University of Alberta Research Council of Alberta Bulletin No. 53. Report No. 56 Soi1Survey of the Rycroft and.Watino Sheets BY WM. ODYNSKY Research Council of Alberta Soi1 Survey Section J. D. NEWTON University of Alberta Depwtment of Soils Distributed by: Department of Extension, University of Alberta Edmonton, Alberta, Canada -J ALBERTA SOIL SURVEY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Dr. J. D. Newton, Chairman, Dept. of Soils, University of Alberta. Mr. W. E. Bowser, Dominion Experimental Farm Service. Mr. Wm. Odynsky, Research Council of Alberta. Dr. A. Leahey, Dominion Experimental Farms Service. This report is published with the approval of the Committee on Agricultural Extension and Publications of the University of Alberta CONTENTS Page Acknowledgment ........................................................................................... ......................................................... 5 Introduction ....................................................... ..............I.. ......................................................... ..-............................. 6 Location map ........ ............. .... ................... .............. ...................................... ............................... ................... 8 General Description of Area: Location and Rxtent ........ ................................ ........................... ........................................................... 9 Relief ................................................................................................................................... .............................. ......,, 9 Drainage ........................................ ................ .................................................................................... ....................10 Transportation .................... ............ ........................ .................................................................. ................10 Settlement and Agricultural Development ...............................................................11 Climate ....................................................................................................................................... ................................. 13 Vegetation ..........._.................................... ......_ ................... .................................................................................... 17 Geology and Parent Material ........................................................................... ............................, 19 Agricultural Problems: Land Development ................................................................................................... .........................22 Water Supply ............................................. .......... .................................................................................. 23 Soil Conservation ...................................................................................................................................24 Soils: Soi1 Development .._ . .........25 Soi1 Classification and Mapping _....,........_............,...............................,.....................,,,,,,,.~....,,.,30 Soil Survey Methods . __...._.................,,,..,.,,,.,34 Description of SO&: Soils Developed on Glacial Till ...............................................................................................35 Braeburn series ...................................................................................................................-.............~.. 36 Saddle series ............................................................................................................................................. 37 SO& Developed on Stratified Till or Modified Lacustrine Material 33 Donnelly series ..........................................................................................................................................39 Ether series .......................................................-......................................................................................... 40 Landry series .................... ............... .................................................. .................................................. 41 Soils Developed on Lacustrine Deposited Material ..........................................43 Nampa series .................................................................................................................-....~....................... 43 Falher aeries ...............................................................................................................................................44 Rycroft series ..........._................................................................................................................................... 46 Prestville series .......................................... .............. ........................... .................................. .......... 47 Soils Developed on Alluvial-Lacustrine Deposited Material ...............48 Judah series ...................... .... ............ ............. ............................................................... ....................... 48 Bronco series .................................................. ........................................................................................... 49 Wanham series .................... ................................ ........................................ .................................... 50 Soils Developed on Alluvial and Aeolian Deposited Material ............51 Davis series ...................................................................................................................................................51 Tangent series ........................................................-............................-..................................................... 53 Culp series .................................................................... ................................................................................ 54 Leith series ..........................^....................................................................................... ^............................. 55 Sands .....................................................................................................................................................................55 Soils Developed on Alluvial Deposited Materials .........................................56 Spirit River series .....................................................................................-........................................ 57 Alluvium ............................................................................................................................................................57 Soils Developed on Coarse Outwash Materials ........................................................58 Clouston series .........................................................................................................................................58 Soils Developed on Relatively Thin Alluvial Deposita that Overlie Other Heavier Textured Deposits ................................................................................... 59 Peoria series ........................................................................................................................ ...................59 Codesa series .................................... ......................................................................................................... 60 Belloy series ......................................, ..................................................................................................... 61 CONTJZV!CS-Continued Page Soils Developed on Relatively Undisturbed Residual Materials.. ..... Rahab series ................................................ ..... ............. .............................. .. ................................... Kavanagh series .................................................................... .... .........................................- ................. Organic Soila ............... .................... ................................................................................................................. Eaglesham series .................................................................................................................................. Kenzie series ...........I .............I....................................................................................................... ..~........ Description of Mapped Areas .................................................................................................................. Soi1 Rating ......................................................................................~................................................................................ Mechanical and Chen&al Analysis of SO&: Mechanical Analysis .......... .... ............................... ................ ...................................... .......................... Chemical Analysis .................................................................... ..................... ...................... .................... Glossary ..............................................................................................................................................................-. ............. Seven plates containing 15 figures, a cultivation map and a geology map _...,..,..,..._.._.._..........,..,............,..,..,....,.,.................,,,......