THE SOILS OF THE REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF HALDIMAND-NORFOLK VOLUME 1 REPORT NO . 57 OF THE ONTARIO INSTITUTE OF PEDOLOGY Research Branch, <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> <strong>Soil</strong> and Water Management Branch, Ontario Ministry of <strong>Agriculture</strong> and Food Department of Land Resource Science, University of Guelph by E.W . Presant and C.J . Acton Land Resource Research Institute Research Branch, <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong> Guelph, Ontario 1984 Land Resource Research Institute Contribution No . 84-13 1
INTRODUCTION The soil survey conducted to gather information for the maps and text of this report was actually a resurvey of the former counties of Norfolk and Haldimand . The original surveys for these counties were compl<strong>et</strong>ed during the 1920's - and 1930's and, although soil maps and reports were compiled from the soils information, only the maps were published . These maps and their extended legends were published at scales of approximately 1 :125 000 (1,2) . The decision to resurvey Norfolk and Haldimand counties, now combined into the Regional Municipality ofHaldimand- Norfolk, was made in response to increasing demands for b<strong>et</strong>ter and more d<strong>et</strong>ailed soils information than the old maps could supply . Hence, soil mapping at a scale of 1 :25 000 was begun in 1974 and compl<strong>et</strong>ed in 1980. Preliminary soil maps, incorporating this new soils information, were made available during this time period . The report is divided into two volumes. Volume 1 includes descriptions of the environmental s<strong>et</strong>ting of the soils, generalized descriptions of the soils, and soil interpr<strong>et</strong>ations . Volume 2 contains d<strong>et</strong>ailed morphological, chemical and physical descriptions of typical soils, as well as tables of statistical means and engineering test data . In addition to the report, there are thirteen soil maps published at 1 :25 000 scale, and one soil map with generalized soil information at 1 :100 000 scale . HOW TO USE THE SOIL MAPS AND REPORT Resource managers, such as farmers or foresters, usually know the characteristics and variations of soils on their own properties, or in the immediate vicinity . Without a soil map and report, comparison with other soils in the region is very difficult . With the help of a soil map, regional similarities and differences b<strong>et</strong>ween soils can be shown . Such information can be an aid in buying or renting land, or in transferring management techniques to similar soils, thereby reducing the risks of managing new land. To use the soil maps and report most efficiently the following procedure is suggested : (1) Locate the area of interest on the "<strong>Soil</strong> Map Index" included with each volume . Note the number of the soil map on which your area of interest is located . (2) Obtain the appropriate soil map, and locate your specific area of interest . Natural and cultural features on the map, such as streams, contours, roads, buildings, lots and concessions, should assist in location . Note the map unit symbols within the map unit delineation that includes your area of interest . (4) Consult the legend on the map to aid in understanding the symbol and in d<strong>et</strong>ermining the soil components, their slopes, parent materials, and drainage. (5) If more information is required on the sôil components, locate them by name in Volume 1 of the report . A generalized description of each soil is presented in Volume 1, as well as some comments on land use, and suitability for certain uses. (6) For specific soil interpr<strong>et</strong>ations, refer also to Volume I . It contains soil capability for common agricultural field crops, soil suitability for special agricultural and horticultural crops, soil erosion interpr<strong>et</strong>ations, soil interpr<strong>et</strong>ations for drainage, and soil interpr<strong>et</strong>ations for forest land management . (7) For d<strong>et</strong>ailed morphological, chemical and physical descriptions of typical soils, as well as tables of statistical means and engineering test data, users are referred to Volume 2 . Users should understand that each soil exhibits a range of properties, and that boundaries b<strong>et</strong>ween map units, even though they represent the best estimate of where soils change, may only be approximately located . They should also be aware that there could be inclusions of unidentified soil components, as large as a few hectares in area, within any map unit, because of the map scale and the nature of the soil mapping . Most soils information is based on the examination of soil characteristics to a depth of about 100 cm below the surface . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Many individuals contributed to this project . Most members of the Ontario Institute of Pedology were very helpful, especially G . Patterson, B . van den Broek, M . Langman, J . Hansen, M . McKnight and A Montgomery, who were responsible for much of the field mapping and preliminary map preparation . They were ably assisted in the field by B . Maclean, R. Denis, S . James, G . Winnicki, J. Kiss, D. Aspinall and S . Lee . Field sampling and laboratory analyses were carried out by R. Viitala, B . Hohner and C . Heath of <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>, and J . Gillespie and M. Markle of the University of Guelph . Engineering testdata were provided by the Aggregates Section laboratory of the Highway Engineering Division of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications . Cartographic assistance, throughout the project, was provided by D . Irvine and A . McLennan of the University of Guelph. Personnel from the Ontario Institute of Pedology, who contributed substantially to -the data compilation and analysis, were M . Schmidt, J . Cook, J. Greuel, A . Munson, P . Allen and A . Sanderson. Special thanks are extended to J. Cook who was also responsible for the typing and word processing of the report . The assistance of R. Chard, extension horticulturist with the Ontario Ministry of <strong>Agriculture</strong> and Food, in developing interpr<strong>et</strong>ations for special crops, was much appreciated . The assistance of M. Watson, N. Sheidow and J . Elliott, of the Tobacco Research Station, Delhi, in developing tobacco interpr<strong>et</strong>ations, was also appreciated . The preparation of the soil erosion section, by G . Wall, <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>, and I . Shelton and J. Greuel, of the Institute of Pedology, was greatly appreciated. Thanks are also extended to P . Chisholm and R . Irwin, of the School of Engineering, University of Guelph, for their section on drainage interpr<strong>et</strong>ations, and to T : Taylor of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and K . Jones of <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>, for their section on interpr<strong>et</strong>ations for forest land management. Appreciation isexpressed to allmembers of the Cartographic Section ofthe Land Resource Research Institute, <strong>Agriculture</strong> <strong>Canada</strong>, Ottawa, who were involved in the cartography and map digitization. Special thanks to B. Edwards who supervised this work, and to A . Villeneuve who worked with the maps throughout the project. Appreciation is also extended to J.H . Day of the same Institute for his suggestions throughout the project, and critical review of the manuscript .
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