The Soils of The Regional Municipality of Ottawa=Carleton

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Mapped Soil Combinations Sixty percent of all Rideau association soils were mapped in combination with either soils of other associations or with miscellaneous land units . Approximately, 1,800 ha were mapped as the dominant component in complex map units, and 2,500 ha were mapped as the significant component . When mapped as the dominant component, theRideau-Bearbrook combination is by farthe mostextensive accounting for approximately 1,200 ha of all Rideau soils . When mapped as the significant component, Bearbrook- Rideau and Dalhousie-Rideau combinations are the most extensive and account for 1,300 ha and 1,000 ha respectively of all Rideau soils mapped . Large areas of Rideau-Bearbrook and Bearbrook-Rideau combinations were mapped in the northern part of Cumberland Township, and these areas account for the majority of Rideau soils mapped with soils of the Bearbrook association . Several smaller but significant areas of these combinations were also mapped in March and West Carleton townships . Combinations of Dalhousie-Rideau occur on level to nearly level landscapes in which individual separation was extremely difficult at the scale of mapping . The similarity of each association in physical characteristics, especially clay content, also warranted this combination at the scale ofmapping . General Land Use Rideau association soils support a wide range of agricultural land uses including corn, cereal grain, and hayproduction . These crops are often grown on a rotation basis, the frequency of which depends upon the type of farming operation . Rideau soils are also utilized for permanent pasture, and a significant proportion remain forested . Correlation to Ottawa Urban Fringe Rideau soils in the survey area for the most part are similar to those mapped in the Ottawa Urban Fringe. Both have developed on grayish colored heavy clay parent material of similar origin . Rideau soils of this area, however, are somewhat more variable with some deposits possessing considerable layers ofclay and silty clay. ST.THOMAS (ST) Location and Extent Soils of the St . Thomas association occur mainly in Cumberland and West Carleton townships, with a small area also occurring in Rideau Township. In Cumberland Township, they are found on the relatively recent flood plains ofthe Ottawa River, and inthe channel floors andonthe ancient flood plains of the ancestral Ottawa River. In West Carleton Township, they are mainly found on what was once the channel floor of the present Ottawa River, or on recent floodplains associated with it . In Rideau Township, they are found on the recent flood plain of the Rideau River in the southern part of the township . Approximately 8,000 ha of St . Thomas soils were mapped, of which 900 ha were mapped in combination with either soils of other associations or the Rockland miscellaneous land unit . Approximately 76% of all St . Thomas soils mapped occur in Cumberland Township . A further 18 01o occur in West Carleton Township .- Landform and Topography St . Thomas soils have developed in a blanket of coarse textured fluvial or eolian material which is generally 2 m deep or more. Although most often underlain by clayey marine material, the underlying material was not differentiated and may be quite variable . The topography of St . Thomas soils ranges from level to gently sloping or undulating . Slopes range from 0to 9% . Soil Material St . Thomas soils have parent materials consisting of noncalcareous fine sand which ranges from light yellowish brown to olive gray in color. Soil reaction of the parent material is medium to strongly acid . Weathered subsoil overlying the parent material also has fine sand textures, and grades from dark brown to strong brown in color nearest the surface, to dark yellowish brown to light olive brown in color at depth . Soil reaction tends to be more acidic than the parent material, ranging from strongly to very strongly acidic . Horizons enriched with iron and aluminum combined with organic matter (Bfand Bfj horizons) commonly occur in the upper portion of the weathered subsoil . A thin eluvial horizon (Ae or Aej horizon), less than 5 cm thick, quite often overlies the weathered B horizons . These horizons have fine sand or loamy fine sand textures, and arebrown to light gray incolor. Iron, aluminum, and organic matter have been removed from these horizons and transported downward in the profile . Eluvial horizons are not always present, and when they occur are usually not continuous across the landscape. Under non-forested conditions, a dark yellowish brown to black surface Ahorizon occurs which isusually less than 10cm thick. Texturally it may be either fine sand, loamy fine sand, or fine sandy loam . Soil reaction is quite variable, ranging from slightly to extremely acid . Under forested conditions, a layer of accumulated organic matter (LFH horizon) overlies the A horizon at the surface. It is usually less than 5 cm thick, and is very dark brown to black in color. Slightly decomposed leaves and twigs mainly constitute this surface layer. Soil materials of the association are well sorted, with the sand content of the parent material ranging from 84 to 99% . Mean sand content is 94% . Of the total sand content, the fine sand fraction ranges from 37 to 93 %, with the mean fine sand content being 70% . Gravel size particles greater than 2 mm in size are almost non-existent in St . Thomas soils . Soil Moisture Characteristics St . Thomas soils are excessive to well-drained onthe crests and upper slopes of sand ridges or knolls which are common in many landscapes . Imperfectly drained soils are found on the lower slopes of sand ridges or knolls, in depressional areas between well-drained soils, or on the slightly elevated areas in very gently undulating topography. Poorly drained soils occur on level to nearly level topography, or depressional areas between better drained soils . Due to the coarse nature ofthe materials, St . Thomas soils are rapidly permeable and have a low moisture holding capacity. Periodic droughty conditions are common in the excessive towell-drained soils . Surface runoff is slow. Soil Landscape Units Eight units were identified in the St . Thomas association . They are described as follows : Recognized Recognized Subgroups Series STl : Dominantly exces- Orthic Humo- St . Thomas sive to well-drained ferric soils found on very Podzols gently to gently Orthic Dystric Limoges sloping or undulating Brunisols topography. Slopes range from 2 to 9% .
Recognized Recognized Subgroups Series ST2 : Dominantly well- OrthicHumo- St . Thomas drained soils in ferric combination with Podzols (well) significant areas Orthic Dystric Limoges of imperfectly drained Brunisols (well) soils found on nearly Gleyed Humo- Achigan level to very gently ferric sloping or undulating Podzols topography. Slopes (imperfect) range from 1 to 5010 . Gleyed Dystric Vinette Brunisols (imperfect) ST3 : Dominantly well- Orthic Humo- St . Thomas drained soils in ferric combination with Podzols (well) significant areas Orthic Dystric Limoges ofpoorly drained Brunisols (well) soils found on OrthicHumic Cheney undulating topog- Gleysols (poor) raphy. Slopes range from 1 to 9% . ST4 : Dominantly imper- Gleyed Humo- Achigan fectly drained soils ferric in combination with Podzols significant areas (imperfect) of poorly drained Gleyed Dystric Vinette soils found on very Brunisols gently to gently (imperfect) undulating topog- Orthic Humic Cheney raphy. Slopes range Gleysols from 1 to 5% . (poor) ST5 : Dominantly poorly Orthic Humic Cheney drained soils in Gleysols (poor) combination with Orthic Humo- St . Thomas significant areas ferric ofwell-drained Podzols (well) soils found on Orthic Dystric Limoges very gently to Brunisols gently undulating (well) topography. Slopes range from 1 to 5010 . ST6 : Dominantly poorly Orthic Humic Cheney drained soils found Gleysols on level or nearly level topography. Slopes range from 0to 2 01o , ST7 : Dominantlypoorly Orthic Humic Cheney drained soils in Gleysols (poor) combination with Gleyed Humo- Achigan significant areas ferric ofimperfectly Podzols drained soils (imperfect) found on very Gleyed Dystric Vinette gently undulating Brunisols topography. Slopes (imperfect) range from 1 to 2% . Recognized Recognized Subgroups Series ST8 : Dominantly well- Highly variable drained soils in combination with significant areas of imperfectly drained soils found on very gentlyto gently undulating topography. Layers of clay or heavy clay occur within 1 m ofthe surface. Slopes range from 1 to 5 010 . Taxonomic Components Excessive to well-drained soils as well as imperfectly drained soils of the association often have diagnostic Bf horizons which place them in the Podzolic soil order. These horizons, however, do not occur continuously across all landscapes . In some soils, they are not thick enough to be diagnostic for podzolic soils . In others, the accumulation of iron, aluminum and organic matter is not enough to meet the requirements for a podzolic B horizon . In both of these instances, the B horizons (Bm, Bfj horizons) which occur place those soils in the Brunisolic soil order. The excessive to well-drained St . Thomas series (Orthic Humo-ferric Podzol subgroup) under forested conditions has a verydark brown to black LFH surface horizon of accumulated organic matter. It is composed mainly of slightly decomposed leaves and twigs . Under non-forested conditions, a dark yellowish brown to black Ap horizon occurs at the surface which is usually less than 10 cm thick . A brown to light gray Ae horizon, less than 5 cm thick, occurs directly below the A horizon . Immediately below the Ae horizon a dark brown to strong brown Bf horizon occurs which averages 18 cm in thickness . The accumulation of iron, aluminum, and organic matter in this horizon exceeds the limits required for a podzolic B horizon . Lower B and BC horizons are dark yellowish brown to light olive brown in color. Color of the parent material is light yellowish brown to olive. Structure is usually single grain throughout the profile. The excessive to well-drained Limoges series (Orthic Dystric Brunisol subgroup) is similar to the St . Thomas series in most soil profile characteristics. The major difference is the absence of a podzolic B horizon, which then places these soils inthe Brunisolic soil order.Ayellowish brown to strong brown Bfj or Bra horizon usually occurs in place of a Bf horizon as found in the St . Thomas series . The accumulation of iron and aluminum combined with organic matter in these horizons is not great enoughto meetthe requirements of a podzolic B horizon . The absence of a well developed Ae horizon also differentiates the Limoges series from the St . Thomas series in cases where the surface has not been disturbed . The imperfectly drained Achigan series (Gleyed Humoferric Podzol subgroup) is subject to water saturation for short periods during the growing season . Profile characteristics are similar to the St . Thomas series except for duller yellowish brown to olive gray matrix colors and faint to prominent yellowish red to dark yellowish brown mottles in the lower B horizons and parent material . Like the St . Thomas series, a podzolic Bfhorizon is present in these soils .
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i The Soils of The III Regional Mun
Page 3 and 4:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . . . . . . . . .
Page 5 and 6:
1 . Soil map index for the Regional
Page 7 and 8:
0 t W. CARLETO 10 L 20 km KANATA GO
Page 9 and 10:
Otta!~? Figure 3. Main towns, trans
Page 11 and 12:
Arnprior Chats Falls Almonte " Carp
Page 13 and 14:
may also contain shaly layers . Out
Page 15 and 16:
Till plains (undrumlinized) _ Esker
Page 17 and 18:
Surficial Geology and Relationship
Page 19 and 20: HUN nnnnoioion miammoo nonmmnon nou
Page 21 and 22: GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS SOIL ASSOCIATI
Page 23 and 24: GEOLOGICAL MATERIALS SOIL ASSOCIATI
Page 25 and 26: In this survey, boundaries were per
Page 27 and 28: BASIC LAND AREAS SOIL ASSOCIATION -
Page 29 and 30: their agricultural use . The domina
Page 31 and 32: OTTAWA- CARLETON SOILS t TYPE DEPTH
Page 33 and 34: B3 : Dominantlyvery Rego Gleysols p
Page 35 and 36: cant component, approximately 600 h
Page 37 and 38: In some soils, significant layers o
Page 39 and 40: Taxonomic Components The well-drain
Page 41 and 42: Taxonomic Components Four component
Page 43 and 44: Correlation to Ottawa Urban Fringe
Page 45 and 46: The well-drained Orthic Melanic Bru
Page 47 and 48: ial which extends in a northwest-so
Page 51 and 52: all Leitrim soils classified as suc
Page 53 and 54: The imperfectly drained St . Damase
Page 55 and 56: Recognized Recognized Subgroups Ser
Page 57 and 58: Soil Materials North Gower soils co
Page 59 and 60: Figure 17 . A poorly drained Orthic
Page 61 and 62: Figure 25 . Manotick association so
Page 63 and 64: Soil Landscape Units Four units wer
Page 65 and 66: Recognized Recognized Subgroups Ser
Page 67 and 68: sloping areas, groundwater flow, an
Page 69: from clay to silty clay loam . In s
Page 73 and 74: scapes occurring inclose proximity
Page 75 and 76: Within Rockland units, significant
Page 77 and 78: A . AGRICULTURAL CAPABILITY CLASSIF
Page 79 and 80: Table 7 . (cont'd) R' : T' : V' : W
Page 81 and 82: adequate moisture or a wetness limi
Page 83 and 84: In order to apply the tables, one m
Page 85 and 86: (e) The Capability Rating Tables Ta
Page 87 and 88: 00 Table 9. (continued) Slope Class
Page 89 and 90: Table 9 . (continued) AGRICULTURAL
Page 91 and 92: Table 9 . (continued) AGRICULTURAL
Page 93 and 94: Soil Landscape Unit Table 10 . Agri
Page 95 and 96: The water erosion formula, A= RKLSC
Page 97 and 98: soil Association Table 13 . K-value
Page 99 and 100: graphic regions . Therefore, the C
Page 101 and 102: Table 17 . continued Crop Rotation
Page 103 and 104: SOIL SOIL MATERIAL DESCRIPTION MAIN
Page 105 and 106: C . LAND SUITABILITY CLASSIFICATION
Page 107 and 108: Table 19 . Land suitability ratings
Page 109 and 110: Table 19 . continued Soil associati
Page 111 and 112: 1 . Marshall, I.B., J. Dumanski, E.
Page 113 and 114: Class Description Sl Slightly stony
Page 115 and 116: Soil Association GRENVILLE Series a
Page 117 and 118: Soil Association Series and (Subgro
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The Soils of The Regional Municipality of Ottawa=Carleton

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