Ontario Land Information

Soils

The Research Branch of Canada along with the department of Agriculture and the Agricultural College have completed a study of Ontario Soils on a per-county basis.   The study describes the geology, climate, vegetation, relief, drainage and the various types of soils found.

Over 90 percent of the total land area in South Western Ontario is occupied by farmland.  Dairying and mixed farming are most common and cash crops are also very prevalent.

In the southern portion of Ontario as a result of repeated glaciation, the bedrock is covered by a mantle of loose material called drift which varies from a few inches to several hundred feet.  The underlying bedrock consists of various combinations of dolomite, shale, limestone, calcareous sandstone.

The surface deposits are of glacial origin and vary in texture depending on the parent material.  They are classified as till, outwash, kame, esker.  Tills are the most common and most fertile and are sometimes mixed with a thin layer of silt and have very few stones.

There are drumlinized plains with broad, low hills.  Occasional hills are divided by glacial streams which have deposits of gravel which run up to eskers.

Vegetation

At one time most of the area was covered by dense forests of maple, beech, ash, elm, birch and oak, pine and white cedar.  Most of the trees were removed in the late 1800's to early 1900's by pioneers.

Climate

Winters are generally cold with mean temperatures of 19° to 21°F and summers are warm with mean temperatures of 75-80°F.  The frost-free days range from 126 to 146.   The growing season is 189 to 196 days. 

The average annual precipitation is 29-36".  Snowfall ranges from 51 inches to 96 inches.  The warmer regions tend to have the least precipitation.

Drainage

There are many major rivers and strong flowing creeks which provide drainage as well as several man-made small lakes created by dams which provide flood control relief.   These areas are used as recreation areas for the public.  The many acres of level mineral soils require artificial tile drainage to produce to their maximum.   The soils tend to be normal pH to slightly acidic.  The soils have generally high organic matter.

Poorly drained soils are rarely productive.  Inadequate drainage usually occurs in level or depressed topography.  The soil profile/chart should be examined to identify proper drainage.  This is indicated by soil colours.  Bright solid browns or yellows indicate good drainage while grey and mottled layers indicate poor drainage.   Approximately 50% of the soil is well drained naturally.

Soil Management

Various practices are employed in the growing of crops.  These vary with the different types of soils encountered on a farm and the farmer learns through experience which practices give the best results.  The central objective of soil management is to develop and maintain a proper relationship between the plant and the soil.  Most soils consist of a sequence of definite layers, one above the other.  These are called the soil profile.  Very young soils or these in poorly drained areas may not have developed layers yet.

When examining soils the main things to note are:  depth, texture, structure, drainage and nutrients.

Depth

In general the soils in this area provide sufficient space to allow for development of plant roots and storage of water.  Most plants require about 3 feet for proper growing and water storage.  Although there are some areas where the bedrock is so close to the surface that only a few inches of soil are available, these areas are not good for cropping.  Fortunately only a very small amount of this type of land exists in Southwestern Ontario.

Texture

Texture is the relative proportion of sand silt and clay that make up soils.

Sand has only a little silt or clay in it.  Loam is the principal class which can be further distinguished as sandy loam, loam, silt loam, clay loam, and clay.

The sands are harsh textured and gritty and the particles scarcely hold together.   At the other extreme clay can be rolled into a smooth sticky ball. With proper management these intermediate soils are the most productive in Canada.

Structure

The ideal structure is small silt granules.  This is maintained by proper crop rotation, plowing down green manure, or adding barnyard manure.  The principles that organic matter added to sandy soils tends to bind it together to aid in water retention while the organic matter in clay soils helps prevent it from becoming too sticky.

Nutrients

Most importantly is balance of plant nutrients in soil.  All plants take at least 12 essential nutrients from soil.  Some of these elements are supplied by organic matter, the rest are supplied by inorganic fraction.  The elements are held in soil by fine particles thus clay textured soils are considered to have higher nutrient supply than the coarse-textured sandy soils.

Summary

Generally the soils in South Western Ontario are excellent for growing crops.  The combination of soil make-up, climate and nutrient capabilities provide high yields and good harvesting conditions.  Farms in this area are considered among the most productive in Canada.