ARE NOT FEASIBLE. considered capable only of permanent pasture and hay production, those rated Class 6 are CLASS 7 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE considered suitable only for use as native NO CAPABILITY FOR ARABLE AGRI- pasture, and those rated Class 7 are considered CULTURE OR PERMANENT PASTURE. unsuitable for either the production of field crops or for use as native pasture (Table 4). As ageneral rule, in rating each ofthe soils, those considered feasible of im- Table 4. Description of Capability Classes provement by practices that can be made economically by the individual farm operator CLASS 1 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE are classified according to their limitations NO SIGNIFICANT LIMITATIONS IN USE after the improvements are made. Land FOR CROPS. requiring improvement beyond the means of the individual farmer is classified according to CLASS 2 SOILS IN THIS CLASS HAVE its present condition. MODERATE LIMITATIONS THAT RE- The average wheat yields in Saskatche- STRICT THE RANGE OF CROPS OR wan for a ten-year period and potential yields REQUIRE MODERATE CONSERVATION for Classes 1 to 4 are shown in Table 5 . This PRACTICES. data is included to show relative differences in 82 productivity that can be expected between lower capability classes can approach those of these classes under average management . It higher classes, although it should be recog- should be realized that, with superior nized that increasing production may not management and increased inputs, yields from always be economically feasible. Table 5. Estimated Average and Potential Wheat Yields (kg/ac) of Soil Capability Classes in Saskatchewan `Class : 1 955 668 1174 939 2 809 571 996 797 3 668 469 821 619 4 478 336 587 413 Capability Subclass (Kind of Limitation) horizons) that affects the condition of the The capability subclass represents a seedbed, prevents or restricts root growth and grouping of soils that have the same kind of penetration, or adversely affects moisture limitations for crop production. Ifmore than permeability and percolation. one limiting condition is recognized in a Subclass m: Depicts an insufficient particular area, the subclasses are listed in soil water-holding capacity, due to the order of their importance. combined effects ofthe textural characteristics ofthe top 1 m and by the organic matter con- SUBCLASSES - Kind ofLimitation tent of the surface horizon. Subclass n: Depicts excessive soil Climatic Limitations salinity and applies to soils with either high Limitations due to climate are caused alkalinity or a sufficient content of soluble by deficiencies in the amount and distribution salts to adversely affect crop growth or the of precipitation, length of growing season, range of crops which can be grown. frost-free period and amount of heat units available for plant growth. Landscape Limitations Subclass C: Depicts a moisture Limitations due to adverse character- deficiency due to insufficient precipitation. istics ofthe soil landscape. Subclass t: Depicts a limitation in Soil Limitations agricultural use of the soil as the result of Limitations due to soil deficiencies are unfavourable topography. It includes hazards caused by adverse physical, chemical and to cultivation and cropping imposed by in- morphological properties ofthe soil. creasing degree of slope as well as by the Subclass d: Depicts adverse soil irregularity of field pattern and lack of soil structure in the upper layers (A and B uniformity. 83 Subclass w: Depicts a limitation due include local ponding in undrained depres- to excess water caused by either poor soil sions. drainage, a high groundwater table or to seep- age and local runoff. It does not include Agriculture Capability Classification for limitations that are the result of flooding. the Map Area Subclass p: Depicts a limitation Each soil association is given an initial caused by excess stones and it applies to soils soil capability rating based upon limitations of that are sufficiently stony that the difficulty of climate and soil. The initial capability ratings tillage, seeding and harvesting are significant- for each association are given in Table 6. ly increased. When rating soils in the field, however, all Subclass e: Depicts a limitation existing limitations are considered. Any addi- caused by actual damage from wind and/or tional climatic, soil or landscape limitations, water erosion. are taken into account. Thus, the final soil Subclass i: Depicts alimitation due to capability rating reflects all limitations for inundation and applies to soils subjected to climate, soil and landscape and is therefore flooding by lakes or streams, but does not often lower than the initial rating. Table 6. Initial Capability ofthe Soils ofthe Weyburn-Virden Map Area Soi1 Name Am Amulet Dark Brown Chernozemic 3m Ao Arcola Black Chemozemic 2m Aq Asquith Dark Brown Chernozemic 4m Av Alluvium Miscellaneous various Bg Biggar Dark Brown Chemozemic 4-6m Bk rBrooking Dark Brown Solonetzic 3md,4d Br Bradwell Dark Brown Chemozemic 3m Cd Cudworth Black Chernozemic 2m CL Crooked Lake Black Chernozemic 3p Es Estevan Dark Brown Chemozemic 3md,4d Ew Elstow Dark Brown Chernozemic 3m Fg Forget Dark Brown Chemozemic 3m Fe Fremantle Black Chemozemic 2m Gd Grandora Dark Brown Solonetzic 4md Gv I Gapview ~ Black Chernozemic 3m 84 _ _ Initial Association, Soil Name , Soil Zone and Order Capability, Hb Hillsborough Dark Brown Chernozemic Dark Brown Solonetzic 5p Hm Hamlin Black Chernozemic 2m,3m Hw Hillwash Various 6t Hy Hanley Dark Brown Solonetzic 3md,4d Me Meota ' Black Chernozemic 3m Mm Moose Mountain Gray Luvisolic 3d MSp Mine Spoils Various - Mw Meadow Gleysolic 5-7w No North Portal Dark Brown Solonetzic 3m Ox Oxbow Black Chernozemic 2m Ph Pheasant Rump Black Chernozemic 2m Ra Regina Dark Brown Chernozemic 2C Rb Roughbark Dark Brown Chernozemic 3m,4mp Ru Rouleau Gleysolic 3w Rw Runway Various - Sf Swift Creek Black Chernozemic 3m,4m Su Sutherland Dark Brown Chernozemic 2C Sx Short Creek Various 6t Tr Trossachs Dark Brown Solonetzic 3md,4-5d Tu Tuxford Dark Brown Solonetzic 3md,4d Wg Wingello Dark Brown Solonetzic 4md Wh Whitewood Dark Gray Chernozemic 2m Wn Windthorst Black Chernozemic 3m Wr Weyburn Dark Brown Chernozemic 3m Ws Whitesand Black Chernozemic 3-4m Wv Waitville Gray Luvisolic 3d 9 85 7. SOIL SALINITY Soil salinity occurs to varying extents Development of Saline Soils and degrees in areas throughout the Weyburn Most of the soluble salts present in our map area and is a concern to many farmers. soils come from two sources. Many originate Some sandy and gravelly, well drained areas from the chemical and physical weathering are completely devoid of saline soils while and breakdown of the minerals that comprise other, often low lying, areas contain extensive the soil and geologic materials of the area. saline soils. Given the proper conditions, Others originated millions of years ago when saline soils are a natural product of soil much of the area, which now constitutes the formation. Understanding these conditions prairie provinces, was covered by huge inland can give clues as to management practises that seas. These seas deposited great amounts of may modify the conditions, and which may soluble salts in their sediments. Eventually help to ameliorate salinity in certain areas. these seas disappeared but the salt-rich The following discussion comprises a sediments became a part of the material in brief description of the nature and origin of which our soils have formed. While most saline soils and general management methods soils in the area have salts associated with the for saline soils. materials as discussed above, it is usually only through processes that move and concentrate Properties of Saline Soils these salts that soil salinity -problems occur. A saline soil is a soil with sufficient Most salts are soluble in water, so amounts of water soluble salts to inhibit the groundwater flow systems are a major path- uptake of moisture by plants. This inhibition way for the removal, transport and concentra- ofwater uptake results in moisture stress and tion of these salts within the landscape. In reduced plant growth. The most common well-drained portions of the landscape, most soluble salts in Saskatchewan soils are magne- of the soluble salts have been removed from sium and sodium sulphates. Calcium sul- the plant rooting zone by infiltration of phates also occur but are not as easily dis- precipitation. In areas where drainage is im- solved and are less harmful. Calcium, magne- peded, soluble salts may be concentrated and sium and sodium chlorides may also be may cause soil salinity problems. present. Soil salinity results when there is The presence of saline soils can often removal of water from the soil in excess of be recognized by bare spots in the crop or as movement of water into the soil. Generally in uneven stands ofgrain or forage. Very strong- situations where this occurs there is a water ly saline soils usually develop awhite surface table near enough to the . soil surface that crust during dry weather. Where less salt is capillary rise of water from the water table is present, the soil is grayish in colour when dry able to supply water for evaporation to the soil and the subsoil often has streaks or specks of surface or rooting zone. salt at a depth of 5 to 25 cm or deeper. In some cases, it may not be possible to see the salt and a soil analysis must be carried out. 86 Management of Saline Soils Onemethod ofachieving this objective Saline soils should be managed in such is to use precipitation where it falls preventing a way as to either prevent further spread or it from entering the groundwater system. intensification of the problem and where Extending the cropping rotation in saline areas possible to reclaim land which has already will cycle more precipitation through crops become salinized. Since most of the salinity rather than allowing it to reach the water table. is the result of groundwater movement, the This practice is most effective in areas of key to control lies in the effective manage- recharge where water that reaches the water ment of groundwater flow and water table table is very often responsible for soil salini- levels. Table 7 . The Relative Tolerance of Common Field Crops to Soil Salinity. (Differences ofone or two places in the ranking may not be significant.) Degree of Salinity Tolerated (Electrical Conductivity)` Nonsaline to Moderately Strongly to Weakly Saline Saline Very Strongly Saline (0-4) (4 = 8) (8-16) Annual - Field Crops Soybeans Canola Barley may produce some crop but 'I Field Beans Mustard this land is best suited to tolerant Fababeans Wheat forages. I Peas Flax _ Corn Fall Rye' Sunflowers Oats Barley' Sugar Beets Forage Crops Red Clover Reed Canary Altai Wild Rye Alsike Meadow Fescue Russian Wild Rye Timothy Intermediate Wheat Slender Wheatgrass° Crested Wheat Tall Wheatgrassb Brome Alfalfa Sweetclovera ° These crops not tolerant of flooding, which is common in some saline areas. b Under dry conditions, slender wheatgrass is more tolerant than tall wheatgrass. ° Electrical conductivities determined on a saturated paste basis. When determined by the 1 :1 soil:water method, these limits will be reduced to almost 40% ofsaturated paste values for sandy soils, 45% for loamy soils and 55% for clay soils. For example, a loamy soil with an electrical conductivity of5 determined on a 1 :1 basis is equiva- lent to an electrical conductivity ofapproximately 11, when determined on a saturated paste basis. Salinity levels are expressed in decisiemens per metre. Note: 1 dS/m (SI System) = 1 mmho/cm (Imperial System). 87 zation on lower slopes. Saline soils should be ering the water table and reducing soil cropped continuously or seeded to long-term salinity. These drainage installations are most forage crops. High moisture use crops will effective in relatively permeable materials intercept incoming groundwater and may affected by shallow water tables. Subsurface lower the water table. drainage may be costly and potential sites Crop production on saline soils may need to be studied and water tables monitored also be improved by using farmyard manure for a period of time to determine the or green manure, growing salt tolerant crops feasibility ofthis drainage method to produce and improving surface or subsoil drainage. the desired results. Fertilizer mayhelp if soils are weakly or mod- Drainage of water ponded in sloughs erately saline. The choice of crops which can may be beneficial in controlling soil salinity. be grown on saline soils should be based on a In some areas, the source of water entering the soil test. Table 7 indicates the relative toler- shallow groundwater flow systems is the ance of the common agricultural crops to water ponded in these sloughs. saline soil conditions. It must be recognized, Drainage of any type, however, re- however, that even though a crop is con- quires an approved permit. In Saskatchewan, sidered to be tolerant to a specified degree of anyone installing drainage works maybe held salinity, some yield reduction can be expected. responsible for any subsequent damage caused On some soils the use of subsurface by the drained water. drainage installations may be effective in low- Further information on soil salinity and drainage can be found in the publication: The Nature and Management of Salt-Affected Land in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Agriculture, Soils and Crops Branch (AGDEX 518, January, 1987) 88 8. SOLONETZIC SOILS AND DEEP TILLAGE The following section is largely soils. Crops usually have a wavy appearance adopted from M.M. Boehm in Deep Tilla.,e of reflecting the poor growth on the solonetzic Solonetzic Soils, Publication M88, Saskatche- soils. wan Institute of Pedology. The A horizon of solonetzic soils is often Solonetzic soils occur extensively shallow and, because of poor plant growth on throughout the western part ofthe Weyburn - these soils, is low in organic matter. It is Virden map area. Areas that include Brook- often underlain by a gray layer, called an Ae ing, Estevan, Hanley, North Portal, Trossachs, horizon, from which clay and organic matter Tuxford and Wingello soils have a large have been leached into the B horizon. The A proportion of solonetzic soils in the landscape and Ae horizons are usually acid in reaction. and may have some potential for deep tillage. Crop yields can be negatively affected by acid Other soils such as Forget, Hillsborough and pH values of5 .5 or less. Alluvium, may have some solonetzic soils but Cultivation of solonetzic soils often these occur less frequently in the landscape, or causes mixing ofthe shallow A and Ae hori- may be associated with saline soils, and are zons with the B horizon. This results in a not usually suitable for deep tillage. surface that is prone to the formation of large Deep tillage is aremedial action some- clods or to crusting that inhibits seedling times taken to try to improve the agricultural emergence. These areas usually have a gray productivity on solonetzic soil areas. This surface colour and poor crop growth. section outlines the effects of deep tillage treatment and provides information on the The Effects of Deep Tillage types ofsoils which mayrespond positively to Twotypes ofmechanical treatment are treatment. Most soils do not require deep most common - deep plowing and deep tillage treatment. Those most likely to benefit ripping (subsoilirig). The deep plow is a are solonetzic soils, because deep tillage can single bottom moldboard plow with a blade ameliorate the adverse structural problems of capable of working to a depth ofabout 70 cm. the solonetzic B horizon. Deep tillage A deep ripper is a heavy cultivator-like imple- research is being done in various areas in ment, commonly with three to five shanks that Saskatchewan, but few long-term results are can work to about 70 cm in depth. The pri- available. mary function of deep tillage is to physically break up the dense B horizon. Thus, the depth Characteristics of Solonetzic Soils to which the soil is tilled should be greater The B horizons of solonetzic soils than the thickness of the A and B horizons. have ahigh sodium concentration. Because of Disruption of the B horizon, increases the the dispersive affect of sodium, the B horizon depth of soil that plant roots can penetrate. It is dense and impermeable and acts as a barrier also allows greater infiltration and percolation to the downward movement of water and to of water through the soil profile. root penetration. The volume of soil which Deep plowing mixes the A, B and C the plant roots can exploit for moisture and horizons, resulting in incorporation of subsoil nutrients is, therefore, generally restricted to lime (calcium) into the soil surface. The in- the A horizon. As a result, moisture and crease in lime at the soil surface is important nutrient stress commonly occur in solonetzic for two reasons. Firstly, it results in an 89 increase in the pH ofthe soil surface. As well, tillage treatment should contain mainly calcium is capable ofreplacing sodium on the solonetzic soils. soil particles, so that the sodium is carried out Not all solonetzic soils will benefit of the surface soil and into the subsoil with from deep tillage and treatment of unsuitable infiltrating water. soils can result in no yield increase, in yield The long shanks of the deep ripper lift reduction or in irreparable soil damage. This and shatter the B horizon, but little horizon is especially true of deep plowing which mixing occurs and little calcium is brought to drastically disturbs the soil. Loss of stored the soil surface. The B horizon permeability soil moisture can occur after deep plowing, and depth of rooting tend to increase after since subsoil material is exposed at the soil deep ripping, but little chemical amelioration surface. In the most arid regions of the occurs at the surface. province, the chance of yield reduction due to Deep plowing of solonetzic soils can moisture stress after deep tillage is relatively result in yield increases. Less research has high. It may take precipitation from several been done on deep ripping, however it appears growing seasons to recharge the soil profile, that yield increases can be achieved, although so that the chance of yield increase due to they tend to be smaller than those of deep deep plowing may be postponed for several plowing. years. In the most humid regions of the Yield increases on deep tilled fields province, where moisture is not limiting, yield compared to untreated fields tend to be great- increases due to deep tillage may be relatively est in relatively dry years. This indicates that small since there will not be a response to the treatment increases the moisture storage increased soil moisture storage capacity. capacity of the soil and that plant roots are Several. soil properties, discussed able to penetrate the shattered B horizon to below, should be carefully checked before a utilize the stored moisture. final decision to deep till a soil is made. It The soil surface will require cultiva- may be advisable to consult a soil or agricul- tion after treatment, especially after deep ture specialist before deciding to deep till. plowing, to break down large clods. Depend- ing on the moisture conditions at the time of Parent Material Texture tillage, the deep tilled surface may range from To achieve maximum yield increases being only rough to being covered with large from deep tillage treatment, leaching of chunks of hard B horizon and subsoil. Thus, sodium salts from the soil surface and establishment of a seed bed in the year follow- increased soil moisture storage in the B ing deep tillage treatment may be difficult. horizon must occur. Clay textured soils Most reports indicate that this problem lessens generally have low permeability values and over time. sodium removal by leaching may be impeded in these soils. Sandy soils have a very low Criteria for Determining Suitability of water holding capacity, and crops grown on Solonetzic Soils for Deep Tillage these soils are often subject to moisture stress. Soils which are not solonetzic do not Because of their aridity, even relatively low require deep tillage treatment, and long term levels of sodium or other salts can have a yield increases are not likely to result from pronounced negative effect on crop yield. such treatment. Areas selected for a deep Deep tillage of clay and sand textured soils is not recommended. 90 Salinity layer occurs within 40 cm ofthe soil surface, Deep tillage ofsaline soils mayworsen and plowing is done to 60 cm, sufficient lime rather than ameliorate the problem of salinity. will be incorporated into the surface to Saline soils usually occur on moist lower facilitate the removal and leaching of sodium. slopes or in depressions where the net move- If the lime layer occurs at depths greater than ment of water and soluble salts is toward the 60 cm, deep tillage is not likely to be as soil surface. Thus, leaching of sodium out of effective. the soil surface is not possible and subsoil salts brought to the surface by deep tillage will Depth to B Horizon remain there. Soils with an electrical conduc- The solonetzic B horizon restricts root tivity of greater than 4 mS/cm within the penetration and water infiltration and thus upper 30 cm and greater than 8 mS/cm from reduces crop yield. This is most pronounced 30 to 60 cm should not be deep tilled. where the B horizon is relatively shallow, about 30 cm or less. Deep tillage of soils with Stones a shallow B horizon will result in a larger Deep tillage, especially deep plowing, yield increase than deep tillage of soils in tends to bring stones within the plow layer to which the B horizon is deeper and less of a the surface. In areas with a large volume of restriction to plant growth. subsurface stones, stone clearing may be required after tillage. Implement damage can Drainage also occur if large stones are present within Poorly or imperfectly drained soils are the plow layer. A field check for stones not recommended for deep tillage. Since within 0 to 60 cm should be done before a these soils are usually saturated for part ofthe final decision to till is made. year, it is unlikely that a yield response to increased moisture storage will occur after Topography tillage. Further, 'subsoil salts brought to the The increased power required to deep surface may be maintained there because the till on slopes of about 10 percent or greater net direction of soil water movement in these may be a deterrent to tillage of rough land- soils tends to be upward. scapes . The probability of slope instability and soil erosion also increases in proportion to Surface pH slope steepness. Decisions about whether or This criterion applies only to deep not to deep till on sloping landscapes will plowing treatments. The A horizon of solo- depend on the power available and the netzic soils may be acid in reaction, with apH assessed risk of soil erosion after tillage. of 5 .5 or less. pH values in that range can negatively affect crop yields. The incorpor- Depth to Lime ation of subsoil lime will result in an increase This criterion is especially important in surface pH and may partially account for a for deep plowing, which requires that lime be yield increase following deep plowing. intorporated into the soil surface. If the lime 91 9. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF SOIL PROFILES INDEX TO SOIL PROFILES Page Amulet Association Orthic Dark Brown...... 92 Calcareous Dark Brown...... 93 Arcola Association Orthic Black...... 94 Brooking Association Dark Brown Solod...... 95 Dark Brown Solonetz...... 96 Solonetzic Dark Brown...... 97 Estevan Association Dark Brown Solonetz...... 98 Forget Association Solonetzic Dark Brown...... 99 Hanley Association Dark Brown Solod...... 100 Solonetzic Dark Brown...... 101 Meota Association Calcareous Black...... :...... 102 Moose Mountain Association Orthic Gray Luvisol...... 103 North Portal Association Dark Brown Solod...... 104 Oxbow Association Orthic Black...... 105 Calcareous Black...... :...... 106 Rego Black...... :...... 107 Pheasant Rump Association Rego Black...... 108 Short Creek Association Rego Dark Brown...... 109 Trossachs Association Dark Brown Solonetz...... 110 Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz...... Ill Whitewood Association Orthic Dark Gray...... 112 Weyburn Association Orthic Dark Brown...... 113 Whitesand Association Orthic Black...... 114 Waitville Association Orthic Gray Luvisol...... 115 92 Amulet Association, Orthic Dark Brown Ap 0-10 38 31 31 20 7.5 2.18 23.3 21 .1 4.4 1 .6 0.2 0.7 4.0 2.5 1 .1 0.7 0.2 1 .0 Bm 10- 33 42 33 25 16 7.6 1 .18 3.5 22.8 0.6 0.3 0.6 3.3 2.5 0.1 1.0 0.2 0.7 Ccal 33- 55 40 33 26 17 7.7 0.70 17 .8 14 .9 0.4 1 .1 1.2 1 .5 2.9 0.2 9.0 0.6 4.5 Cca2 55- 80 36 35 29 17 8.0 13 .4 15 .9 0.6 2.7 1.6 0.8 2.0 0.5 12.2 1 .0 7.4 Cks1 80-115 31 35 33 13 7.7 6.5 16 .4 0.8 4.9 11 .0 18.8 49.3 0.9 83.9 4.3 145.8 Cks2 115-140 32 36 32 17 7.6 6.8 16 .7 0.8 2.9 11 .7 18.8 49.3 0.9 92.4 5.9 14S .8 Cks3 140-150 33 36 30 16 7.7 6.6 16 .3 0.8 2.8 11 .0 17.5 45.2 0.9 83.9 4.9 145 .8 93 Amulet Association, Calcareous Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 9 lOYR 3/2 10YR 4/2 Weak to moderate, fine to medium Loam granular Bmk 9 - 28 10YR 3/3 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Weak, medium angular blocky Clay loam Ccal 28- 40 , 2.5Y 6/3 Weak ; medium prismatic Loam Cca2 40- 55 2.5Y 6/3 Clay loam Ckl 55- 85 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam Cksl 85-125 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam Cks2 125-145 2.5Y 3.5/2 Clay loam Cks3 145-165 2.5Y 3.5/2 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANG EABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaC0, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K cm a Mg K Na l 04 SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0 - 9 40 36 24 15 7.3 2.34 0.5 23.7 14 .8 5.2 1 .7 0.2 0.8 5.0 3 .3 1 .3 0.8 0.4 1.8 Bmk 9 - 28 38 33 28 20 7H.5 1 .47 3.1 24.1 26.3 6.4 0.7 0.2 0.5 4.0 2.5 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.8 Ccal 28- 40 34 45 21 15 7.7 0.92 23.7 8.1 0.3 0.2 0.6 2.5 3.7 0.1 1 .0 1 .0 0.6 Cca2 40- 55 33 37 30 17 7.8 21 .9 15 .4 0.4 0.5a 0.6 1.8 3 .3 0.2 2.1 0.6 0.8 Ckl 55- 85 34 36 30 17 7.9 11 .1 18.0 0.6 1 .3 2.1 4.3 14.8 0.4 11 .5 0.2 26.0 Cks1 85-125 33 37 30 17 7.7 9.5 12 .0 0.7 2.0 6.6 21.0 61.7 1 .1 35.4 0.6 91 .7 Cks2 125-145 33 36 32 13 7.6 6.5 14 .4 0.8 2.4 7.2 20.5 69.9 1 .3 41 .3 0.6 145 .8 Cks3 145- 165 33 34 33 14 7.6 6.6 13 .5 0.8 2.3 7.1 20.5 69.9 1 .3 41 .1 0.7 125 .0 94 Arcola Association, Orthic Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 10 lOYR 2.5/1 .5 Weak, fine granular Clay loam Btj 10- 19 IOYR 3.5/3 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, fine Clay loam subangularblocky BCk 19- 28 l0YR 5/3 Weak, fine subangular blocky Silty clay loam Cca ' 28- 42 2.5Y 6/4 Silty clay loam Cca2 42- 60 2.5Y 6/4 Silty clay loam Ckl 60- 90 2.5Y 5/3 Silty clay loam Ck2 90-120 2.5Y 5/3 Silty clay loam Ck3 120-135 2.5Y 5/3 Silty clay IICk 135-160 2.5Y 4/4 Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL INE . Ca Mg K Na cm Ca Mg K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-10 21 47 32 18 7.6 3.10 28.4 0.8 Btj lo- 19 20 41 38 26 7.7 2.10 7.8 25.1 0.6 BCk 19- 28 16 48 37 28 7.8 0.60 15.8 22.6 0.6 Cca 28- 42 12 53 35 22 8.0 26.4 17.8 0.6 Cca2 42- 60 12 55 33 15 8.2 24 .9 17.0 0.6 Ck 60- 90 11 59 31 12 8.3 23 .7 14.8 1.3 Ck2 90-120 11 59 30 11 8.2 20.9 14.1 2.0 Ck3 120-135 11 59 30 11 8.2 19.1 14.2 2.0 IICk 135-160 13 54 33 14 8.0 17.1 16.3 2.1 95 Brooking Association, Dark Brown Solod MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0- 10 IOYR 4.5/2 lOYR 4.5/2 Weak, fine granular Loam Ae 10- 20 lOYR 3.5/4 lOYR 5/3 Weak, medium platy Loam AB 20- 28 lOYR 3.5/4 l0YR 5/2 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Very weak, coarse platy Loam Bntl 28- 44 lOYR 2.5/1 2.5Y 3/1 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate, medium angular blocky Clay loam Bnt2 44- 58 IOYR 3.5/3 2.5Y 5.5/2 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate, coarse angular blocky Loam .- Cksal 58- 80 2.5Y 4.5/4 2.5Y 6.5/2 Structureless Clay loam Cksa2 80-100 2.5Y 4.5/4 2.5Y 6/2 Structureless Clay loam Ckl 100-130 2.5Y 4/3 2.5Y 6/2 Loam Ck2 130-160 2.5Y 4/3 2.5Y 6/3 Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/[ ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g .C. ZON (cm) H % . % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE Ca Mg K a cm Ca Mg K CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-10 49 33 18 12 6.0 2.50 7.5 2.8 1.3 0.2 0.3 Ae 10- 20 49 34 17 12 5.7 0.90 4.5 3.3 0.5 0.2 0.3 AB 20- 28 44 40 16 10 6.0 0.80 3.5 4.5 0.3 0.4 0.6 Bntl 28- 44 32 38 30 17 7.5 1.50 4.0 16.8 0.8 2.2 0.9 Bnt2 44- 58 46 30 24 3 8.0 0.40 3.4 14 .7 11.7 0.6 1 .7 8.0 Cksal 58- 80 37 32 31 17 8.2 14.5 0.5 2.0 - 10.2- Cksa2 80-100 38 33 30 16 8.1 16.8 0.5 1 .8 8.9 Ckl 100-130 44 30 26 13 8.2 14.9 0.5 2.1 5.4 Ck2 130-160 8.2 10.0 0.5 2.3 5.7 96 Brooking Association, Dark Brown Solonetz MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTUREi Ap 0 - 10 l0YR 3/2 l0YR 4.5/25/2 Moderate, fine to medium granular Clay loam Bnt 10 - 22 IOYR 4/3 Moderate, medium subangular blocky Clay loam Ccasal 22- 50 2.5Y 5/4 Blocky, structureless Clay Ccasa2 50- 70 2.5Y 5/4 Structureless Silty clay loam Cksl 70- 95 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Clay loam Cks2 95-115 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Clay loam Cks3 115-137 2.5Y 3.5/2 Structureless Clay loam Cks4 137-160 2.5Y 3.5/2 Structureless Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE CATIONS WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE me/I00 g me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY E.C. ZON (cm) TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE H % % me/100g Ca Mg K Na ms/ Mg K Na CI O, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY cm Ap 0-10 33 40 27 13 6.7 2.21 21 .8 8.0 6.2 1 .6 0.4 0.7 2.3 3.7 1 .1 2.0 0.2 2.6 Brit 10- 22 36 28 36 23 7.4 1 .16 1 .2 28 .2 17 .0 14 .0 1 .1 1 .7 2.9 11 .3 14.0 0.5 14.8 0.3 39.6 Ccasal 22- 50 27 37 36 21 7.6 0.56 14.1 17 .4 0.6 2.4 6.0 23a.8 37.8 0.6 39.1 0.5 107.3 Ccasa2 SO- 70 20 49 32 17 7.8 14.8 19 .3 0.8 4.1 6.0 6.0 30.4 0.6 50.7 0.5 90.6 Cksl 70- 95 25 41 33 13 7.6 11.8 18 .8 0.9 4.7 8.9 21 .5 69.9 l .0 71 .3 0.4 166.7 Cks2 95- 115 30 37 33 21 7.7 8.5 19 .5 0.9 4.7 9.2 20.5 74.0 1.0 74.8 0.5 167 .7 Cks3 115- 137 29 40 31 17 7.7 8.8 23.0 0.9 4.7 9.9 20.5 74.0 l.0 83 .0 0.6 156.3 Cks4 137-160 26 43 31 16 7.7 8.6 17.9 0.9 5.0 10.2 20.5 78.1 1.1 86.1 0.8 177 .1 97 Brooking Association, Solonetzic Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 10 l0YR 3/1 .5 lOYR 4.5/2 Weak, fine granular Loam Bntj 10- 22 . , l0YR 3/3 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate, medium angular blocky Clay loam BC 22- 34. lOYR 4/3 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Weak, medium angular blocky Clay loam Cca 34- 52 2.5Y 5/4 2.5Y 6.5/2 , Clay loam Ck 52- 85 2.5Y 3.5/3 Clay Cksl 85-120 2.5Y 3.5/3 Clay loam Cks2 120-150 2.5Y 3 .5/3 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHAN GEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaC0, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K cm a g K Na I SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-10 44 34 26 20 7.2 .2 .28 23 .0 14 .5 5 .8 1.7 0.1 0.9 4.5 3.7 1.4 0.5 0.2 1 .2 Bnij 10- 22 - 37 30 33 27 7.3 0.86 . 0.8 23 .3 12 .0 9.9 1 .0 0.3 0.4 2.0 2.1 0.2 0.9 0.6 0.8 BC 22- 34 36 31 33 24 7.5 0.77 4.7 22 .4 20.7 10.3 0.7 0.4 0.5 2.0 2.9 0.2 1 .4 0.8 1 .0 Cca 34- 52 33 34 33 24 7.8 23.5 17 .9 0.5 1 .3 0.6 0.8 1 .6 0.2 5.3 0.2 1O,.0 Ck 52- 85 25 32 43 28 7.9 11 .4 . 21 .0 0.8 1.3 4.4 4.6 16.4 0.7 31.1 1.2 41.7 Cks1 85-120 31 33 36 22 7.7 8.6 17 .0 0.9 5.2 8.6 , 21 .8 53.4 1.2 59.3 0.6 114.6 Cks2 120-150 32 33 35 24 7.5 8.0 16 .0 0.9 3.3 9.5 21.5 57.6 1.2 62.8 1.6 83.3 98 Estevan Association, Dark Brown Solonetz MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHE N MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 8 10YR 3/2 lOYR 5/2 Weak, fine granular Clay loam Brit 8 - 24 l0YR 3/3 Weak to moderate, fine subangular blocky Silty clay loam Ccasal 24- 36 2.5Y 5/4 Structureless Silty clay clay Ccasa2 36- 50 2.5Y 5/4 Structureless Silty Silty clay CkI 50- 80 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Ck2 80- 95 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Silty clay Ck3 95-150 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Silty clay IICk 150 - Structureless Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K cm a Mg K Na CI O, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0 - 8 28 42 31 l9 7.3 1 .84 25 .7 16 .5 5.6 l.5 0.4 0.8 4.5 2.5 0.7 1 .7 0.6 l.0 Bnt 8 - 24 7.7 1 .09 0.4 28.7 12 .5 13.5 1.2 3.9 1 .7 2.0 1 .6 0.2 1 1 .3 1 .5 8.3 Ccasal 24- 36 15 42 43 28 7.8 0.67 6.5 23.8 0.8 3 .7 9.6 20.8 53.5 0.4 85.7 5.6 166 .7 Ccasa2 36- 50 14 44 42 29 7.9 9.6 23.7 0.7 3.9a 12.6 20.0 82.2 0.4 121 .7 7.9 218.8 239.6 Ckl 50- 80 11 47 42 31 7.9 11 .8 26.9 0.6 3.9 14.2 18.8 94.6 0.4 137.0 9.9 11.0 239 .6 Ck2 80- 95 5 54 41 25 7.8 10.4 22.1 0.6 4.7 14.2 20.0 86.3 0.3 132 .6 130 .4 11 .3 229.2 Ck3 95-150 2 57 4l 23 7.7 9.7 21 .6 0.6 4.5 13.9 21 .8 90.4 0.4 .3 3.1 114 .6 IlCk 150- 41 32 27 14 7.5 8.3 16 .3 0.7 3 .0 9.1 20.0 53.5 0.9 54 99 Forget Association, Solonetzic Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 12 IOYR 2.5/1 .5 lOYR 4/1' .5 Weak, fine granular Fine sandy loam A B 12- 23 lOYR 0/0 Strong, coarse prismatic Moderate, coarse platy Fine sandy loam Btnj1 23- 40 IOYR 0/0 Moderate, coarse prismatic Moderate to strong, medium Loam to coarse angular blocky Btnj2 40- 75 lOYR 0/0 Moderate, coarse prismatic Moderate, coarse angular Fine sandy loam blocky IICca 75- 95 2.5Y 5/4 Sandy clay loam IICkI 95-120 2.5Y 4/4 --- Clay loam . . ,td~.-. IICksa2 120-140 2.5Y 4/3 ~ ~ Clay loam:_ , ~ IICks3 140-160 2.5Y 3/3. " Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SO IONS % ORGANIC CaCO3 EXCHANGE CATIONS m HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ . TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K a c , a Mg K I SO; SAND SILT CLAY CLAY ' Ap . 0 - 12 A B 12- 23 57 28 15 8 6.4 1 .04 12 .0 5.5 2.9 0.5 0.1 0.4 LUBLEe/I, Btnj1 23- 40 51 29 20 11 6.4 1 .01 16 .1 6.0 10 .0 0.5 0.1 0.3 2.7 - Btnj2 40- 75 73 11 16 13 6.7 0.29 10 .0 2.5 4.1 0.3 0.1 0.3 0.0 Na IICca 75- 95 49 23 27 17 7.6 14 .4 14 .0 0.4 0.4 5.8 20.8 66.7 14.6 79.2 IICkl _ } .95-120 45 28 27 14 7.8 11 .7 14 .4 0.5 0.6 6.8 19.1 91 .5 19.1 2.1 114 .9 IICksa2 120-140 41 30 29 16 7.8 10 .7 15 .8 0.5 0.6 - - 6.3 21.2 73.1 17.3 103 .8 IICks3 140-160 40 31 30 17 0.5 0.5 6.0 22.0 70.0 2.0 16.0 2.0 80.0 100 Hanley Association, Dark Brown Solod MORPHOLOGI CAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 13 lOYR 4.5/2 Weak, fine to medium granular Clay loam Ae 13- 28 l0YR 4.5/1 Moderate, medium platy Silt loam AB 28- 40 lOYR 3/1 Moderate, fine to medium subangular blocky Silty clay loam Bntl 40- 52 l0YR 2/1 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate to strong, medium to coarse Silty clay subangular blocky Bnt2 42- 66 10YR 2/1 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate to strong, medium to coarse Silty clay subangularblocky Bsa 66- 80 2.5Y 3/2 Moderate, medium subangular blocky Silty clay Cksa 80-105 2.5Y 5/3 Clay loam IICkI 105-130 2.5Y 4/2 Clay loam IICk2 , 130-150 2.5Y 4/2 Loam IICk3 150-165 2.5Y 4/2 Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/] ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL INE Ca Mg K Na cm Ca Mg K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-13 21 44 35 22 7.5 2.60 24.7 Ae 13- 28 16 59 26 11 7.0 3.10 20.4 AB 28 - 40 16 51 33 22 6.9 2.50 24.2 Bntl 40 - 52 13 46 41 26 7.3 1.80 25 .9 Bnt2 52- 66 11 45 44 31 7.6 1 .40 28.7 Bsa 66- 80 11 42 47 33 7.6 0.90 0.7 27.7 Cksa 80-105 29 41 30 18 7.9 13 .0 15 .5 IICkl 105-130 50 29 21 14 8.2 15 .0 11 .0 IICk2 130-150 37 37 26 17 8.1 11 .2 13 .1 IICk3 150-165 8.2 9.8 14 .3 101 Hanley Association, Solonetzic Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 13 lOYR 3/2 IOYR 4.5/1 .5 Weak, very fine granular Loam AB 13- 14 l0YR 3/2 Weak to moderate, medium to coarse Very weak, medium angular blocky Clay loam ' prismatic Bntj 14- 30 IOYR 3/2 Weak, medium to coarse prismatic Moderate, fine to medium Clay loam subangularblocky Ccal 30- 50 2.5Y 5/3 Silty clay loam Cca2 50- 75 2.5Y 5/3 Clay loam IICk 75-110 2.5Y 4/2 Clay loam IIClsal 110-140 2.5Y 3.5/2 Clay loam IICksa2 140-160 2.5Y 3 .5/2 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/[ HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL INE ' a Mg K a cm a g K Na I SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-13 44 32 25 13 7.2 1 .81 23.0 18 .7 3.2 1 .4 0.2 1 .2 6.5 2.5 1 .1 2.1 0.4 1 .7 AB 13- 14 Bntj 14- 30 39 24 37 29 7.1 1 .01 26.7 20.3 7.7 0.9 0.6 0.6 3.3 1.6 0.2 2.8 0.2 004.6 Ccal 30- 50 31 35 33 22 7.4 0.66 17.8 17 .5 0.5 0.6 0.6 2.3 1.2 0.1 3.5 0.4 1 .1 Cca2 50- 75 15 49 35 25 7.7 0.46 18.9 17 .5 0.5 3.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 0.1 8.4 0.5 2.0 IICk 75-110 43 29 28 19 7.9 10.6 14 .2 0.5 5.2 2.2 1 .3 3.3 0.1 22.0 0.5 24.0 IICksal 110-140 41 32 27 14 7.6 10.5 18 .8 0.6 3.6 10.7 18.8 34.5 0.4 85.2 1.4 135 .4 I1Cksa2 140-160 32 35 33 17 7.7 10.4 14 .2 0.5 3.4 13.7 20.3 53.5 0.5 108.7 2.4 187.5 102 Meota Association, Calcareous Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY TEXTURE STRUCTURE Ap 0- 18 Weak, fine granular Loamy sand Bmk 18- 36 Structureless Loamy sand Ccal 36- 60 Structureless Loamy sand Cca2 60- 90 Structureless Sandy loam Ck 90-110 Structureless Sandyloam Ckg 110-140 Structureless Sandyloam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g .C. ZON (cm) - H me/100g ms/ OTAL OTAL FINE a g K a cm a g K Na CI SAND SILT CLAY Ap 0-18 83 10 CLAYOTAL7 4 7.8 0.72 0.4 9.5 11 .0 5.0 0.2 0.2 1 .5 0.0 Bmk 18- 36 83 9 8 5 8.1 0.51 1 .5 7.4 16 .5 7.3 0.2 0.1 0.6 0.0 Ccal 36- 60 82 1 1 7 2 7.9 0.58 21 .7 7.2 0.1 0.1 0.7 2.9 5.9 Cca2 60- 90 67 20 13 5 7.9 26.5 8.9 0.2 0.1 0.5 5.3 Ck 90-110 69 21 10 6 7.9 16.9 6.6 0.2 0.1 0.5 2.7 2.7 Ckg 110-140 60 28 12 9 7.8 15.7 7.8 0.2 0.1 0.4 2.6 16 103 Moose Mountain Association, Orthic Gray Luvisol MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN COLOUR WHEN PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE MOIST DRY LH 4 - 0 Ae 0 - 6 lOYR 5/2 IOYR 7/I Weak to moderate, medium platy Weak, medium granular Silty clay loam BA 6 - 12 lOYR 3/1.5 Moderate to strong, medium to coarse prismatic Moderate, medium subangular blocky Silty clay Btl 12 - 30 2.5Y 3/2 Strong, coarse prismatic Moderate, fine to medium subangular blocky Heavy clay Bkl 30- 45 2.5Y 4/2 Moderate, medium to coarse prismatic Weak to moderate, fine to medium subangular Clay blocky Bk2 45- 60 2.5Y 4/2 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, fine to medium subangular Silty clay blocky Ccal 60- 85 2.5Y 5/4 Silty clay Cca2 85 - 115 2.5Y 5/4 Strong, medium to coarse platy, laminated Silty clay loam Ckl 115-130 2.5Y 4/3 Strong, medium to coarse platy, laminated Silty clay Ck2 130-150 2.5Y 4.5/4 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/] HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g TOTAL ms/ TOTAL TOTAL FINE Ca Mg K Na cm Ca g K Na Cl S04 SAND SILT CLAY CLAY ' LH 4 - 0 6.3 20.30 16 .2 0,7 Ae 0 - 6 11 58 31 11 6.3 2.40 24.3 0.4 0.0 BA 6 - 12 5 43 52 15 6.4 1.40 31 .1 0.4 0.0 Btl 30 12- 3 36 61 43 6.6 1 .00 1 .2 34.8 0.6 0.0 Bkl 30- 45 3 39 58 41 7.5 2.70 16 .8 29.5 0.7 0.0 Bk2 45- 60 3 41 56 35 7.6 3.10 20.4 28.1 0.7 0.0 Ccal 60- 85 3 45 52 26 7.7 26.3 25 .2 0.7 0.0 Cca2 85-115 16 45 39 20 7.8 29.2 18 .9 0.6 0.0 Ckl 115-130 8 44 47 25 7.8 28.1 20.3 . 0.6 0.0 Ck2 130- 150 31 41 28 16 7.9 25 .4 13.6 0.6 0.0 104 North Portal Association, Dark Brown Solod MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 17 lOYR 3/2 Weak to moderate, fine to medium Loam granular Ae 17 - 22 lOYR 4/3 Weak to moderate, fine to medium platy Loam A B 22- 26 l0YR 3/3 Moderate, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, medium platy Loam Bntl 26- 42 lOYR 3/2 .5 Strong, coarse prismatic Moderate to strong, medium to Loam coarse angular blocky Bnt2 42 - 64 lOYR 3/2 Strong, coarse prismatic Moderate to strong, medium to Loam coarse angular blocky BCks 64 - 80 2.5Y 4/4 Weak, medium to coarse prismatic Loam Cca go- 105 2.5Y 5/4 Loam Ckl 105 - 140 5Y 4/4 Loam Ck2 140 - 160 SY 4/3 Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/l00g ms/ TOTAL OTAL INE Mg K a cm a g K Na 04 SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-17 43 34 19 16 6.4 1 .81 , 16 .9 8.3 3.2 1.1 0.1 1 .0 4.7 2.3 2.3 Ae 17- 22 48 39 13 10 6.1 0.60 9.9 4.3 2.5 0.2 0.3 0.6 3.2 AB 22- 26 48 33 18 15 6.3 0.60 13 .0 4a.5 4.5 0.3 0.8 0.5 3.0 I Bntl 26- 42 SANDOTAL45 34 21 17 7.0 0.58 15 .5 4.5 7.4 0.4 2.0 0.8 8.8 2.9 2.9 Bnt2 42- 64 40 36 24 7.7 0.55 0.2 18 .2 4.8 9.6 0.4 2.6 0.8 9.1 2.3 BCks 64- 80 41 37 22 16 7.8 0.31 10.2 13.2 0.3 2.3 7.6 16.7 29.2 60.4 4.2 104 .2 Cca 80 -105 42 35 23 9 8.5 0.30 17.1 15.8 0.3 3.7 6.6 Ckl 105-140 43 32 25 16 8.4 12.6 19.2 0.4 4.2 6.4 1 .7 15.0 58.3 6.7 73.3 Ck2 140-160 42 33 25 16 8.3 10.3 18.6 0.4 4.1 5.7 1.6 11 .5 52.5 6.6 60.7 105 Oxbow Association, Orthic Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 13 lOYR 2.5/1 10YR 3/1.5 Moderate, medium granular Sandy clay loam Bm 13- 24 IOYR 3/3 2.5Y 4/4 Weak, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, medium Sandy clay loam angular blocky Ckl 24- 50 2.5Y 4/4 2.5Y 6/3 Structureless Clay loam Ck2 SO- 75 2.5Y 4/2 2.5Y 6/4 Structureless Clay loam Ck3 75-100 2.5Y 4/2 2.5Y 5/3 Structureless Clay loam Ck4 100-125 2.5Y 3/2 2.5Y 5/3 Structureless Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/1 HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL INE a Mg K cm a g K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-13 50 25 25 16 7.1 2.90 21 .8 15.0 3 .7 1 .3 0.6 3.8 1 .9 BM 13- 24 52 24 25 17 7.1 1.10 1.7 18.4 17.0 4.9 0.6 0.1 0.6 2.3 2.3 Ckl 24- 50 40 32 28 12 7 .5 '0.50 23 .8 14 .6 0.4 0.1a 0.4 2.2 2.2 Ck2 50- 75 40 32 28 15 7.7 23.1 13 .9 0.5 0.1 50.0 0.0 Ck3 75-100 41 31 28 17 7.7 20.5 13 .4 0.6 0.2 0.6 4.0 Ck4 100-125 40 33 27 17 7.8 19 .5 13 .3 0.7 0.2 0.6 4.0 2.0 106 Oxbow Association, Calcareous Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Apk 0- 9 IOYR 2.5/1 l0YR 3.5/1 Weak, fine granular Loam Bmk 9- 19 l0YR 3/2 Very weak, medium prismatic Loam Ccal 19- 38 2.5Y 6/4 2.5Y 7/2 Structureless Sandy clay loam Cca2 38- 56 2.5Y 5/4 Structureless Sandy clay loam Ckl 56- 70 2.5Y 5/3 Structureless Sandy loam Ck2 70- 90 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Loam Ck3 90-120 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Loam Ck4 120-150 2.5Y 4/3 Structureless Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % RGANIC aCO, XCHANGE ATI NS m ll ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g .C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K a cm a g K Na l O, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Apk 0- 9 7.5 4.17 1.7 28 .4 24.5 4.8 1 .6 0.1 1 .3 8.3 3.3 1 .7 1 .7 1 .7 Bmk 9- 19 48 29 23 13 7.8 1 .88 16.0 20 .5 0.6 0.1 0.7 3.5 3.5 1.8 Ccal 19- 38 53 25 22 11 8.1 1 .18 28.7 11.2 0.3 0.1 0.7 7.1 2.4 Cca2 38- 56 64 22 15 8 8.4 23.5 9.1 0.3 0.1 0.7 5.6 2.8 2.8 Ckl 56- 70 75 14 11 5 8.6 18.6 7.7 0.3 0.2 0.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 Ck2 70- 90 42 32 26 15 8.5 19 .9 13 .4 0.7 0.8 1 .7 8.9 8.9 13.3 Ck3 90-120 43 32 25 11 8.2 18 .8 17 .2 0.6 0.9 3 .1 2.0 20.4 18.4 38.8 Ck4 120-150 43 32 25 14 8.2 18.7 15 .8 0.6 0.9 4.7 6.7 35.6 24.4 71 .1 107 Oxbow Association, Rego Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Apk 0 - 18 Very weak, very fine to fine granular Loam Ccal 18- 38 2.5Y 7/4 Weak to moderate, medium to coarse Loam prismatic Cca2 38- 55 . 2.5Y 6/4 Weak to moderate, medium to coarse Loam prismatic Ckl 55- 75 2.5Y 5/4 Clay loam Cksa2 75- 105 2.5Y 5/4 Loam Cksa3 105- 125 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam Ck 125- 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/1 HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL INE Ca Mg K Na c , Ca Mg K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Apk 0-18 46 32 22 11 7.6 2.40 2.0 21.1 0.6 Ccal 18- 38 34 40 26 15 8.0 . 0.10 33 .0 12.5 0.4 Cca2 38- 55 40 36 24 13 8.3 . 30.4 11 .3 0.9 Ckl 55- 75 8.3 21.3 15.1 2.6 Cksa2 75-105 40 34 26 13 8.0 16.5 14 .7 5.0 Cksa3 105-125 38 35 28 16 7.9 17 .5 12.8 1 .8 Ck 125- 39 33 28 15 8.0 16.0 12.9 1.7 108 Pheasant Rump Association, Rego Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Apk 0 - 10 1OYR 3 .5/2 lOYR 5/2 Strong, medium to coarse granular Heavy clay Ckl 10 - 30 2.5Y 4/2 Moderate, medium, pseudo granular Silty clay Ck2 30- 50 2.5Y 4/4 Moderate, pseudo granular Silty clay Ck3 50- 80 2.5Y 4/2 Silty clay Ck4 80-100 2.5Y 4/2 Silty clay Ck5 100-125 2.5Y 4/2 Silty clay Ck6 125-145 2.5Y 3/2 Silty clay PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % RGANIC aCO, XCHANGE ATIONS me/1 ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g .C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE Ca Mg K a cm a g K a 1 04 SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Apk 0-10 1 38 61 32 7.5 1.76 22.0 29.8 1 .1 0.1 0.6 3.8 2.4 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.8 Ckl 10- 30 1 41 58 36 7.5 0.89 17.5 26.6 0.8 0.1 0.4 2.5 2.9 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.5 Ck2 30 - 50 1 43 57 37 7.6 26.9 26.6 0.8 0.2 0.4 1 .5 3.3 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 Ck3 50- 80 43 57 36 7.7 26.4 25.9 0.8 0.4 0.5 1 .5 3.7 0.2 1 .1 0.1 1.9 CM 80-100 43 57 35 7.7 25 .9 24.8 0.7 0.4 0.6 1.5 3 .7 0.3 1.6 0.2 2.2 Ck5 100-125 41 59 40 7.6 26.4 23.9 0.8 0.4 0.7 2.3 4.9 0.3 1 .9 0.1 5.3 Ck6 125-145 40 59 38 7.6 24 .8 24.9 0.8 0.4 1 .1 4.3 7.4 0.5 2.3 0.1 10.6 109 Short Creek Association, Rego Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE AhH 0 - 12 lOYR 3/2 Moderate, medium to coarse granular Sandy loam Ccal 12- 32 2.5Y 7/2 Loam Cca2 32- 50 2.5Y 7/3 Loam IIC 50- + Silty clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL INE a Mg K a cm a Na CI O, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ah 0-12 71 19 9 5 7.6 3.37 1.3 22.8 22.3 2.5 0.8 0.1 0.6 4.3 1.4 1 .4 Ccal 12- 32 50 32 18 13 7.7 1 .74 37.1 16 .4 0.3 0.1 0.7 3.4 3.4 Cca2 32- 50 45 38 17 9 8.1 0.63 39.8 6.3 0.2 0.1 0.7 2.3 4.5g K 2.3 + 11C 50- 12 52 35 16 7.9 28 .6 9.2 0.3 0.4 3.6 10.6 27.7 12.8 48.9 110 Trossachs Association, Dark Brown Solonetz MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0- IS Weak, fine granular Loam Bntl 15- 30 Weak, medium prismatic Moderate, fine to medium Clay subangularblocky Bnt2 30 - 45 Weak, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, fine to medium Clay loam subangular blocky Cca 45- 70 Clay loam Ckl 70- 96 Clay loam Ck2 96-116 Clay loam Ck3 116-145 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANG SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIO me/I ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/10 .C. ZON (cm) H me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg a cm a g Na I SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-15 45 33 22 12 6.5 2.05 19.3 7.2 2.8 1.5 0.2 0.4 1.0 1.2 0.7 1.2 0.4 Bntl IS- 30 30 18 52 40 7.5 0.84 28.9 9.5 16.4 EABLENS1.2 2.5 0.9 1 .3 1.2 WATER0.1 7.4 1 .4 Bnt2 30- 45 31 32 37 23 7.7 0.54 4.8 23.2 19.1 14.2 0g0.8 2.6 1.9 2.0 4.1 0.2 13.3 0.6 Cca 45- 70 33 32 35 20 7.6 0.50 8.4 18 .4 0K.7 2.8 7.5 18.5 35 .4 0K.8 43.3 1.2 Ckl 70- 96 34 35 32 19 7.6 6.8 17 .9 0.9 4.0 9.4 17.5 45.2 1 .0 63.0 2.3 Ck2 96-116 32 34 34 17 7.6 6.7 18 .2 0.9 4.2 9.4 18.3 49.3 1 .1 62.8 2.6 Ck3 116-145 33 35 32 14 7.5 5.6 17 .2 0.9 4.1 9.1 18.3 45 .2 1 .2 60.4 3.0 111 Trossachs Association, Dark Brown Solodized Solonetz MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 14 10YR 4.5/2 Weak to moderate, fine granular Loam Ae 14- 16 Weak to moderate, fine to medium platy Clay loam Bntl 28 16- l0YR 3/3 IOYR 4/4 Moderate to strong, medium to coarse Moderate to strong, medium Clay loam columnar subangularblocky Bnt2 28- 36 l0YR 3/3 Moderate, medium to coarse prismatic Moderate, medium subangular Clay loam blocky Cca 36- 48 2.5Y 5/4 Clay loam Ccasa 48- 65 2.5Y 5/4 Clay loam Ckl 65- 90 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam Ck2 90-110 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam Ck3 110-125 2.5Y 4/3 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHAN GEABLE WATER IONS % ORGANIC CaC0, EXCHANGE CATIONS HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g TOTAL ms/ TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K a cm a g K 1 0, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-14 - 41 36 23 11 6.1 2.48 20.9 8.8 4.1 1.2 0.2 0.8 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.2 Ae 14- 16 ------SOLUBLEmell Bntl 16- 28 33 29 39 30 6.6 1 .05 24 .2 6.8 15 .5 0.7 0.8 0.7 2.2 2.2 2.2 Bnt2 28- 36 36 29 35 22 7.4 0.92 22.0 10.0 14 .5 0.6 0.9 1.3 1 .9 5.7 5Na.7 7.5 Cca 36- 48 - - - - _ _ Ccasa 48- 65 - - - - _ Ckl 65- 90 36 34 29 15 7.9 10.7 15 .1 0.6 2.0 8.4 17.5 61.4 56.1 1.8 124 .6 Ck2 90-110 38 35 27 11 8.0 9.6 14 .9 0.6 2.1 6.0 7.0 31.6 45.6 1.8 73.7 Ck3 110-125 36 32 32 23 7.8 7.3 15 .2 0.7 1 .9 8.0 21.2 50.0 1 .9 55.8 1.9 115 .4 112 Whitewood Association, Orthic Dark Gray MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 12 2.5Y 2/0 lOYR 2.5/l Moderate, medium granular Loam Ae 12- 16 10YR 3/2 l0YR 3/2 Weak, medium to coarse platy Loam Btl 16- 34 lOYR 3/2 lOYR 4/3 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate, medium subangular Clay loam blocky Bt2 34- 45 10YR 3/3 IOYR 5/2 Moderate, medium prismatic Weak to moderate, medium Clay loam subangularblocky Ckl 45- 60 2.5Y 4/3 2.5Y 5/2 Very weak, medium prismatic Clay loam Ck2 60- 90 2.5Y 4/3 2.5Y 6/2 Clay loam Ck3 90-120 2.5Y 4/2 2.5Y 6/2 Clay loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQU1V CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) pH % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL INE a Mg K cm a g K Na C1 S04 SAND SILT CLAY Ap 0-12 6.2 .4.90 31 .6 18 .8 5.3 1.7 0.1 0.5 3.0 1 .5 Ae 12- 16 43 34 23 15 5.7 1 .70 18 .5 9.8 4.5 0.7 0.4 2.2 2.2 Btl 16- 34 45 27 28 17 5.8 0.70 19 .2 10 .0 7.0 0.7 0.1a 0.3 0.0 Bt2 34- 45 42 30 CLAYOTAL29 21 6.7 0.10 6.0 18 .3 16 .5 7.4 0.6 0.1 0.4 2.2 2.2 CkI 45- 60 42 30 28 21 7.2 19.7 14.4 0.5 0.1 0.4 2.2 2.2 Ck2 60- 90 40 31 28 17 7.4 20.9 13.4 0.4 0.3 0.5 2.0 4.0 2.0 Ck3 90-120 40 30 30 15 7.5 19 .9 14.6 0.4 0.4 0.6 1.9 3 .8 1.9 113 Weyburn Association, Orthic Dark Brown MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE Ap 0 - 10 I OYR 3/2 .5 lOYR 4/2.5 Weak to moderate, fine granular Fine sandy loam Bm 10- 20 I OYR 3.5/3 Moderate, medium prismatic Fine sandy loam Ccal 20- 40 ' 2.5Y5 .5/4 Loam Cca2 40- 65 2.5Y 5.5/4 Loam Ckl 65- 95 2.5Y4.5/4 Loam Ck2 95-115 2.5Y 4.5/4 Loam Ck3 115-150 2.5Y4.5/4 Sandy Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/[ HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE a Mg K a cm a g K Na I 0, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ap 0-10 54 27 19 9 7.4 2.21 19.4 44.5 2.9 0.8 0.1 0.8 6.8 2.1 0.6 0.4 0.2 1 .3 Bm 10- 20 59 24 17 11 7.5 1.10 0.3 16.5 14 .3 2.5 0.4 0.1 0.4 3.5 1.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.5 Ccal 20- 40 58 27 15 7 7.5 0.98 ' 18.5 13.1 0.2 0.1 0.5 3.0 2.5 0.2 0.7 0.3 1 .1 Cca2 40- 65 52 33 15 5 7.6 14.8 10.5 0.3 0.1 0.5 3.3 2.1 0.2 0.4 0.2 1 .3 Ckl 65- 95 48 31 20 8 8.0 12.9 10.6 0.4 0.2 0.5 0.5 3.7 0.3 1.3 0.1 0.9 Ck2 95-115 52 33 15 6 8.0 9.3 9.1 0.4 0.3 0.5 1.3 2.5 0.3 1.7 0.4 0.9 Ck3 115-150 53 29 18 7 8.0 10.2 9.8 0.5 0.5 0.5 1.0 2.1 0.3 2.6 0.2 1.1 114 Whitesand Association, Orthic Black MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY TEXTURE STRUCTURE Ah 0 - 14 l0YR 2.5/1 .5 Weak, fine granular Coarse sandy loam Bm 14- 30 l0YR 3/2 Moderate to strong, medium to coarse Weak, medium subangular Coarse sandy loam prismatic blocky Ckl 30- 40 l0YR 5/2 Coarse sand Ck2 40- 60 l0YR 5/2 Coarse sand PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO, EXCHANGE CATIONS me/1 ORI- EPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g .C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ OTAL TOTAL OTAL FINE a g K a cm a Mg K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY Ah 0-14 70 18 12 7.4 3.12 17 .9 16.0 4.1 0.6 0.1 0.5 4.3 2.2 Bm 14- 30 66 16 18 7.4 1 .26 0.2 17 .7 11.5 3.7 0.4 0.1 0.4 2.4 2.4 Ckl 30- 40 88 4 7 7.6 0.37 19 .5 7.5 0.2 0.1 0.4 4.17 0.0 Ck2 40- 60 7.7 17 .7 4.1 0.1 0.1 0.4 2.7 0.0 115 Waitville Association, Orthic Gray Luvisol MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION HORIZON DEPTH (cm) COLOUR WHEN MOIST COLOUR WHEN DRY PRIMARY STRUCTURE SECONDARY STRUCTURE TEXTURE LH 3 - 0 Ah 0 - 2 lOYR 2.5/1 Moderate, fine granular Loam Ae 2 - 12 l0YR 7/2 Weak, fine platy Very weak, fine granular Sandy loam Bt 12- 28 IOYR 4/4 Moderate, medium prismatic Moderate to strong, medium subangular Clay loam blocky BCk 28- 35 l0YR 3/3 Weak to moderate, medium prismatic Moderate, medium subangular blocky Clay loam Ccal 35- 46 2.5Y 5/2 Clay loam Cca2 46- 70 2.5Y 5/4 Loam Cca3 70- 90 2.5Y 5/2 Loam Ck 120-160 2.5Y 4/3 Loam PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL ANALYSES PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION CATION EXCHANGEABLE WATER SOLUBLE IONS % ORGANIC CaCO3 EXCHANGE CATIONS me/I HORI- DEPTH CARBON EQUIV CAPACITY me/100 g E.C. ZON (cm) H % % me/100g ms/ TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL FINE Ca Mg K Na cm Ca Mg K Na CI SO, SAND SILT CLAY CLAY LH 3 - 0 7.0 24.60 0.4 Ah 0 - 2 38 41 21 16 6.7 13.20 0.4 Ae 2 - 12 61 31 8 6 6.8 0.80 5.3 0.2 Bt 12- 28 39 22 39 28 6.4 0.80 24.3 0.4 BCk 28- 35 41 27 32 21 7.6 0.80 20.5 18 .1 0.4 Ccal 35- 46 41 28 31 19 7.5 0.10 28 .1 13 .8 0.6 Cca2 46- 70 43 30 27 17 7.6 28 .7 12 .8 0.4 Cca3 70- 90 41 32 27 16 7.6 28 .1 12 .8 0.4 Ck 120-160 43 30 27 17 7.7 26.5 11 .9 0.4 116 10. AREA IN HECTARES OF MAP UNITS IN MAP SHEET 10.1 Map Units Occurring in the Black Soil Zone . Association Percent of Association Percent.:: o Map Unit Hectares Suneyed Area : Map Unit Hectares Survey Area : ; Aol 598.24 0.03 Me8 6087.20 0.29 Ao2 3705.44 0.18 Me8/T 237.44 0.01 Ao3 8138.56 0.39 Me9 6840.80 0.33 Ao4 1456.96 0.07 Me9/T 320.96 0.02 Ao5 4638.72 0.22 MeOx2 4150.72 0.20 AvSfl 2867.20 0.14 MeWs2 4099.68 0.20 CL3 4670.40 0.22 MeWs3 7464.32 0.36 Cd8 507.84 0.02 0xl 891 .68 0.04 I CdOx2 4848.80 0.23 Ox8 132548.00 6.34 Fel 2340.32 0.11 Ox10 55267.36 2.64 Fe2 14111 .68 0.67 Ox12 205229.44 9.81 Fe3 13675.68 0.65 OxAq2 8246.08 0.39 Fe4 1122.72 0.05 OxBk1 . 4422.72 0.21 I FeHm2 4133.28 0.20 OxHm2 27408.32 1 .31 FeMe5 3660.16 0.17 IIOxHm4 15376.48 0.74 Gvl 2911 .52 0.14 IOxHm6 11806.56 0 .56 Hm5 572.64 0.03 OxMe2 9846.40 0.47 Hm5/T 4542.24 0.22 OxWhl 2599 .36 0 .12 Hm9/T 406.88 0.02 OxWh2 23500.16 1 .12 Hm10 397.12 0.02 OxWs2 8358 .08 0.40 Hm11/T 857.76 0.04 OxWs4 5118 .40 0 .24 Mel 5092.64 0.24 Phl 3958.72 0.19 Me3 4016.00 0.19 Ph2 429.76 0.02 117 Association :::: Percent. of Map Unit : Hectares `: Suryeyed r1r~a ': PhOx2 2534.40 0.12 PhWnl 1132.16 0 .05 Sfl 13467.36 0.64 Sf2 49572.16 2.37 SO 3422 .40 0.16 Wn2 6543 .36 0.31 WnCd7 7261 .60 0.35 Ws1 330.56 0.02 , Ws3 2779.52 0.13 ' Ws7 27847.20 1 .33 WsMe2 9700.16 0.46 WsOx4 1333.12 0.06 Total for Zone: 759405.44 36.30 10.2 Map Units Occurring in the Dark Brown Soil Zone Association Percent of Associatron Percent...... of Map. ~uit ;: ::Hectares Sun~eyed Area:: Iv1aP Ur~tt ~ ~. . A Aml 3417.28 0.16 Aq 1 12734.56 1 0.61 Am2 25192.64 1 .20 Aq3 7550.88 1 0.36 Am5 14582.72 0.70 Aq9 2183.20 0.10 AmAq5 772.48 0 .04 Aq9/T 2792.48 0.13 AmBkl 17829.92 0.85 Aq11 3463.52 0.17 AmBk2 16184.16 0.77 Aql 1/T 752.64 0.04 AmBk3 15873.44 0.76 AqAv5 1356.00 0.06 AmBk4 12780.32 0.61 AqEs5 2084.96 0.10 118 Association Percent of Association Percent,of map Unit . Hectares Survey;ed Area Map Unit Hectares Surveyed Area'' AqGd5 2567.84 0 .12 Esll 6378 .40 0.30 AqHy5 515.68 0.02 EM 10394.24 0.50 AqWg5 2023.04 0.10 EsBk3 15939.04 0.76 Bgl 5820.16 0.28 EsBrl 2078.24 0.10 Bg2 2273 .76 0.11 EsRbl 3488.64 0 .17 Bg3 3136.00 0.15 EsRb5 9195.04 0 .44 Bk8 34400.64 1 .64 EsTu4 3197.28 0 .15 Bk9 8269.76 0.40 EsWg5 2709.60 0.13 BkAm 1 20893 .76 1 .00 EsWr2 1748.80 0.08 BkAm2 264407.20 12.64 i EsWr5 7907 .04 0.38 BkBr5 4302 .56 0.21 I Ewl 524.32 0.03 BkEs1 9319.52 0.45 I EwBr5 4368 .32 ' 0.21 BkEs2 49718.72 2.38 ' Fgl 18512.64 0.89 BkEs3 4722.40 0.23 Fg3 5882.56 0.28 BkFg5 27430.56 1.31 Fg4 ~39117.12 1 .87 BkWr3 5334.88 0.26 FgBk5 38608.00 1 .85 BkWr5 28097.28 1 .34 Hbl 37736.80 1 .80 Br5 2135.52 0.10 Hb2 19649.44 0.94 Br7 635.36 0.03 HbSx 3861 .44 0.18 BrEs5 3363 .20 0.16 Hy3 4162.72 0.20 BrWg5 1284.16 0.06 Hy5 85.44 *.** Esl 387.68 0.02 Hy8 1907.04 0.09 Es2 3989.12 0.19 HyEs8 2269.60 0.11 Es8 17474.24 0.84 HyEwl 1370.08 0.07 Es9 4412.80 0.21 Nol 6158.24 0.29 Es10 10408.00 0.50 No2 3647.84 0.17 119 Rb4 14628 .64 0.70 TuEs2 6685.60 0.32 RbAvl 309.44 0.01 TuEs4 2179.20 0.10 Su2 2038.24 0.10 Wg3 552.64 0.03 SuTu 1 6529.92 0.31 WgBk5 2164.80 0.10 TO 982.56 0 .05 Wr2 9240.32 0.44 Tr5 4586.40 0.22 Wr4 19003 .20 0.91 ! Tr8 35260.80 1 .69 Wr12 17162.88 0 .82 Trl 1 19464.64 0.93 WrBk3 7659.20 0.37 Tr12 7577.60 0.36 WrBk5 38187.04 1 .83 TrAq3 1365 .44 0.07 WrEs5 .13720.48 0.66 'WrOx2 21832.48 1 .04 Total for 1194237.28 57.09 Zone: 120 10.3 Map Units Occurring in the Dark Gray Soil Zone Association Percent of Map Unit Hectares Surveyed Area Wh 1 2401 .28 0.11 Wh5 1389.60 0.07 WhWv5 10659.04 0.51 Total for Zone: 14449.92 0.69 10.4 Map Units Occurring in the Gray Soil Zone ''' Association Percent of Map Un-it Hectares SiIrveyed Area ..-.'' Mml 6808.64 0.33 Mm2 1111 .04 0.05 MmWv2 4315 .04 0.21 Wv2 14847.20 0 .71 WvMm2 5964.96 0.29 Total for Zone: 33046.88 1.58 121 10.5 Map Units of Miscellaneous Soils and Water Association Percent of < Map Unit Hectams 5vn:ed,Acsa :: Av 1 10499.20 0.50 Av2 2174.08 0.10 Av 11 10215.84 0.49 Av 19 1560.32 0 .07 I ESTEVAN 523.84 0.03 Hw 27531 .84 1 .32 MINE SP 4593.76 0.22 Mw 2706.08 0.13 Rul 866.72 0.04 Rw 9294.40 0.44 Sx 5824.00 0.28 WEYBLJRN 898 .56 0.04 Water 13931 .52 0.67 Total for Zone: 90620.16 4.33 ~ TOTAL AREA (HA) 2091759.68 122 11. GLOSSARY Acid soil - A soil having a pH ofless than 7.0. Clay - (i) A soil particle that is less than 0.002 Aggregate - A group of soil particles sticking mm in diameter. (ii) A soil textural together in such a way that they class. See also "texture, soil". behave mechanically as a unit. Clod - A compact, coherent mass of soil vary- Alkali soil - (i) A soil having a high degree of ing in size, usually produced by plow- alkalinity (pH of 8.5 or higher), or ing or digging. having a high exchangeable sodium Cobble - Rounded or partially rounded rock content (15% or more ofthe exchange or mineral fragment between 8 and 25 capacity), or both. (ii) A soil that cm in diameter. contains enough alkali (sodium) to Cobbly - Containing appreciable quantities of interfere with the growth of most cobbles. The term is used to describe crops. both soil and land. Note: The term "alkali soil" is often Colluvium - A heterogenous mixture of incorrectly used to describe a "saline material that has moved down a slope soil" . and settled at its base, as a result of Alkaline soil - A soil having a pH greater gravitational action. than 7.0. Degradation - (i) The decline in a soil's fer- Alluvial deposit - Refer to section "3 .1 tility status as a result of loss of Surface Deposits" ofthis report. organic matter, erosion by wind or Apron - A series ofadjacent, coalescing fans. water, compaction, salinization, or Aspect - The particular direction in which a acidification. (ii) The changing of a slope faces. soil to a more highly leached and more Available water - The portion of water in a highly weathered condition, usually soil that can be readily absorbed by accompanied by morphological chang- plant roots. See also "field capacity" . es such as the development of an elu- Bedrock - The preglacial sediments, exclu- viated (leached), light-coloured Ae sive of stratified deposits in preglacial horizon. valleys, that underlie the surficial Dissected - Where the original surface has glacial sediments. These bedrock been cut by running water, leaving a materials may or may not be consoli- network of channels, shallow gullies, dated into solid rock and may be ex- or valleys. posed at the surface. Dunes - Wind-built ridges and hills of sand Blanket - A mantle of unconsolidated mate- formed in the same manner as snow- rials thick enough to mask minor drifts. They are started where some irregularities in the underlying unit but obstruction, such as a bush, boulder, or still conforming to the general under- fence, causes an eddy or otherwise lying topography. thwarts the sand-laden wind. Once be- Blowout - A small area from which soil gun, the dunes themselves offer resis- material has been removed by wind. tance and they grow to form various Channel - The bed where a natural stream of shapes. water runs or has run. 123 Eluviation - The transportation of soil mate- Gleysation - A soil forming process, operat- rial in suspension or solution within ing under poor drainage conditions, the soil by the downward or lateral which results in the reduction of iron movement of water. and other elements, and in gray Erosion - The wearing away of the land sur- colours and mottles. face by running water, wind, ice or Gravel - Rock fragments between 2 mm and gravity. 7 .5 cm in diameter. Erosivity - The tendency for a soil to erode or Grumic - A fine-textured (clay or heavy clay) permit erosion. soil which cracks extensively when Esker - A winding ridge of irregularly strati- dry and forms angular blocky fied sand, gravel, and cobbles depo- structures with grooved surfaces in sited under the ice by a rapidly flowing subsoils due to the effect of swelling glacial stream. and shrinking during periods of Fan - A fan is a gently sloping fan-shaped wetting and drying. Surface horizons area, usually occurring at the base of a are massive, often with granular valley wall, resulting from the secondary structure under cultivation. accumulation of sediments brought Gully - A channel caused by erosion from down by a stream descending through concentrated but intermittent flow of a steep ravine. A series of adjacent, water during and immediately after coalescing fans is called an apron. heavy rains or snowmelt. It is deep Fibric layer - A layer of organic material enough to interfere with and not be containing large amounts of weakly removed by tillage operations . decomposed fiber whose botanical Heavy soil - A soil having a high content of origin is readily identifiable . fine particles, particularly clay, or a Field capacity - The percentage of water re- soil having a high drawbar pull and maining in the soil two or three days therefore requiring more power to after the soil has been saturated and cultivate. free drainage has practically ceased. Horizon - Refer to section "4.1 The Soil Pro- Fluvial deposit - Refer to section "3 .1 Surface file" of this report. Deposits" of this report. Humic layer - A layer of organic material Genesis - The mode of origin of the soil, containing large amounts of highly especially the .processes or soil- decomposed organic material; only forming factors responsible for the small amounts offiber are present that development of the solum, the true can be identified as to their botanical soil, from unconsolidated parent origin. Fibers can be easily destroyed material. by rubbing. Glacial till - See "till". Hummocky - Refer to section "3 .2 Surface Glaciofluvial - Refer to section "3.1 Surface Forms" ofthis report. Deposits" of this report. Humus - (i) The fraction of the soil organic Glaciolacustrine - Refer to section "3.1 matter that remains after most of the Surface Deposits" ofthis report. added plant and animal residues have Gleyed soil - Soil affected by gleysation. decomposed.' It is usually dark- coloured. (ii) Humus is also used in a 124 broader sense to designate the of fiber are present that can be humus forms referred to as identified as to their botanical origin. forest humus. (iii) All the dead Microrelief- Small scale, local differences in organic material on and in the topography, including mounds, swales, soil that undergoes continuous or pits that are usually < 1 m in breakdown, change, and diameter and with elevation synthesis. differences of up to 2 m. Hydraulic conductivity - The rate at which Mineral soil - A soil consisting predominant- saturated soils transmit water. ly of mineral matter. It contains less Inclined - Refer to section "3 .2 Surface than 17% organic carbon except for an Forms" of this report. organic surface layer that may be up to Infiltration - The downward movement of 40 cm thick ifformed ofmixed peat or water into the soil. 60 cm ifformed of fibric peat. Kettle - Depression left after the melting of a Moraine - Distinct accumulations of glacial detached mass of glacial ice that was material, mainly till, deposited directly buried in glacial debris. by glaciers. Knob - A pronounced, rounded hill common- Mottles - Spots or blotches ofdifferent colour ly found in knob and kettle topography or shades of colour interspersed with in morainic areas. the dominant colour. Knoll - A small, subdued, rounded hill com- Neutral soil - A soil having a pH of 7 .0. monly found in knoll and depression Organic matter, soil - The organic fraction of topography in areas oftill plains. the soil; includes plant and animal resi- Lacustrine deposit - Refer to section "3 .1 dues at various stages of Surface Deposits" ofthis report. decomposition, cells and tissues of soil Landform - The various shapes of the land organisms., and substances synthesized resulting from a variety ofactions such by the soil population. as deposition (eskers, moraines) and Parent material - The unconsolidated and erosion (gullies, valleys).. more or less chemically unweathered Leaching - The downward removal from the mineral or organic matter from which soil of materials in solution. the solum of a soil has developed. Level - Landscapes that are flat or have very Pedology - Those aspects of soil science gently sloping surfaces are said to be involving the constitution, distribution, level. genesis, classification and mapping of Light soil - A soil having a high content of soils. coarser particles, particularly sand, or Permeability, soil - The ease with which a soil having a low drawbar pull and, gases and liquids penetrate or pass therefore, easy to cultivate. through a bulk mass of soil or a layer Loess - Material transported and deposited by of soil. wind and consisting of predominantly pH, soil - The negative logarithm of the silt-sized particles. hydrogen ion activity of a soil. The Mesic layer - A layer of organic material in degree of acidity (or alkalinity) of a an interrnediate stage of soil as determined by an electrode or decomposition; intermediate amounts indicator at a specified soil-water ratio, 125 and expressed in terms of the unconsolidated mineral matter on the pH -scale. surface of the earth that has been Ridged - Refer to section "3.2 Surface Forms" subjected to and influenced by genetic of this report. and environmental factors of: parent Runoff- The portion of the total precipitation material, climate (including moisture falling upon an area that flows away and temperature effects), macro- and through stream channels or over the microorganisms and topography, all surface, instead of entering the soil. acting over a period of time and Runway - The channel of a stream. producing a product (soil) that differs Saline soil - A soil that contains enough from the material from which it is soluble salts to interfere with the derived in many physical, chemical, growth of most crops. As measured by biological and morphological proper- the electrical conductivity of the ties and characteristics. saturation extract, the amount of salt Solum - The upper horizons ofa soil in which present is great enough to produce a the parent material has been modified reading greater than 4 mS/cm. Very and in which most plant roots are sensitive crops may be affected at elec- contained. It usually consists of the A trical conductivities of 2 mS/cm. and B horizons. Sand - (i) A soil particle between 0.05 and 2.0 Stratification - The arrangement of sediments mm in diameter. (ii) A soil textural in layers or strata marked by a change class. See also "texture, soil" . in colour, texture, dimension of very coarse sand - A soil particle particles, and composition. Stratifica- between 1 .0 and 2.0 mm in diameter. tion usually means layers ofsediments coarse sand - (i) A soil particle that separate readily along bedding between 0.5 and 1 .0 mm in diameter. planes because of different sizes and (ii) A soil textural class. See also kinds ofmaterial or some interruption "texture, soils". in deposition that permitted changes to medium sand - A soil particle take place before more material was between 0.25 and 0.5 mm in diameter. deposited. fine sand - (i) A soil particle between Structure, soil - The combination or arrange- 0.10 and 0 .25 mm in diameter. (ii) A ment of primary soil particles into soil textural class. See also "texture, aggregates of secondary soil particles, soil" . which are separated from each other very fine sand - A soil particle by surfaces of weakness. These between 0.05 and 0.10 mm in secondary particles may be, but diameter. usually are not, arranged in the profile Silt - (i) A soil particle between 0.002 and in such a manner as to give a distinct 0.05 mm in diameter. (ii) A soil characteristic pattern. The secondary textural class. See also "texture, soil" . particles are characterized and Soil - (i) The unconsolidated mineral material classified on the basis of size, shape, on the immediate surface of the earth and degree of distinctness. The that serves as anatural medium for the general shape types are structureless, growth of land plants. (ii) The 126 plate-like, block-like and prism-like. ofcolumns not sharp (columns may be The terms are: flat-topped, round-topped or irregular). structureless - Having no observable Substrate modifier - A material of different aggregation or no definite orderly ar- origin that underlies material in which rangement around natural lines of a soil is formed, at a depth of 1 m or weakness. less. single grain - Loose, incoherent mass Superglacial - A glaciolacustrine or glacio- ofindividual particles as in sands. fluvial deposit laid down in small massive - A coherent mass showing no ponds or lakes on the melting ice evidence of any distinct arrangement surface, which subsequently becomes of soil particles. mixed with or underlain by glacial till blocklike - Soil particles are arranged upon melting. It is not as uniform as around a point and bounded by flat or typical lacustrine or fluvial deposits. rounded sides. Terrace - A nearly level, usually narrow, blocky (angular blocky) - Having plain bordering a river, lake, or sea. block-like structures with flat, Rivers are sometimes bordered by a rectangular faces and sharp, angular number of terraces at different levels. corners. Texture, soil - The relative proportions of the subangular blocky - Having block- various soil particles (sand, silt or like structures with rounded or clay) in a soil as described by the flattened faces and rounded corners. classes of soil texture. The limits of granular - Having block-like aggre- the various classes and subclasses are: gates that appear as spheroids having sand - Soil material that contains 85% curved surfaces which have slight or or more sand. no accommodation to the faces of the coarse sand - Soil material that surrounding aggregates. contains 25% or more very coarse and plate-like - Soil particles are arranged coarse sand, and less than 50% of any around ahorizontal plane and general- other one grade of sand. ly bounded by relatively flat, fine sand - Soil material that contains horizontal surfaces. 50% or more fine sand or less than platy - Having thin, plate-like 25% very coarse, coarse, and medium aggregates with faces mostly sand and less than 50% very fine sand. horizontal. gravelly sand - Soil material that prism-like - Soil particles are arranged meets the requirements of a sand but around avertical axis and bounded by also contains 20 to 50% by volume of relatively flat, vertical surfaces. coarse fragments from 2 nun to 75 mm prismatic - Having prism-like struc- in diameter. tures with vertical faces well-defined, loamy sand - Soil material that and edges near the top sharp and usually contains 70 to 85% sand but somewhat angular. may contain as much as 90% sand columnar - Having column-like struc- depending upon the amount of clay tures with vertical edges near the top present. 127 gravelly loamy sand - Soil material clay loam - Soil material that contains that meets the requirements ofa loamy 27 to 40% clay and 20 to 45% sand. sand but also contains 20 to 50% by silty clay loam - Soil material that volume of coarse fragments from 2 contains 27 to 40% clay and less than mm to 75 mm in diameter. 20% sand. sandy loam - Soil material that silty clay - Soil material that contains usually contains 52 to 70% sand but 40% or more silt and more than 40% may contain as much as 85% or as clay. little as 43% sand depending upon the clay - Soil material that contains 40% amount of clay present. or more clay, less than 45% sand, and fine sandy loam - Soil material that less than 40% silt. contains 30% or more fine sand and heavy clay - Soil material that con- less than 30% very fine sand or tains more than 60% clay. between 15 and 30% very coarse, Till - Unstratified glacial drift, deposited coarse, and medium sand. directly by the ice, consisting of a gravelly sandy loam - Soil material mixture of clay, sand, silt, gravel, and that meets the requirements of a sandy boulders. loam but also contains 20 to 50% by eroded till - Glacial till that has been volume of coarse fragments from 2 subjected to water erosion subsequent mm to 75 mm in diameter. to deposition, often leaving a dense very fine sandy loam - Soil material stone lag or stony, gravelly lense on that contains 30% or more very fine the surface. sand or more than 40% fine and very water-modified till - Glacial till that fine sand, at least halfofwhich is very has had significant amounts of water- fine sand, and less than 15% very sorted materials incorporated, usually coarse, coarse, and medium sand. during deposition, that results in less loam - Soil material that contains 7 to stony than normal glacial till with 27% clay, 28 to 50% silt, and less than more sandy, silty or clayey textures 52% sand. than unstratified glacial till. gravelly loam - Soil material that Tilth - The physical condition of soil as meets the requirements of a loam but related to its ease of tillage, fitness as also contains 20 to 50% by volume of a seedbed, and impedance to seedling coarse fragments from 2 mm to 75 mm emergence and root penetration. in diameter. Topography - The physical features of adis- silt loam - Soil material that contains trict or region, taken collectively ; 50% or more silt and 12 to 27% clay, especially, the relief and contours of or 50 to 80% silt and less than 12% the land. clay. Undulating - Refer to section "3.2 Surface silt - Soil material that contains 80% Forms" ofthis report. or more silt and less than 12% clay. Veneer - Unconsolidated materials too thin to sandy clay loam - Soil material that mask the minor irregularities of the contains 20 to 35% clay, less than 28% underlying unit surface. A veneer will silt, and 45% or more sand. range from 10 cm to 1 m in thickness 128 and will possess no form typical of the Zone, soil - An area in which the dominant material's genesis. An example ofthis soils reflect the zonal influence of is shallow lacustrine deposits over- climate and vegetation, and form a lying glacial till. natural land pattern with other soils Water, soil - Water occupying the pore spaces that exhibit the zonal influence only in the soil. weakly or not at all. In Saskatchewan Water table - The upper surface of ground- soils, there is a gradual increase in the water or that level in the ground where organic matter content of the surface the water is at atmospheric pressure. horizons as one moves from the south- Wilting point - The moisture content of a soil west to the northeast, as reflected by at which plants wilt and fail to recover their surface colour. This forms the their turgidity when placed in a dark, basis of soil zonal separations in the humid atmosphere. province, namely Brown, Dark Brown, Black, Dark Gray, and Gray.