Soil Report - Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

Figure 30. These Gobles coarse phase soils near Port Rowan
are often used for vegetable crops such as cucumbers
Granby Soils (GNY)
Location and Extent Granby soils are distributed over the
Norfolk sand plain, in the City of Nanticoke and in the
Townships of Delhi and Norfolk . There are 5087 ha of pure
Granby map units, and 11842 ha of Granby soils in complex
map units where they are most commonly associated with
Brady and Walsingham soils, and to a lesser extent with
Plainfield and peaty phase Granby soils .
Landform and Topography Granby soils are located on
level to depressional areas of the nearshore lacustrine sand
deposits of the Norfolk sand plain . Topography ranges from
depressional to nearly level . The slopes of Granby soils are
mostly 0.5-1% .
Parent Materials and Textures Granby soils have developed
on glaciolacustrine deposits, with mainly sand and loamy
sand textures. Surface textures are typically loamy sand or
sandy loam . Subsoil textures are loamy sand, sand, or
occasionally, fine sand .
Soil Moisture Characteristics Most Granby soils, except
for some very poorly drained peaty phase Granby soils, are
poorly drained . They are usually rapidly permeable . Most
horizons are saturated by groundwater for long periods each
year unless artificially drained . Granby soils have relatively
low water-holding capacities and slow surface runoff.
General Soil Description Granby soils have surface Ap
horizons that usually consist of 20-30 cm of loamy sand or
sandy loam . Peaty phase Granby soils (GNY .P) having 15-40
cm of surface organic soil overlying sands, occur in some
low, swampy parts of the region . North of Delhi there are
some loamy phase Granby soils (GNY .L) having 15-40 cm of
loamy surface materials . Bg horizons with prominent, dark
yellowish-brown mottles, and sand or loamy sand textures,
occur under the Granby surface horizons . Near Springvale,
there are some very shallow phase Granby soils (GNY .V),
only 20-50 cm thick over bedrock . Granby Ck horizons
begin at variable depths, ranging from 30-160 cm . They are
usually strongly to very strongly calcareous and have sand
textures . The usual range of soil reaction is from strongly
acidic or neutral in the surface horizons to mildly alkaline in
the subsoil . Soil classification is usually Orthic Humic
Gleysol.
Commonly Associated Soils Soils most extensively associated
with Granby soils are Brady (BAY) and Walsingham (WAM)
in map units GNY 4 and GNY 8 respectively . Both differ
from Granby soils by being imperfectly drained, and
Walsingham soils consist of eolian fine sand . Fox (FOX)
soils, a common associate of Granby soils in map unit GNY
6, are rapidly to well-drained . Another common associated
soil is the peaty phase Granby soil (GNY .P) in map unit
GNY 11 ; it has a surface layer of 15-40 cm of organic soil .
General Land Use Comments
(1) Artificially drained Granby soils are fairly useful for
grain corn, soybeans, tobacco and some commercial vegetable
crops .
(2) Granby soils are fair to average for commercial forestry,
limited mainly by their high water tables .
Figure 31 . Granby peaty phase soils are sometimes drained
and used for vegetable or cash crops
Haldimand Soils (HIM)
Location and Extent Haldimand soils are widely distributed
over the eastern part of the region on the Haldimand clay
plain . There are 10236 ha of pure Haldimand map units, and
44272 ha of Haldimand soils in complex map units where
they usually occur with Smithville and Lincoln soils .
Landform and Topography Haldimand soils are located on
level or gently dissected glaciolacustrine clay deposits . The
topography ranges from level to gently sloping, and somewhat
hummocky. Surface slopes are most commonly between 1
and 3% .
Parent Materials and Textures Haldimand soils have
developed on glaciolacustrine clay deposits . Surface textures
are usually silty clay or silty clay loam, but some areas may
have shallow silty or sandy loam surfaces . Subsoil textures
are usually heavy clay, with occasional layers of silty clay or
clay .
Soil Moisture Characteristics Haldimand soils are imperfectly
drained, and slowly permeable . Groundwater perches for
temporary periods each year in the upper horizons of these
soils. Haldimand soils have medium to high water-holding
capacities, but can be droughty during dry periods because
of slow release ofwater by the clays . Surface runoff is rapid .