Soil Report - Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada

Table 35. Explanation of terms and symbols used in the soil limitations column of
Table 32
Symbol* Limitation Nature
C,c
Plant
competition
D,d Droughtiness
E,e Erodibility
K,k Carbonates
M,m Excessive
moisture
Favourable plant growing
conditions, such as adequate
available moisture
and nutrients enhance the
growth of unwanted trees,
shrubs, herbs, grasses
and sedges .
Moisture deficiencies
caused solely or in
combination by low
rainfall, coarse textures
and low watertables during
the growing season may
result in physical stresses
and diminished productivity
of commercial tree species
on these sites.
Soils with these limitations
have been subjected
to or have a high potential
for wind and water erosion.
See Soil Erosion Interpretations
in this report .
Excessive contents of soil
carbonates (lime) will
inhibit and eventually
cause the mortality of
several species (e.g . Pr,
Pw) . Generally, the closer
to the surface a soil
reacts with 10% HC I, the
greater the severity of
the carbonate limitation .
Tree suitability and productivity
are limited by
periods of excessive
moisture during the
growing season .
Forest land management
recommendation
Intensive mechanical and/
or chemical site preparation
is recommended before
planting. Herbicidal tending
techniques are recommended
on severely limited
sites after planting.
Softwoods such as Pw, Sw,
Pr and Le (see Table 33)
should be planted on drier
sites, and black locust,
jack pine and Scots pine
on the driest sites . Fire
hazard precautions should
be emphasized on these
sites . Replanting will be
more frequent on drier sites.
Windbreak establishment and
the planting of species
tolerant to heavily eroded
conditions (e .g. black
locust) are recommended for
these sites . High seedling
mortality rates will occur .
The planting of Sw, Sn, Le,
and Ce on shallow to lime
soils will reduce seedling
mortality . Hardwood productivity
is not significantly
affected by high
lime soils .
Species which are tolerant
to high watertables should
be planted on these soils
(e .g. Pw, Sw, Ce, Ag, Ms,
His) .
Symbol* Limitation Nature
Nn Nutrient
deficiency
P,p Soil
compaction
R,r Shallow
bedrock
T,t Topography
W,w Windthrow
Nutrient deficiencies are
usually caused by natural
inherent infertility or
past land management . Low
organic matter and clay
contents, extreme pH
ranges and poor soil
management contribute to
infertility .
Former glacial activity,
soil genesis and the use
of heavy machinery are
the major causes of the
development of soils with
this limitation . Compacted
soil layers may restrict
root growth and reduce
tree productivity .
Shallow bedrock restricts
the rooting and productive
capacity of trees due to
the shallow veneer
(usually