soil survey matsqui municipality and sumas mountain...

SOIL SURVEY

of

MATSQUI MUNICIPALITY AND SUMAS MOUNTAIN

by

G . G . Runka and C . C . Kelley

PRELIMINARY REPORT N0. 6

of the

LOWER FRASER VALLEY SOIL SURVEY

Map Reference :

Soil Map of Matsqui Municipality and Sumas Mountain .Scale : 1" = 2,000 feet . 1964 .

BRITISH COLU?UBIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

KEL04VNA, B . C .

March, 1964

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C 0 N T E N T SPage

Acknowledgement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1How to use a Soil Survey Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA :

Location and Extent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Community Facilities, Population and Transportation . . . . . . 3Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Origin of Soil Forming Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6Agriculture and Soil Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Soil Mapping and Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

DESCRIPTIONS OF SOILS :

Lowland

Regosol Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Grevell Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Isar Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Monroe Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Lickman Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Fairf ield Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Bates Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Gleysol Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Prest Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Page Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31McElvee Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33Sardis Soil Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Hallert Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36Annis Muck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Humic Gleysol Soils . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39Hjorth Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40Niven Soil Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41Sim Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42Elk Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Hazelwood Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Eluviated Gleysol Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Beharrel Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Muck Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Banford Muck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50Gibson Muck . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Peat Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Triggs Peat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

ii

Upland

Page

Acid Brown Forest Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Bateman Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Concretionary Brown Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Nicholson Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Abbotsford Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60

Acid Brown Wooded Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62Whatcom Silt Loam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63Columbia Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Aldergrove Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Poignant Soil Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Peardonville Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70Laxton Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71Marble Hill Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73Ryder Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Defehr Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77Cox Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

Podzol Soils . . . . . . . ., . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80Lynden Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81Custer Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

Gleysol Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Scat Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84Lehman Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Calkins Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87Cornock Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89Ross Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Muck Soils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92Judson Muck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Miscellaneous Land Types :

Dykes and Ditches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Gravel Pits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Lakes, Ponds and Sloughs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93Rock Outcrops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Subdivided Areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94Trans-Canada Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94

Chemical Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101Interpretation of Chemical Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

TABLES :

P age

1 . Classification of soils and parent materials . . . . . . . . . . 16

2 . Map symbols and acreages of different soils . . . . . . . . . . . 94

3 . Chemical analyses of lowland snil profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

4 . Chemical analyses of composite samples of lowland soils 113

5 . Chemical analyses of upland soil profiles and compositesurface samples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Appendix A - Average monthly and annual mean temperatures . 125

Appendix B - Monthly and annual precipitation at Aldergrove 126

Appendix C - Monthly and annual precipitation at AbbotsfordAirport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Appendix D - Spring and fall frosts and duration of frost-free periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Appendix E - Average monthly and annual snowfall < . . . . . . . . . 129

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The classification of soils in the Matsqui Municipality -Sumas Mountain areas was undertaken by the Soil Survey Branch,British Columbia Department of Agriculture . Air photos used asfield sheets were supplied by the Assessment Commission,Department of Finance . The Air Division, Surveys and MappingBranch, Department of Lands, Forests and Water Resources,supplied base maps and developed an autopositive from whichprints are taken .

Acknowledgement is made to Dr . J . E . Armstrong, Departmentof Mines and Technical Surveys, Vancouver, for information inregard to surficial deposits, and to farmers and. Department ofAgriculture and municipal officials for general information .

Participating soil survey staff were H . A . Luttmerding,L . R . Paynton, T . A . Black, W . W . Bourgeois, T . Witt, andF . W. Kopisch-Obuch . Laboratory analyses was undertaken byV . E . Osbor.ne, J . Cotic, and A . B . Dawson .

INTRODUCTION

The survey of Matsqui Municipality was requested by theAssessment Commissioner, Department of Finance, Victoria . Theprimary purpose was to continue the evaluation of Lower FraserValley soils in relation to rural land assessment . The secondaryobjective was soil classification for general use . This is partof a series of surveys of municipalities begun in 1956, eventuallyto cover the Lower Fraser Valley from tidewater to Hope, and toinclude the Lillooet River Valley . When completed a report onthe whole area will be published . To date interim reports andsoil maps have been produced of the municipalities of PittMeadows, Delta, Surrey, Chilliwack, Sumas, and Matsqui .

Field work began in 1962 and it was completed in 1963 .Field sheets consisted of 9 x 9" air photos, scale 1,320 feet toan inch . A map, "Soil Map of Matsqui Municipality and SumasMountain", scale 2,000 feet to an inch, was prepared . Handtinted copies are supplied to government agencies, but othersmust obtain the prints at nominal cost from the Department ofAgriculture, Victoria, and do their own tinting . Soil descrip-tions, climatic and laboratory data, are included in this report .

HOW TO USE A SOIL SURVEY REPORT

Farmers who have lived in a locality for a long time knowthe soil distinctions on their farms and on the farms of theirimmediate neighbors . However, unless they can refer to a soilsurvey report they cannot compare their soils with those onexperimental stations and on other parts of the district where,perhaps, higher yields than those they obtain are reported .

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The similarities and differences among soils can be studiedafter a soil map has been made . When comparisons are possible,new techniques that have proved successful can be transferred tothe same soil elsewhere or to closely related soils, with theleast chance of failure .

To determine the nature of the soils on any farm or otherland, it should be located on the soil map . Each kind of soilis marked on the map by a distinctive color and a symbol ; i .e .all soils with the same color and symbol are of the same kind .To find the name of a soil so marked, refer to the map legend .If M :sp means Monroe silt loam or loam, shallow phase, there willbe a description of this soil in the report, including its landuse .

If a general idea of the whole area is wanted, read the soildescriptions that come under the section, "Descriptions of Soils" .Then study the soil map and notice that different groups of soilstend to occur in different localities . These groupings are likelyto be associated with differences in the type of farming or landuse .

A newcomer seeking a farm also vaants climatic informationand data on schools, churches, highways, railroads, electricservices, water supplies, and population . A brief statementabout these is given in the section, "General Description of theArea" .

The colors on the soil map are to distinguish the soils fromone another, and to show the extent of each soil area . Boundariesbetween soils vary in width, and generally include a zone withsome of the characteristics mixed . Within most soil areas thereoften are spots occupied by other soilsq which are too small tobe separated, or are so intermixed as to be inseparable . Wherethis occurs the areas are often mapped as a "complex" of two ormore different soils .

LOCATION AND EXTENT

The surveyed area comprises 66,006 acres . This includesMatsqui Municipality and about 11,000 acres of the unorganizedterritory of Sumas Mountain . Matsqui Municipality, incorporatedin 1892, extends from the 49th parallel north to the FraserRiver. It is bounded on the west by Langley Municipality and onthe east by Sumas Municipality and Sumas Mountain .

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C01t11V1UNITY FACILITIES, POPULATION, AND TRANSPORTATION

The Matsqui Municipal Water System, with 35 .5 miles of mains,supplies most water users . There are also a few smaller systems,such as the lUlt . Lehman Water District, which serve localizedareas, and wells and springs provide farm water supplies . In thelowland, irrigation water is obtained by pumping from the FraserRiver, and from creeks and ditches . In some parts of theAbbotsford upland, irrigation water is obtained from a watertable about 10 to 35 feet deep .

Matsqui is part of School District No . 34, which includesSumas Municipality and Abbotsford . The schools are adequate, anda bus service is available to most children . There is goodmedical and dental service, and a combined Matsqui-Sumas-Abbotsford hospital and ambulance . Law enforcement is by munici-pal police and the R .C .M .P .

The population of Matsqui Municipality increased from 10,308in 1951 to 14,293 in 1961, according to the census (12) . A morerapid growth may occur when new sections of Highway No . 1 arecompleted . This will make the area accessible to part timefarmers, and people employed in Vancouver and New Westminster,who want to live in the country .

The main line of the C . ?T . R ., a branch of the C . P . R .and a railway operated by the B. C . Hydro and Power Authorityprovide adequate rail transportation . Highway No . 1 gives goodroad access to Vancouver and the interior . The municipalitymaintained 129 miles of paved and 75 .6 miles of gravelled roadsin 1961 . Bus transportation east and west is available. TheAbbotsford Airport is an emergency landing field suitable forcommercial and private planes, Electricity and natural gas aresupplied by the B. C . Hydro and Power Authority . Telephone andtelegraph services are adequate .

Abbotsford is the main distributing centre for the munici-pality . The hamlets of Yatsqui, Clayburn, Bradner, and Plit .Lehman have services which include post offices and minor retailoutlets . The village of Aldergrove in the neighboring munici-pality of Langley, serves as a distributing centre for residentsof the western section of iVlatsqui Municipality .

PHYSIOGRAPHY AND DRAINAGE

Matsqui Municipality is composed of upland and lowlandareas . The west half is a part of the Langley Upland, which hasa rolling surface rising to 400 feet or more above sea level .In the southern part is the triangular Abbotsford Upland, whichhas north-south ridges on its east side that rise 75 to 100 feetabove the general surface .

Matsqui Prairie is a part of the Fraser Lowland . Itoccupies the northeast part of the municipality, bounded on theeast by Sumas Mountain, which rises to about 3 ;000 feet elevation .The lowland is comparatively flat, with elevations less than 25feet . Dykes along the south bank of the Fraser River protectthe lowland from flooding during the freshet . The eastern partof. Glen Valley is in the northwest corner of the municipality .Glen Valley also is a part of the Fraser Lowland ; the valleysides rise to elevations of 300 feet or more (13) .

The northwest part of the municipality is drained by NathanCreek, the source of which is on the upland . It drains the GlenValley flats into the Fraser River . McLennan, Downes and Wilbandcreeks originate on the upland around P+latsqui Prairie, andClayburn Creek begins on Sumas Mountain . These creeks flow acrossMatsqui Prairie, partly in natural and artificial channels, anddrain into the Fraser .

The precipitation is absorbed by the permeable upland soilsthat occur in the southwest part of the municipality . The watersurface in gravel pits and in Abbotsford, :Laxton and Judson lakesindicate the elevation of the water table . Fishtrap Creek, whichhas its source near the drainage divide north of Clearbrook, andflows south across the 49th parallel, is fed chiefly by ground-water .

CLIMATE

The climate is inshore maritime, and strongly influenced bythe Coast Mountains, which terminate on the north side of theFraser River . The most noteworthy feature is the large numberof low pressure systems that come inland . These are much morecommon than incoming highs, particularly in winter . At timesthey follow one another for weeks or even months, with sQarcelya day between .

The numerous low pressure systems bring much rainfall inwinter, when it serves no purpose . The excessive amount ofwater drains from the upland to the lowland, raising watertables and creating an expensive disposal problem . The onlybenefit from winter rainfall is renewal of the groundwaterreservoir under the upland, but since this has not been exploitedto any marked extent the benefit is not important .

In winter, occasional polar air masses cover the southerninterior and sometimes drain through tributary valleys into theLower Fraser Valley . The mecting of polar air with damp, mari-time air is heralded by heavy falls of snow or a silver thaw,followed by low temperatures (11) .

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The abundance in winter is followed by a deficiency of rain-fall in summer, particularly in the two important crop growingmonths of July and August . This condition favors the productionof crops that mature early ; it limits the yield of those such ashay, which use the whole growing season . If summer rainfalldeficiency could be overcome, the yields of full season crops,and the carrying capacity of pastures, could be increased . Thiscould be accomplished by irrigation .

Temp erature

The nearest meteorological stations are at Abbotsford,Aldergrove and Mission . The one at Aldergrove has been operatingonly four years . The following table shows the extremes for theperiods of records (4) :

Station MaximYears of

Minimum Annual Elevation Record

Aldergrova 97oF loF 48oF 275 feet 4Abbotsford 100 -6 49 198 16Mission 100 6 50 185 10

The average monthly temperatures are in appended Table A.

Preci~itation

The records show wide variation of precipitation in everymonth, but conditions during the five months, May to September,are the most important for crop growth . In these months 42, 46and 38 percent of the years of record had less than two inchesof rainfall per month at Aldergrove, Abbotsford and Missionrespectively . For heavy soils the water requirement is aboutfive inches per month durin-- the dry months . With rainfall lessefficient than irrigation, there is a deficiency in July and inAugust, and in some years in May, June or September . Moredetailed precipitation data are in appended Tables B and C (4) .

Sunshine and Cloud

The frequent low pressure systems that move inland assurecloudiness, particularly in winter . Incoming highs bringingclear skies are more frequent in summer, so there is more sun-shine . In British Columbia, annual sunshine ranges from 937hours at Prince Rupert (Marine Radio), to 2,207 at Victoria(Gonzales) . In the Lower Fraser Valley the range is from 1,925at the Vancouver Airport to 1,389 hours at Agassiz . In December,January and February, monthly hours of sunshine are 43, 56 and 88at Vancouver Airport and 41, 44 and 73 at Agassiz . The figures

indicate that the Lower Fraser Valley is one of the most cloudyparts of the province where records are kept .

Frost and Snowfall

The longest frost-free season in Canada occurs in thePacific Coast area, which includes the Lower Fraser Valley . Thefrost-free period is about 166 days at Abbotsford . Other frostdata is in appended Table D, which shows -that the frost-freeperiod is from 22 to 30 days shorter at Abbotsforc'. Airport thanat Chilliwack and Agassiz . Local influences, such as topography,elevations and distance from large bodies of water are probablecauses of the shorter frost-free period (11) .

Appended Table E indicates that snowfall increases withdistance from tidewater . In 11 years of record, AbbotsfordAirport averaged 28 .8 inches of snow . In the same period, theaverage annual precipitation was 58 .64 inches . Inasmuch asabout 10 inches of snow is equal to one of rain, about threeinches of precipitation falls as snow .

ORIGIN OF SOIL FORMING DEPOSITS

Matsqui Municipality is divisible into two land forms .These are uplands at 35 to 450 feet elevations, and the lowlandsof PJtatsqui Prairie and Glen Valley which are below 35 feetelevation .

The entire municipality is underlain by unconsolidateddeposits of Pleistocene or Recent age . These are at least 1,000feet thick at the 49th parallel and in lJtatsqui Valley (13) . Atelevations from 35 to 3,000 feet on Sumas Mountain, such depositsare absent, or up to a few tens of feet thick .

Lowland Soil Forming Materials

These are of post-glacial origin, and were classified asthe Salish Group (13) . The Salish Group consists of thefollowing :

1) Fraser FloodTlain Deposits

The recent floodplains are composed of silty clay, silt andsand up to 20 feet thick, with sand substrata . On the innermargin of the floodplain, the fine textured sediments weredeposited in large, shallow ponds .

Closer to the river there were meander channels, which werea part of the river in the flood stage . Sedimentation spreadfrom these by lateral accretion . The natural levees along thechannels have sandy and silty textures, though related or nearbyhollows have heavier texture .

2) Swamp or Bog Deposits

Swamp or bog deposits of peat and muck overlie sectionsalong the inner margins of the floodplain . As a rule the bogsare supplied .with water seeping from the groundwater reservoirunder the upland, and in their later stages at least, they becameseepage bogs . Another form of peat deposit occurs where a pondon the floodpain was gradually filled by peat which grew towardthe centre from the surrounding shore .

The organic deposits average from two to three feet thick,but in places they attain depths of eight feet or more . Bogswhich have been cultivated are probably thinner than they werein the natural state . In many places silts and clays carried induring flood stages of the river were deposited on the organicmaterial, thus increasing its value for agriculture .

3) Fans and Slopewash Deposits

Alluvial fans and colluvial slopewash occur near the boun-dary of the lowland and upland, and minor areas of soils arederived from them . These materials have a range of textures .

In addition to the soil-forming materials mentioned in 1)to 3) above, sediments deposited by streams which meander acrossthe lowland are the parent materials of some minor soil types .

Upland Soil Forming Deposits

The materials from which the upland soils are derived areolder than those of the lowland . They consist of glacio-marine,glacial till, glacio-fluvial and glaciolacustrine depositsmantled by a variable thickness of silty loess . The loess thinsout in the, western half of the municipality, and its identifica-tion becomes uncertain . These materials, which belong to theSumas Group (13), are described as follows :

1) Whatcom Glacio-marin e Deposits

These are composed of stony silty clay,~

clay, silt,sand from 25 to 300 feet thick . In scattered areas thereoverlay of Sumas Till, usually less than five feet thick.

andis an

The glacio-marine deposits, which resemble till, arethought to have been formed from ice which contained debris thatwas pushed off shore when a part of an ice-sheet . The outerareas of this ice were afloat . As the ice melted the releasedmaterials rained through the seawater and settled on the bottom .It is identified as glacio-marine by the remains of clams andother sea animals of arctic and subarctic species in thedeposits .

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2) Sumas Til1

This till consists of a compact, unsorted mixture of stones,sand, silt, clay, and substratified drift or outwash from five to35 feet thick . The till is covered by a variable thickness ofloess, which ranges from none at all to about 12 feet thick . Inthe Sumas Mountain area the till is underlain by Mesozoic granitesand volcanics .

3) Abbotsford Outwash

The Abbotsford Outwash consists of glacio-fluvial recessionaldeposits, which include pitted or kettled sand and gravel up to125 feet thick . In some places the sand is duned, the dunesbeing up to 25 feet thick . The outwash area has a variable loessmantle from none at all to about three feet thick .

An inclusion with the Abbotsford Outwash consists of ice-contact sand and gravel deposits containing lenses of glacio-marine silty clay and till. These may have a thickness up to-50feet or more . A cover of loess can be identified in scatteredareas .

4) Glaciolacustrine D eposits

These materials which are of minor occurrence, consistchiefly of stratified silty clay, silt, fine sand and some minorcoarse sand and gravel . The deposits occur on the rim of theupland, above Matsqui Prairie .

Huntington Gravels, assigned to the Capilano Group (13),are soil parent materials in minor areas. These gravels aregenerally mantled by the Swmas Group, hence they occur at thesurface only in places where the Sumas materials have beenremoved by erosion .

In the mapped section of Sumas Mountain, the Mesozoicgranites and volcanics are exposed, or within 25 feet of the sur-face . Where bedrock is not exposed, the overlay is composed ofglacial and glacio-fluvial materials .

The relationship of the soils to the geological soil-forming deposits is shown in Table 1 .

AGRICULTURE AND SOIL MANAGEMENT

In Matsqui the agriculture is probably more diverse than inany other municipality in the Lower Fraser Valley . The lowlandis noteworthy for dairying, with small areas devoted to blue-berries, strawberries, raspberries, rhubarb, and vegetables . On

the upland there are large areas in small fruits, bulbs, vege-tables and dairying . Poultry and fur farming are also importanton the upland .

Soil drainage, irrigation, liming and fertilizationinfluence soil productivity . A combination of these managementprocedures is necessary for economic crop production :

1) Soil Drainage

In the lowlanc . area, drainage is the most influential factorin regard to soil rating and classification . During high wateron the Fraser River, from about May 20 to June 5 each year, thelow lying land near the dykes may be flooded, and land slightlyabove this level may have a high water table . The extent of theflooding from river seepage and from creeks is dependent on theheight of the freshet . The level of an abnormal freshet may be10 feet or more higher than that of an average one .

Matsqui Prairie is protected by dykes, but in places,seepage comes under them at high water, and low areas near theriver are inundated . In the Matsqui Dyking District, Clayburn,Wilband, and Page creeks drain into Pdlatsqui Slough, from whichwater is pumped into the Fraser . MeLennan Creek flows intoGifford Slough, which takes the water from the southwest cornerof the dyking district . The water is pumped into the FraserRiver from the mouth of this slough . The movement of water inthe creeks and sloughs is sluggish, owing to the almost flatgradient . Flooding can occur in periods of heavy rain, becauserunoff is not fast enough .

Glen Valley is not protected by a dyke and property ownersdo not pay a dyking tar. . The C . N . R . grade affords protectionsouth of it, but when flooding is above average, the railwaygrade is not adequate .

The section of Glen Valley in NIatsqui Municipality isdrained chiefly by Nathan Creek, but this creek has a flattishgradient, and the flow is not fast enough to prevent floodingwhen rainfall is heavy . In Glen Valley and on Matsqui Prairiean improvement of drainage works is needed in order to helpindividual farm drainage . The cleaning and straightening of thenatural water courses would increase the speed of runoff, but itwould not prevent some of the flooding .

Upland drainage is not as important as on the lowland .Poorly drained depressions and seepage slopes are common, butmost occupy less than an acre . Many depressions can be drainedby tile or open ditch at small cost . Seepages can often bedrained by an intercepting ditch or line of tile bottomed on theimpervious layer which is the cause of the saturation . Wheredepressions are in glacio-marine deposits or till, they could be

- 10 -

deepened, ponded, and the water used for irrigation .

Farm drainage should be planned for rapid removal of waterfrom the rooting zone, but the water table should be maintainedat levels that would aid crop growth . To assess the best heightfor the water table, it is necessary to understand the soil typeand its effect on degrees of saturation, internal drainage,workability and temperature relationships .

It is also important to know the characteristics of plantsto be grown, particularly in regard to their rooting habits .For lowland soils with fluctuating water tables, underdrainageshould remove water to a 24 inch depth, but the rate of removalis related to the rate of infiltration . Thus, it is importantto know how faSt water can and should be removed from each soiltype . The levels of district drainage should be related to theneeds of individual farm drainage .

The Land Clearing Assistance Act, administered by theProvincial Department of Agriculture, was amended in 1959 toprovide loans to farmers who want to undertake individual farmdrainage . M . G . Driehuyzen, Department of Agriculture, Box 356,Cloverdale, is available to farmers in the Lower Fraser Valley,to provide advice in regard tc land drainage : This includestile spacing for different soils, tile depth, ditch construction,and other problems related to drainage .

Farmers have financial losses due to poor drainage, inasmuchas high water tables and flooding kill or restrict the growth ofcrops and reduce the effectiveness of lime and fertilizer applica-tions . Low soil temperatures due to saturation reduce phosphorusand nitrogen availability. Water table fluctuations leach thesurface soil, resulting in loss of calcium and nitrogen andperhaps other nutrients.

High water tables have a marked effect in the early part ofthe growing season by slowing root growth when top growth isvigorous. Under these conditions pasturing or harvestingreduces plant vigor and yield . A high water table or even inun-dation has no serious effect on most plants if it is of shortduration, but if prolonged, severe damage is done . It also isthe cause of poor aeration, indifferent germination, slow growth,uneven maturity, and poor quality and yield .

The following is a partial list of crops grown in MatsquiMunicipality that require water tables 24 to 30 inches deep (6) :

Drained

- 11 -

to 24 Inches Drained to 30 Inches

Pasture Beets CornBlueberries Turnips LettuceParsley Strawberries CerealsRadish Raspberries (Newburgh) RaspberriesSpinach Beans MangelsSquash Cabbage BulbsBrussels sprouts PeasCauliflower PotatoesMost Nursery Stock

Internal drainage, soil permeability and the need for arti-ficial drainage is discussed where necessary in the sectionsthat describe the cifferent soils .

2) Irrigation

Irrigation is necessary in a summer-dry climate, regardlessof the amount of total precipitation . The dry summers areresponsible for moisture deficiency during the most importantcrop growing months . Pasture, for example, provides adequategrazing until the end of June, then declines in the July -August drought .

An estimated 15 inches of water is required for hay andpasture during the growing season ; 11 inches should be availablefrom July 1 to September 30 . Rainfall at Abbotsford totalsabout 12 inches from May to September 30, with about six inchesfrom July 1 to the end of September . Though such averagesindicate deficiency, they mask annual variations which cause theshortages to be more acute than they show . The actual deficien-cies that occur should be insured by provision for irrigation asrequired . The variations from year to year in the time ofrecord are shown in appended Tables B and C .

A source of water for irrigation may be a problem in partsof the lowland that lie at a distance from sloughs and creeks,or where wells do not give substantial flows . For the lowland,however, the Fraser could supply all the water required . Theriver water has a pH value of about 7 .5, which would help toneutralize the soil and thus eliminate the need of liming, inaddition to supplying moisture .

On part of the upland, particularly in the area ofAbbotsford Outwash on the south side of the municipality, waterfor irrigation is obtainable from wells or frcm bulldozed scoop-outs from 10 to 20 feet deep . At the time of the survey (1963),this source of water was not used to full advantage, much of thearea being uncultivated because the soils are droughty withoutirrigation .

On upland areas underlain by glacio-marine deposits thenatural reservoir is in interglacial fine sands at greaterdepths and more difficult to tap . However, in these areas sur-face and seepage water in limited amounts could be stored inscoop-outs or dammed depressions and used to irrigate smallfruits . Wherever water for irrigation is available, the costof a system would be repaid by the increased crop yields .

3) The Use of Lime and Fertilizers

Lime and fert; .lizer requirements of different soils, and ondifferent farms hat ing the same soil, should be determined bythe crops grown and the past history and performance of the farm .No standard recommE-ndationti are possible because of soil varia-tion, crops grown ;snd management status of the farms . The ?mountsand kinds of fertilizers to apply for different crops should bediscussed with the District Agriculturist or District Horticul-turist, Court House :, Abbotsford .

It was observed during the survey that a wide range offertilizers were in use, and these were being applied at dif-ferent rates . Thi :~ indicated a lack of agreement as to fertili-zer practice among farmers . Many applications were inadequate,and in a few cases too much fertilizer was applied . A fewfarmers conducted their own fertilizer experiments with goodresults, particularly when the land is irrigated .

Response to lime was limited in some cases, but response tonitrogen was generally good . Other elements gave varying degreesof crop response, often related to the kind of crop grown .

4) Land Clearing and Lev e llin g

a) Lowland

When levelling lowland soils, care should be taken wherethere are sandy strata in the subsoil not to bring sand to thesurface and thus decrease moisture-holding capacity . Onexposure of the underlying, sand, soil fertility is reduced andheavy applications of organic matter and fertilizer are neces-sary before satisfac:4ory crop growth is again obtained . Undergood conditions for it, levelling makes cultural practice easierby filling depressions and thus eliminating wet spots . Whereland is drained atid irrigated, and drougrty conditions eliminated,levelling has the advantage of enabling farmers to utilizemachinery with the greatest convenience .

b) Upland

Levelling of the upland soils can do so much damage to themthat it should not be done at all unless the greatest care istaken . These soils should not be levelled by bulldozing the

solum into hollows and exposing the parent materials, which aresterile and in some cases impervious,

In the case of coarse textured sola, stones may be exposedand water-holding capacity reduced . Where the substratum con-sists of glacio-marine or till deposits, this hard, imperviousmaterial is often exposed, and five years or more of intensivetreatment with cultivation, organic matter and fertilizer may berequired before satisfactory growth can be obtained . Wherelevelling must be done, tile first foot or more of soil should bemoved to one side, the land levelled ; and the soil replaced .

A considerable acreage suitable for clearing and cultivationstill exists on the Matsqui upland, Before land clearing isundertaken, particularly by heavy machinery, the expected returnsin relation to clearing cost should be estimated .

SOIL MAPPIN G AND CLASS IFICATION

Field Methods

The soils of Matsqui Municipality were mapped in detail ata scale of 1,320 feet to an inch, Those on Sumas Mountain weremapped on a reconnaissance scale of 2,640 feet to an inch . Airphotos were used as field sheets, and the classification datawas plotted upon them,

Test pits, road and railway cuts, and other excavationswere used to examine soil profiles, to identify them, to samplethem for laboratory analyses, and to obtain profile descriptions .The profiles were studied to determine texture, structure,consistence, permeability, drainage, and other observablefeatures in the environment of each soil-forming deposit .

Soil boundaries were found and established by bisectingthem on roads and by traverses across fields . Soil colors wereidentified by use of the Munsell Color System (15) .

Soil Classification

Soils develop from soil-forming deposits in response to thelocal environment . The kind of soil thus formed depends on thenature of the parent material, the length of time the geneticprocess has been operative, and the intensity of weathering .The speed of weathering is related to the amount of precipitation,the temperature, texture, topogr .:Lphy, drainage, and other environ-mental factors . The soil survey identifies the product andseparates the different soils by means of a syatem of classifica-tion .

On the basis of age and origin, the soils in MatsquiMunicipality are divisible into upland and lowland categories .

The upland soils are derived chiefly from older and oftencoarser materials than those of the lowland . There is also amantle of silty loess on the eastern part of the upland . Thethickness of this deposit decreases westward across the munici-pality . In the eastern section the soil sola have developed inthe loess, whereas to the west the underlying deposits become theparent materials of the weathered part of the soil profile .

The lowland soils are derived from more or less recentlydeposited river alluvium, and mainly they are finer textured thanthose of the upland . The alluvial materials were transportedfrom the interior of the province, and it is of interest to notethat such materials are commonly calcareous . Not more than 100years ago the Fraser was depositing limey silts and clays onMatsqui Prairie . Though the free lime may have leached sincethen, the soil chemistry may still be influenced by calcium, andthis is one of the ways in which they differ from the uplandsoils . The weathering of the lowland soils has been delayed bypoor drainage .

The basic mapping unit is the soil series . A soil seriesconsists of a group of related soils derived from similar parentmaterials having similar drainage, topography and profile charac-teristics except for surface texture . Areas having variablesurface textures, but otherwise the same, are distinguished assubdivisions of a soil series, called _soil types. Areas of aseries in which surface texture does not vary are also mapped assoil types . Soil types are distinguished by the name of theseries (e .g . Abbotsford) and the texture of the surface soil(e .g . gravelly loam), the full name of the soil type beingAbbotsford gravelly loam . The series names usually are placenames in the locality in which a soil series was originallyclassified .

Phases of a soil series may also be distinguished . Theseare based on variations within a series of topography, stoniness,drainage, depth of profile (e .g . if sand is encountered within18 inches depth in a fine textured soil, it is classed as ashallow phase) or other feature that may affect land use.

In some cases it is not feasible to separate two or moresoil series, owing to small areas or intimate intermixing withone another . Such areas are mapped as soil complexes . Where twoor more soil series have been described separately, the name ofthe complex consists of the names of the series of which it iscomposed . Such names are hyphenated (e .g . Banford-Gibson soilcomplex) ; the name of the series occupying the major acreagecomes first and the other names follow in the same order .

The soil series are classed in subgroups according to thepedologic development which signifies their genetic relationshipto one another . The soil subgroups in the lowland of Matsqui

Municipality are Orthic Regosol, Mull Regosol, Gleyed MullRegosol, Rego Gleysol, Peaty Rego Gleysol, Rego Humic Gleysol,Orthic Humic Gleysol, Humic Eluviated Gleysol, Muck and Peatsoils . On the upland the subgroups are Orthic Acid Brown Forest,Orthic Concretionary Brown,Orthic Acid Brown Wooded, Gleyed AcidBrown Wooded, Degraded Acid Brown Wooded, Minimal Podzol, GleyedOrtstein Podzol, Rego Gleysol, Rego Humic Gleysol, and Mucksoils (lE3) .

The above sequences of lowland and upland soils, includingthe geological materials from which they are derived, are givenin Table 1 . Short descriptions of the observable characteristicsof the pedologic subgroups head more detailed soil descriptionsin this report .

DESCRIPTIONS OF SOILS

Lowland Soils

REGOSOL SOILS

Regosols are mineral soils which lack observable horizons orhave only a very weakly developed Ah horizon . An L-H horizonless than 12 inches thick may be present .

In Matsqui Municipality Regosols occur on the most recentlydeposited alluvium of the Fra.ser River and local streams .Drainage may be from rapid to imperfect . Orthic, Mull andGleyed Mull subgroups were found .

Orthic Regosol Soils

This subgroup consists of mineral soils having little or noprofile development . The soils lack observable horizons or havevery weakly developed Ah horizons . Under forest an L-H horizonless than six inches thick may be present, The profile is notvisibly gleyed .

In Matsqui these soils occur on recently deposited alluvium .Drainage is from well drained to rapidly drained . Natural vege-tation varies from none at all to moderately heavy deciduousgrowth . The Orthic Regosols in the mapped area are the Grevelland Isar series .

Mul l Regosol Soils

The Mull Regosols are mineral .soils whose profile develop-ment is restricted to a distinct Ah horizon. Little or no L-Hhorizon is present, and there is no visible gley.

In the mapped area these soils occur on recently depositedalluvium, and they are moderately well to well drained . The

~ able 1 - CLASSIFIC:TIOPd OF SOILS A..dD PAREMT :JnTEriI1'~LS IIT i1[ATS0I :wiU:dICIPtiLITY .12TD ON SLT:1AS L`OUidTAI:T

L«FdLAND SOILS

SOIL SUBGROUPS

` i Gleyed ~ ~ Peaty j Rego ; Orthic ' Humic ; jParent

Materials~ OrthicRegnsol

~ Mull ! ~+ull ; Regc ~~ Glcysc 1'Regosol i Regc sol

Regc- j Humic ; Humic ~ Eluviated ~ iGlcyec~l ~ Gleysol E Gleysol , Gleyscl ~ Mluek Peat- (- _

1 .' codplain ~ jI-~~t.osits ; ( Grevc:ll 1~ _Acnrce f Fairfield ~ Prest kjorth ~' Hazelw_ -d ; Beharrel fi Aeral and ; 1 Page +Areztical.~(,-creticn

i

:c-lc odplainI:ej osits

~~ E rlying andO ~Iallert`7iven~

' (i : Lzcd in I, complex f ,S,cEmp

pcsits

1--cal Stream' Lickman ~ Bates ' iJcElvco Sim

-

iLepcsits ,

Sardisccmplex

Illuvial-~ ~

fC .lluvial Fan Isar ~ ElkDepcsits

~.~.iallew Swamp jL .-;posits

: is ,

(

amp~

Banford ` Triggs ~L :)posits ~ ! ~ ~ ~ lll

I Gibson j,

Table 1 - Continued

UPLAND SOILS

SOIL SURI3GROUPS

jOrthic Orthic ! Gleyed Degraded 2a Acid Concre- Acid Acid Gleyed 4 ~ Rego

Parent jBrown ticnary Orthic Acid Brown Brown Minimal OrtstRin Rego ( HumicMaterials ~'crest Brown Brown Wooded Wooded Wooded Pcdzol Podzcl Gleysol IGleyscl iuiuck

Glac3o-Marine ( tdichclson rVhatcom +~ E I ScatDe~,csits 1

Glacial Columbia ZyndenOutwash

ShallowGlacialOutwash over AldergroveGlecio-MarineDerosits

Shallow Loess Pc~ignant CcxDebris, Till, cmplexc

I

over Bedrock

Shallow LoessMixed with Abbctsfcrd Def ehr Custer LehmanQutwash cr asOverlay E

Shallow Loessover

e PeardonvilleContact t

Deposits ; {

tY

i

Table 1 - Ccntinued

U-.,LA~?h SOILS

SOIL SUBGROUPS

Orthic + Orthic {` ~ Gleyed ~ Degraded ~~

a C` IAcid ` Conc.rc- ft

ncid .~

( Acid Gleye~.~

{ RegcPParent i IsrovinI j tionary ` Orthic Acid Brown ~ Brown 1'+.inimal ~ Ortstein ~sc -c IiLUnic

~:e,7ateri,als Forest i Brown lLrcwn ~'+ocded ~ a~ooded ~ b';ooded Pcdzol ~ Podzcl ~ Gleysol Gleyscl ~ Muck,

:.aallcw Loes I ~ IcvE r Sand ~ ! Laxton }

~~ ~ r ~

~ I; !

Dun e s i ~ ~ 1=f

F I j ~ i j

~DecppZcess

Rateman ~ I.I Hill'

Cal~~ins

-' Ryder

SrzllowFloodplain `

c:Er Glacial ~ CornockCutwash

,itream ~ Sardis i RossZeposits complex

S~ ampDeposits I

native vegetation consists chiefly of deciduous growth . TheMonroe and Lickman series are Mull Regosols .

Gleyed Mull Regos ol Soils

These are composed of mineral soils with a distinct Ah hori-zon and a weakly gle,yed and mottled subsoil . Drainage is imper-fect . In the surveyed area, the Gleyed Mull Regosols occupyrecently deposited Fraser River and local stream sediments . Ori-ginally they had forest cover . Their representatives are theFairf ield and Bates series .

Orthic Regosol Soils

GREVELL SERIES

These soils are derived from the more recent deposits on theFraser River floodplain . They are located in the northern partof the mapped area close to the Fraser River, at from 10 to 15feet elevations . A total of 83 acres were mapped as GrevellSeries, and in addition there are a Grevell-Fairfield (shallowphase) complex, 57 acres, and a Grevell-Monroe (shallow phase)complex, 44 acres . The Fairfield and Monroe soils have theshallow phases .

The alluvial parent material was accumulated by lateralaccretion deposited in a direction away from the river . Theresulting topography is undulating to gently rolling with slopesfrom three to nine percent . The subsoil is composed of sandwhich is interstratified with materials of finer texture . Sur-face textures vary from medium sand to sandy loam, and the soilsoccupy rapidly drained to well drained positions .

These soils are Orthic Regosols, with little or no profiledevelopment . Soil reactions are from neutral at the surface toslightly alkaline at depths, owing to proximity to the river .

Areas that still have native vegetation contain a growth ofcottonwood, sandbar willow, Pacific willow, sitka alder, vinemaple, timbleberry, twinberry, red-osier dogwood, and a few herbsand weeds . An undisturbed profile about 300 feet northeast ofthe Lefeuvre and River road junction was described as follows :

HorizonDepthInches Descrip tion

L-H 2- 0 Undecomposed grass and forest litter . pH 7.0 .

Cl 0- 9 Gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or dark-gray to gray(10YR 4/1 - 5/1, moist) medium sand . Single-grained . Loose when moist . Roots common .pH 7 .2 .Abrupt boundary :

- 20 -

DepthHorizon Inches Description

C2 9-12 Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) orgrayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) loamy finesand, Weak, fine subangular blocky struc-ture . Loose when moist . Occasional roots .pH 7 " 3 "Abrupt boundary :

Cgj 12-22 Gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or brown to yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/3 - 5/4, moist) medium sand .Single-grained . Loose when moist . A few,fine, faint mottles . Occasional roots .pH 7.4 .Abrupt boundary :

C3 22+ Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) or rayto grayish-brown (l0YR 5/1 - 5/2, moist~medium sand . Single-grained . Loose whenmoist . pH 7 .4 .

Land Use

The Grevell series and associated complexes occur in small,scattered areas, all of which have the same utilization . Thesesoils have low moisture-holding and cation exchange capacities,due to coarse texture . There is low organic matter content andability to hold nutrients .

These soils are droughty for dry farming ; supplemental irri-gation is required . Levelling of undulations is not recommendedinasmuch as this would expose coarser material and cover areas ofthe associated soils (Monroe and P'airfield) with sandy material .

Manuring and sod crops are required to supply organic matter,and the use of complete fertilizer is recommended . Vegetativegrowth is important in pasture, and for silage and hay. Whenmoisture is adequate such growth is restricted if the soil islacking in nitrogen . Owing to leaching in winter, fertilizersshould be applied in the spring . This soil series is probablybest suited for pasture, but with irrigation and the gooddrainage, it could produce small fruits .

ISAR SERIES

The Isar series is derived from coarse textured alluvial-colluvial fans . The materials of which they are composed erodedfrom Sumas Mountain and Abbotsford glacial outwash . The topo-graphy is gently to very steeply sloping . The slnpes vary from30 to 40 percent at the fan apex and decline to from two to three

percent on the fan apron . The areas occupied by the series aresmall and usually near the apex of the fans . At from 20 to 60feet elevations, 242 acres were mapped as Isar series, and 45 asan Isar-Elk soil complex .

The parent materials are composed of coarse alluvial-colluvial debris surfaced by a thin covering of finer texture .Surface and subsurface textures vary from gravelly loamy sandand sandy loam on the higher parts of the fans to gravelly loamand loam lower down .

The rapidly to well drained Isar soils are Orthic Regosols .The native vegetation is composed of alder, willows, thimbleberry,salmonberry, grasses, and weeds . An undisturbed profile wasgiven the following description :

HorizonDepthInches

L-H 2- 0

C1 0- 4

C2 4-13

C3 13+

L d Use

Description

Forest litter composed of leaves, twigs andother debris, relatively undecomposed .

Dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/2, moist) sandyloam . Weak, medium subangular blocky struc-ture . Very friable when moist . Occasionalpockets of sand and scattered gravel . Fineroots abundant . pH 6 .0 .Abrupt boundary :

Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) gravellysandy loam, with pockets of finer texture .Weak, medium subangular blocky structure .Very friable to loose when moist . Occa-sional roots . pH 5 .8 .Abrupt boundary :

Gravelly sand and angular gravel . Loosewhen moist . Alternate lenses or strata offiner texture . Occasional roots .

The rapidly to well drained, rather coarse textured Isarsoils are droughty without irrigation . The soil areas are usedchiefly for rough pasture and as sites for buildings . Owing tothe many small, scattered areas, these soils are not importantfor agriculture .

- 22 -

Mull Regosol Soils

MONROE SERIES

The Monroe soils are derived from floodplain deposits of theFraser River. The classified areas are near the north boundaryof the municipality and the Fraser. The topography is undulatingto gently rolling ; slopes are from three to 10 percent . Theundulations are ridge- and- swale, with bars and meander scrolls .The Monroe soils are on the ridge-tops, the Fairf ield soils onthe slopes and the Page and Prest series are in the swales .Elevations lie between 12 and 23 feet . The mapped areas are asfollows :

Monroe series (shallow phase) 62 acresMonroe (shallow phase)-Monroe complex 1451 "Monroe-Monroe (shallow phase) complex 120 "Monroe-Fairfield complex 128Monroe-Fairfield-Monroe (shallow phase) complex 542 "Monroe (shallow phase)-Fairf ield complex 981 "

The parent material was deposited by lateral accretion awayfrom the Fraser and inundated channels . Profile textures arevery fine sandy loam to silt loam, with minor variation to

;silty

clay loam. At depths the strata often have coarser texturesthan at the surface ; where necessary a shallow phase was separated .

The Mull Regosol Monroe soils are moderately well to Welldrained, but faint mottling in the deep phase was found in'places .The soil is medium acid at the surface and slightly acid atdepths . There is some accumulation of organic matter in the sur-face horizon . Scattered areas in the native state supportlcottonwood, maple, alder and birch, and scattered Douglas fir,cedar and hemlock . The shrubs and ground cover include black-berry, thimbleberry, salmonberry, nettles, thistle, and grasses .A cultivated profile about 600 feet southeast of the Beharrel-Sim road junction was described as follows : '

DepthHorizon Inches Description j

Ap 0- 8 Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2 - 5/3, dry) or darkgrayish brown (10YR 4/2, moist) silt ~oam.Weak, medium subangular blocky structure .Friable when moist . Roots abundant . 'pH 5 .9 .Abrupt boundary :

C 8-12 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or dark-br~von tobrown (l0YR 4/3 - 5/3, moist) silty clay loam.Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure .Firm when moist . Occasional roots . pH 6 .1 .Clear boundary :

-23-

DepthHorizon Inches

CIIC 12-14

1101 14-22

IIC2 22-25

IIC3 25-30

IIC4 30+

Land Use

Description

Light brownish gray to pale-brown (6/2 - 6/3,dry) or dark-brown to brown (l0YR 4/3 - 5/3~moist) silt loam. Weak, fine subangularblocky structure . Friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 6 .3 .Abrupt boundary :

Variegated fine sand . Single-grained . Loosewhen moist . Roots common near top of horizon .pH 6 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

Variegated medium sand . Single-grained .Loose when moist . Occasional roots . pH 6 .8 .Abrupt boundary :

Pale-brown to light yellowish brown (l0YR6/3 - 6/4, dry) or pale-brown (l0YR 6/3,moist) loamy fine sand . Weak, medium suban-gular blocky structure . Very friable whenmoist . pH 6 .5 .Abrupt boundary :

Variegated fine sand . Single-grained . Loosewhen moist . A few fine, faint mottles .pH 6 .6 .

The Monroe soils and their associated complexes are usedchiefly to produce hay, pasture and silage . Drainage is noproblem. These soils are perhaps the best in the lowland forsmall fruits . The water table is low enough, particularly in theshallow phase, to permit the soil to warm up, and eliminate rootrots in strawberries and other small fruits . Inasmuch as therelief is undulating to gently rolling, the Monroe soils are notwell suited to peas or other crops that require uniformity ofmaturity .

In places levelling has been done, but this is not recommendedif sand would be brought to the surface . Supplementary irrigationat comparatively short intervals is essential for optimum yields .Cover crops should be used when possible in small fruit production .Root penetration is good in these soils, and cultivation isrelatively easy . ,

- 24 -

LICKMAN SERIES

The Lickman soils are derived from the deposits of Clayburn,McLennan and Downes creeks, which drain Sumas Mountain and theupland . The soils are adjacent to the creeks, which meanderacross Matsqui Prairie to the Fraser River .

Though the topography has wide variation, it is mainly undu-lating, with slopes from two to six percent . The Lickman soils,which occupy the better drained positions, are associated withthe Bates, McElvee and Sim series . The elevations are from 15 to50 feet . The mapped areas are as follows :

Lickman (shallow phase)-Lickman complex 31 acresLickman (shallow phase)-McElvee complex 31 "Lickman-Bates complex 79

The parent material was deposited during overflow of thenatural levees at flood stages of the creeks . The deposits areunderlain in most places by those of the Fraser at depths from20 to 48 inches . The surface textures are chiefly silt loam andloam, with minor areas of sandy loam . The shallow phase wasmapped where sand was encountered within 18 inches of the surface .

These moderately well to well drained Mull Regosols havegood root penetration . On uncleared areas the vegetation iscomposed of cottonwood, alder, maple, vine maple, blackberry,nettles, white dutch clover, and grasses . A cultivated profile,about 600 feet west of the McLennan Creek - Bates Road junction,was described as follows :


Ap 0- 7 Brown to pale-brown (l0YR 5/3 - 6/3 dry) ordark grayish brown (l0YR 4/2, moistj siltloam . Moderate, fine subangular blockybreaking to medium granular structure .Friable when moist . Roots common . pH 6.3 .Clear boundary :

Cl 7-17 Light yellowish brown (l0YR 6/4, dry) orbrown to pale-brown (l0YR 5/3 - 6/3, moist)loamy fine sand . Weak, fine subangularblocky structure . Very friable when moist .Roots common . pH 6 .1 .Abrupt boundary :

02 17-22 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or brown (l0YR5/3, moist) fine sandy loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure . Very friablewhen moist . Occasional roots . pH 5.7 .Abrupt boundary :

-25-

DepthHorizon Inches

Cgj 22-28

C g 28+

Land Use

DescriRtion

Light-gray (l0YR 7/2, dry) or brown (l0YR5/3, moist) loam . Weak, medium subangularblocky structure . Common, fine, faintyellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, moist) mottles .Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 5 " 7 .Gradual boundary :

Light-gray (l0YR 7/2, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) sandy loam . Massive .Friable when moist. Common, fine (l0YR 5/6- 5/8, moist) mottles . pH 5 .8 .

The uses of the Lickman soils are similar to those of theMonroe series, except that the associated soils are imperfectlydrained . This limits the production of crops susceptible to ahigh or fluctuating water table .

Irrigation is necessary in the dry season, particularly onthe shallow phase, owing to its low moisture-holding capacity .Root penetration is good and macro-porosity is high .

Gle,yed Mull Regosol Soils

FAIRFIELD SERIES

This series is derived from Fraser f loodplain deposits .The classified areas are in the northern section of the munici-pality, near the Fraser River.

The average topography is undulating with slopes from two tofive percent . The undulations are ridge- and swale-like, withthe Fairfield soils chiefly on the ridge slopes . The associatedsoils are the Monroe, Page, Prest, and Hjorth series . The eleva-tions ure from 12 to 22 feet above mean sea level . The followingsoils were mapped :

Fairfield series 245 acresFairfield-Page complex 301 "Fairfield-Monroe complex 262 "Fairfield-Monroe-Page complex 438 �Fairf ield-Monroe-Monroe (shallow phase) complex 444 "Fairf ield-Monroe (shallow phase) complex 115 "Fairfield-Hjorth complex 209 i'Fairf ield (shallow phase)-Prest (shallow phase)

-Grevell complex 52 �

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The parent material consists of lateral accretions depositedby the Fraser during flood stages . The Fairfield series has arange of surface textures from silt loam to silty clay loam . Atdepths greater than 24 inches coarser textures are often found .Scattered areas having sandy material within 18 inches of thesurface were mapped as a shallow phase .

These imperfectly drained soils have a fluctuating watertable during most of the year . At high water on the Fraser thewater table rises through the sand strata beneath the soil profile .In winter the rainfall is removed slowly, wetting the soil forlong periods . The soils have moderate permeability and good rootpenetration . They are medium acid at the surface and more basicat depths .

The Fairfield soils are Gleyed Mull Regosols which developedunder a cover of cottonwood, alder, maple, vine maple, blackberry,thimbleberry, salmonberry, raspberry, rose, salal, nettles, andgrasses . A cultivated profile was examined about 600 feet northof the intersection of Sim and Kelleher roads, and given thefollowing description :


Ap 0- 9 Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, dry) or dark-grayto dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/1 - 4/2, moist)silt loam . Moderate, medium subangularblocky breaking to medium granular structure.Friable when moist . Roots common . pH 5 .4 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgjl 9-14 Pale-brown (10YR 6/3, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay loam . Moderate,medium subangular blocky structure . A fewfine ., faint mottles . Firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .5 .Gradual boundary :

Cgj2 14-22 Pale-brown to very pale brown (l0YR 6/3 - 7/3,dry) or grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) siltloam . Moderate, medium subangular blockystructure . Common, medium yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .8 .Diffuse boundary :

Cgj3 22-32 Pale-brown to very pale brown (l0YR 6/3 - 7/3,dry) or dark grayish brown to grayish-brown(l0YR 4/2 - 5/2, moist) silty clay loam .Massive . Common medium yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/4, moistj mottles . Very firm whenmoist . pH 5 .8 .Gradual boundary :

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Cgj4 32-39 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) very fine sandy loam .Weak, medium pseudo-subangular blocky struc-ture . Common, fine yellowish-brown (l0YR5/6, moist) mottles . Friable when moist .pH 5 .8 .Abrupt boundary :

IIC 39+ Fine sand of variegated colors . Single-grained . A few fine, faint mottles . Loosewhen moist . pH 6 .2 .

Land Use

The Fairf ield soils and associated ones are used chiefly forhay, pasture and silage . There are difficulties of management,due to the undulating topography, because moisture relationshipsvary from ridges to hollows . These soils are unsuitable wheneven crop maturity is required .

Though the Fairf ield soils are imperfectly drained, tiledrainage is not warranted . The imperfect drainage is due tolimited surface drainage in winter and seepage from the Fraserduring the freshet . .These soils would respond to irrigation,although their drought resistance is greater than that of theMonroe series .

BATES SERIES

The Bates soils are derived from local stream deposits .They are adjacent to McLellan, Clayburn and Downes creeks . Theassociated soils are the Lickman, McElvee and Sim series .

The topography varies from gently undulating to undulating,with slopes from one to six percent . Stream erosion has producedbroken topography in places, with short, steep slopes . Mappedareas of Bates series and associated soils are as follows :

Bates series 37 acresBates-Sim complex 93 "Bates-Lickman complex 137 "

Deposition of the parent material was by overflow of thenatural levees during creek freshets . Abandoned channels ofvarious small creeks which cross the lowland also depositedmaterial from which the Bates and associated soils are derived .The parent material, from 24 to 48 inches thick, overlies FraserRiver floodplain deposits . The surface and profile texturesvary from silt loam to silty clay loam .

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The Gleyed Mull Regosol Bates soils are imperfectly drained .The original vegetation, which survives on uncleared areas,consisted of cottonwood, alder, willow, vine maple, blackberry,thimbleberry, rose, nettles, weeds, and grasses . A cultivatedprofile was examined about 100 feet north of the McLennan Creekcrossing of Townshipline Road, and described as follows :

HorizonDepthInches Description

Ap 0- 7 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/l, dry) or very dark brown(10YR 2/2, moist) silt loam . Moderate, finesubangular blocky breaking to medium granularstructure . Friable when moist . Roots abun-dant . pH 5 .1 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgj 7-14 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or gray-brown(2 .5Y 5/2, moist) silt loam . Moderate,coarse subangular blocky structure . A fewfine, faint mottles . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .3 "Clear boundary :

Cgl 14-26 Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) or lightolive gray to olive-gray (5Y 6/2 - 5/2,moist) silty clay loam . Weak, coarse pseudo-subangular blocky structure . Common, medium,distinct yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, moist)mottles . Firm when moist . Occasional roots .pH 5 .4 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 26+ Light-gray (l0YR 7/2, dry) or light olivegray to olive-gray (5Y 6/2 - 5/2, moist)silty clay loam . Weak coarse pseudo-subangular blocky structure . Many medium,distinct, strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, moist)mottles . Firm when moist . pH 5.5 .

Land Use

The areas of Bateschiefly for pasture andsilage . Cultivation isabandoned stream channels,soils are ideal for forage

soils and associated complexes are usedin part for the production of hay anddifficult, owing to recently cut and

and the undulating topography . Thewhere the topography is near level .

Though the Bates soils are imperfectly drained, tile drainageis not necessary for the production of forage . Fluctuating watertables due to variation of creek flow may damage roots susceptibleto poor aeration and low soll temperature . Irrigation is benefi-

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cial in the dry season, at longer intervals than on the Monroeand Lickman series, The surface horizon is well supplied withorganic matter, and the carbon-nitrogen ratio is optimum fornitrogen availability .

GLEYSOL SOILS

These are poorly to very poorly drained soils, whichdeveloped under swamp or swamp-forest vegetation . Under naturalconditions the mineral soil may be overlain by organic horizonsless than 12 inches thick, or a dark colored mineral horizon upto three inches thick . Cultivated land has a brown to grayish-brown plow layer, underlain by a gleyed horizon or horizons whichmay or may not have weakly developed eluvial or illuvial subhori-zons . The gleyed horizons are grayish, and may be mottled .

Two subgroups of Gleysol soils were found in MatsquiMunicipality . These are Rego Gleysol and Peaty Rego Gleysolsoils .

Rego Gle,yso l Soils

These soils may have an Ah horizon up to three inches thickand/or an L-H horizon of organic matter up to six inches thick.These horizons are underlain abruptly by a gleyed Cg horizon,which may be mottled .

The Rego Gleysol soils developed under swamp or swamp-forestvegetation, with poor to very poor drainage . In MatsquiMunicipality this subgroup is represented by the Prest, Page andMcElvee series, and the Sardis soil complex .

Peaty Rego Gl.e,ysol Soil s

This subgroup is characterized by an L--H horizon from sixto 12 inches thick, beneath which is a gleyed Cg horizon . An Ahhorizon less than three inches thick may be present beneath theL-H horizon, In Matsqui Municipality the Hallert and Annisseries represent the Peaty Rego Gleysol soils,,

Rego Gleysol Soils

PRFST SERIES

This series is derived from Fraser River floodplain deposits .Most areas are in the northern part of Matsqui Municipality . Thetopography is slightly depressional5 with slopes up to threepercent, The Prest soils are in the bottoms of depressions whichlack drainage outlets . They are associated with the Fairfield,Grevell and Monroe soils, which occupy better drained positionsnearby . Elevations vary from eight to 14 feet, Much of the

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Prest series is nonarable, because there are no drainage outlets .The following Prest and associated soils were mapped :

Prest seriesPrest-Page compPrest (shallow

lexphase)-Grevell complex

252 a11988

cres""

Prest (shallow phase)-PJionroe (shallow phase)-Fairfield (shallow phase) complex 98 "

Surface textures of the Prest series vary from silty clayloam to silty clay . In places there is a few inches of peat onthe surface . Drainage is very poor . In the lowest places wateris at the surface in the growing season . In most of the areasthe water table is very near the surface throughout the year .In small, isolated areas that lie between the dyke and the Fraser,a shallow phase was mapped with sand within 18 inches of thesurface .

The Rego Gleysol Prest soils support a native vegetationconsisting chiefly of sedges, watercress, skunk cabbage and reedcanarygrass . An undisturbed profile one-half mile east and 600feet south of the Bell and Fore road junction was described asfollows :


L-H 3- 0 Undecomposed organic matter . pH 4 .5 .

Cgl 0-10 Light-gray (5YR 7/19 dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay loam . Moderate,coarse subangular blocky structure . Manycoarse, prominent, dark-red (2 .5YR 3/6,moist) mottles . Very firm when moist .Roots common, pH 5.3 .Clear boundary :

Cg2 10-18 Light-gray (5Y 6/1, dry) or gray (5Y 5/1,moist) silty clay . Massive . Common,distinct yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4 - 5/6,moist) mottles . Very firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

IICg 18-27 Light-gray to gray (5Y 6/1 - 5/1, dry) orvery dark gray to dark-gray (2 .5Y 3/0 - 4/0,moist) loamy fine sand . Single-grained .Highly gleyed . Very friable when moist .pH 6 .3 .Abrupt boundary :


Cg3 27+ Gray (2 .5Y 5/0, moist) silt loam . Massive .Highly gleyed . Firm when moist . pH 6 .3 "

Land Use

The Prest soils are in very poorly drained depressions . Inmany cases they are nonarable, because a drainage outlet is lack-ing. Water lies most of the year on the surface . Inasmuch asthe depressions hinder cultivation of surrounding soils, it mayin some cases be feasible to level the tops of ridges of theassociated iVlonroe and Fairfield soils and in part fill thedepressions . The Prest soils would be productive if they couldbe drained, but usually the small areas involved do not warrantthe cost . If drained, the low organic matter content of thesoil should be increased . Reed canarygrass withstands poordrainage, and could be used to seed some of these areas topermanent pasture .

PAGE SERIES

The Page soils are derived from floodplain deposits of theFraser River . They occupy areas in the northern part of PdiatsquiMunicipality, near the Fraser . The Page soils are closelyassociated with the Prest series, but in somewhat better drainedpositions .

The series has undulating topography, with slopes from twoto six percent . In this ridge- and swale-relief, the Page soilsoccupy an intermediate position between the Fairfield (imperfectlydrained) and Prest (most poorly drained) soils . At elevationsfrom 10 to 19 feet, the classified areas are as follows :

Page series 347 acresPage-Prest complex 274 "Page-Fairf ield complex 244 "

The surface textures of the Page soils vary from silty clayloam to silt loam . In some undisturbed places a few inches ofpeat occurs on the surface . The Page series is poorly drained,though the surface horizon is clear of water in the growingseason . This compares with the Prest series, which may besaturated to the surface throughout the year .

In undisturbed places the Rego Gleysol Page soils have acover of willows, sedges, watercress, skunk cabbage, and reedcanarygrass . A cultivated profile about 300 feet northeast ofthe crossing of Glenmore Road over the C . N . R . track wasdescribed as follows :

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Ap 0- 6 Light-gray to light brownish gray (l0YR 6/1- 6/2, dry) or very dark grayish brown todark grayish brown (l0YR 3/2 - 4/2, moist)silty clay loam . Weak, fine subangularblocky breaking to granular structure . Afew fine, faint mottles . Firm when moist .Roots abundant . pH 5,8 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 6-15 Light-gray (10YR 7/1, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay loam . Moderate,coarse subangular blocky structure . Manymedium, distinct yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6,moist) mottles, A very intense band ofmottling just below the plow layer. Veryfirm when moist . Occasional roots. pH 5 .7 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 15-27 Light-gray (l0YR 7/1, dry) or dark-gray togray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, moist) silty clayloam. Moderate, medium pseudo-subangularblocky structure. Common medium, distinct,dark yellowish brown to yellowish-brown(l0YR 4/4 - 5/6, moist) mottles . Very firmwhen moist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Diffuse boundary :

Cg3 27-34 Light-gray (7 .5YR 7/0, dry) or gray (l0YR5/1 - 6/1, moist) silty clay loam . Massive .Common, medium distinct, yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .pH 5,6 .Diffuse boundary :

Cg4 34+ Light-gray (7 .5YR 7/0, dry) or gray (5Y 5/1,moist) silty clay loam . Massive . Common,medium distinct, yellowish-brown (10YR 5/4 -5/6, moist) mottles. Very firm when moist .pH 6 .0 .

Land Use

The Page soils are used chiefly for pasture and forage .Small fruits and vegetables are not recommended, owing to thepoor drainage . Tile or open ditch drainage would improve soilstructure and productivity .

These soils have high ?noisture-holding capacity, and areseldom moisture deficient . Ponding in the swales is common in

- 33 -

winter . The heavy texture and wet depressions delay cultivationin the spring . Organic matter is low ; the soils require manureor soiling crops . Buttercup is a problem in pastures if thedrainage is inadequate . Though these soils require carefulmanagement to be productive, many farmers get satisfactory yieldsfrom them.

MCELVEE SERIES

The McElvee soils in Matsqui Municipality are derived fromdeposits of Clayburn, McLennan and Downes creeks ; materialserod.ed from the upland and Sumas Mountain . The topography variesfrom gently sloping to undulating, with slopes from two to fivepercent . At elevations between 15 and 50 feet, the soil areasare as follows :

McElvee series 41 acresMcElvee (shallow phase)-McElvee complex 163 "

The parent material was deposited during flood stages of thecreeks, by overflow of the stream banks . Though profile texturesare chiefly loam to silt loam, an occasional lens of sand orsandy loam may occur. These materials overlie those of theFraser River in deposits about 20 inches or more thick .

The McElvee soils are associated with the Lickman seriesand the Sardis soil complex . Distinguishing features are theabsence of an Ah horizon, poor drainage and loam to silt loamsurface textures . The poor drainage is caused by restrictedexternal drainage . The depressions in the undulating areas arevery poorly drained .

In uncleared areas the Rego Gleysol McElvee series has anatural cover of cottonwood, cedar, maple, alder, willow,salmonberry, thimbleberry, sedge, buttercup, and sorrel . Acultivated profile about 600 feet east of the trans-mountainpipeline crossing of Wright Road was described as follows :


Apg 0- 6 Light brownish gray to pale-brown (l0YR 6/2- 6/3, dry) or very dark grayish brown todark grayish brown (l0YR 3/2 - 4/2, moist)loam . Moderate, medium subangular blockybreaking to granular structure . A fewfine ; faint mottles . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .6~Clear boundary :

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Cgl 6-13 Very pale brown (10YR 7/3, dry) or grayish-brown (10YR 5/2, moist) silt loam . Weak,medium subangular blocky structure . Common,medium, distinct, dark yellowish brown (10YR4/4, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

IICgl 13-16 Pale-brown (10YR 6/3, dry) or light brcvvnishgray (10YR 6/2, moist) loamy sand . Single-grained . Loose when moist . Common, fine,distinct dark-red (2 .5YR 3/6, moist) mottles .Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

Cg2 16-28 Light-gray (10YR 7/2, dry) or grayish-brown(10YR 5/2, moist) silt loam . Massive .Many fine, distinct, dark-red (2 .5YR 3/6,moist) mottles . Firm when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

IICg2 28-30 Light-gray (10YR 7/2, dry) or strong-brown(7 .5YR 5/6, moist) coarse sand . Single-grained . Many fine, distinct, yellowish-red(5YR 4/6, moist) mottles . Loose when moist .pH 5.8 .Abrupt boundary :

IIICg 30+ Grayish-brown (10YR 5/2, moist) sandy clayloam . Massive . A few fine, distinct, dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) mottles . Friablewhen moist .

Land Use

Productivity is limited by poor drainage . Most areas ofMcElvee soils produce hay, silage and pasture, but there arescattered plots of small fruits . Poor drainage can encourageroot rots in small fruits and poor stands of legumes . Tiledrainage may help specialized crops . However, drainage oflocalized areas is complicated by rapid permeability . These soilsaccept water from adjoining areas, making drainage on a farm basisboth difficult and costly .

The soils become droughty in the dry season, and hence theyrespond to irrigation . In the growing season a comparativelyshort irrigation interval is necessary, owing to low moisture-holding capacity .

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SARDIS SOIL COMPLEX

This complex is composed of a group of soils derived fromthe deposits of streams that drain the upland . Small areas arescattered around the edge of Matsqui Prairie near the upland .The topography is from level to gently undulating at elevationsbetween 15 and 50 feet . The soils were mapped as a complexbecause of varied genetic development .

The parent materials are coarse sands and gravel, depositedby streams during their freshet stages . Surface textures arefrom gravelly sand to sandy loam . The soils are associated withthe Lickman and McElvee series . The Sardis soils occupy positionsnearest the stream channels . A total of 195 acres were mapped asSardis complex, and in addition, 25 acres were assigned to aSardis-Lickman complex .

In genetic development the Sardis soils range from OrthicRegosols to Rego Gleysols, of which the latter occupies most ofthe acreage . In uncleared areas the natural vegetation is amixture of cottonwood, maple, willow, alder, cedar, salmonberry,thimbleberry, sedge, and sorrel . A description of a Rego GleysolSardis profile in cultivated land is as follows :


Ap 0- 9 Dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2, moist) sandyloam . Weak subangular blocky breaking togranular structure . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

Cg 9+ Grayish sand and gravel with faint mottles .Roots common in the upper part but decreasewith depth . Loose when moist . pH 6 .2 .

Land Use

Much of the Sardis complex is used in the native state asrough pasture . The coarse texture of the soils make them pooras agricultural land, with low moisture and nutrient-holdingcapacities . Along creeks, areas of these soils are subject toflooding . When irrigated they would produce forage, smallfruits and some vegetables .

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Peaty Rego Gl~sol Soils

HALLERT SERIES

The Hallert series is derived from a mixture of Fraser flood-plain and swamp deposits . It occupies scattered areas in GlenValley and a large acreage in the central part of Matsqui Prairie .

The topography is chiefly level ; a few small areas are gentlyundulating. The elevations, from eight to 16 feet, lie slightlylower than surrounding areas . The following soils were mapped :

Hallert series 1,031 acresHallert-Gibson complex 31 "Hallert-Banford complex 79 "

Deposition of the Fraser floodplain sediments was largely byvertical accretion . The silts and clays were transported intoponded areas and deposited during exceptional freshets . Betweenthese occasional depositions layers of organic matter accumulatedwhich in turn were buried . This process extended over many years ;alternate layers of mineral and organic material compose the soilprofile . The alternate mineral and organic layers vary in thick-ness, indicating different river loads of mineral material andvariable periods between depositions which allowed for the accu-mulations of organic matter. Surface textures consist of muckysilt and silty muck, and minor areas of silt loam and muck .There are thin bands of undecomposed peat in all horizons . Insome areas the organic layers are very thin ; in others the siltlayers are thin .

Internal and external drainage are very poor . The slowlydraining water table remains at or near the surface most of thewinter . Permeability of the organic layers is medium, but wherelayers of mineral material are present the permeability is slow .In places the soil profile is underlain by water-saturated peator muck .

These are poorly drained Peaty Rego Gleysol soils . Inundisturbed areas the vegetation is composed of hardhack, sedges,buttercup and thistle . A cultivated soil profile one-quartermile southwest of the Harris-Riverside road junction was describedas follows:


Ap 0- 7 Gray (l0YR 6/l, dry) or very dark gray toblack (l0YR 3/1 - 2/1, moist) silty muck .Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure.Very friable when moist . Roots abundant .pH 5 .0 .Gradual boundary :

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F & Cg 7-17 Light-gray (l0YR 7/2, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silt loam containing 16thin layers of organic matter . Weak,medium platy structure . A few fine, faintmottles . Firm when moist . Roots common .pH 5.0 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 17-26 Light-gray (l0YR 7/1, dry) or dark-gray(l0YR 4/1, moist) mucky silt . Very finelayers of organic matter throughout . Weak,medium subangular blocky structure . Commonfine, faint yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4,moist) mottles . Friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5 .4 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 26-34 Light-gray (l0YR 7/2, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay loam . Scat-tered, thin bands of organic matter . Weak,medium pseudo-subangular blocky structure .Common, fine, distinct, yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/4, moist) mottles . Friable whenmoist . Occasional roots, pH 5 .4 .Diffuse boundary :

Cg3 34+ Light-gray (l0YR 6/1 - 7/1, dry) or gray(l0YR 5/1, moist) silt loam. Massive .Extremely gleyed . Common fine, distinct,yellowish-brown (10YR 5/4, moist) mottles.Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 5 .4 .

Land Use

Most of the acreage of the Hallert soils is planted to grassesfor hay, pasture and silage . A minor acreage is in blueberries,which are suitable for these soils . Legumes survive for only ashort period, because of poor drainage .

Flooding and ponding are common in periods of high rainfall,owing to the level topography . In the dry season the soilbecomes droughty and irrigation would be beneficial . A fluctuat-ing water table makes these soils difficult to manage . If wet inthe growing season, they obstruct the use of machinery when culti-vating or harvesting . Tile and open-ditch drainage improve soilproductivity . If not properly drained, sedges and buttercupcompete with the grasses for the sward.

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ANNIS MUCK

This soil type occupies depressions on the floodplain, mainlyin swamp areas near the upland . The topography is level to verygently undulating . Annis Muck also occupies scattered depressionsin areas of better drained soils that have undulating and rollingtopography . The following areas were mapped at elevations betweeneight and 15 feet :

Annis Muck 194 acresAnnis-Banford complex 40 ''Annis-Sim complex 23 "Annis-Hallert-i3eharrel complex 144 "Annis-Hjorth complex 43 "Annis-Hazelwood complex 14

The parent material consists of from six to 12 inches of welldecomposed muck, which overlies silty clay loam and silty clayfloodplain deposits . The drainage is very poor . Mineral soilbeneath the layer of muck is strongly gleyed .

The Annis Muck is a Peaty Rego Gleysol, derived from swampforest litter . The natural vegetation is composed of scatteredcedar ; alder, willow, hardhack, and sedges . A cultivated profileabout 300 yards south of the Bates-Harris road junction wasdescribed as follows :


Hp 10- 2 Very dark gray to dark-gray (l0YR 3/1 - 4/1,dry) or. very dark brown (l0YR 2/2, moist)muck . Very friable when moist . Rootsabundant . pH 5,2 .Abrupt boundary :

F-H 2- 0 Brown to dark-brown (l0YR 4/3 - 3/3, dry)or dark-brown (7 .5YR 3/2, moist) peaty muck .Fibrous . Roots common . pH 4 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 0- 4 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1 - 7/1, dry) or dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, moist) silty clay loam .Massive . A few fine, faint mottles . Firmwhen moist . Occasional roots- pH 5 .1 .Clear boundary :

Cg2 4- 8 Light-gray (7 .5YR 7/0, dry) or dark-gray(2,5YR 4/0, moist) silty clay . Massive .Common fine, distinct, strong-brown (7 .5YR5/6, moist) mottles, Very firm when moist .Occasional roots, pH 5 .4 .Clear bound iry :

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DepthHorizon Inches Descript ion

Cg3 8+ Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or gray-brown(2 .5Y 5/2, moist) silty clay loam . Massive .Many medium, prominent, strong-brown (7 .5YR5/6, moist) mottles . Very firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 6 .1 .

L d Use

Though most of the acreage is cultivated, satisfactory cropproduction is dependent on adequate drainage . Since this soiltype is generally associated with other organic soils, managementis similar to that applied to them . In cases of Annis Muckassociation with mineral soils, the management is similar tomineral soil management .

This soil type does not compare well with adjacent mineralsoils as a producer of perennial grasses, inasmuch as floodingis hard on these crops . However, annuals, such as oats orvegetables, do well .

andUnderdrains are essential for good pasture,

weeds take over . Light irrigations may be ofotherwisebenefit

dry season, but the cost of works may offset any increasedif irrigation is for short periods only .

HUMIC GLEYSOL SOILS

sedgesin theyield,

These soils occupy poorly drained areas on the Fraser flood-plain, on the deposits of tributary streams and on the loweredges of scattered alluvial-colluvial fans . The poorly drainedsolum is characterized by an accumulation of organic matter inthe surface horizons, which imparts a dark color . The dark sur-face horizon (more than three inches thick) is underlain abruptlyby one or more gleyed and mottled horizons . These may or may nothave weakly developed eluvial or illuvial subhorizons . Thepoorly drained soils have a high, fluctuating water table, anddeveloped under swamp forest . There may be up to 12 inches ofpeat on the surface .

In the mapped area the Humic Gleysol soil group is repre-sented by Rego Humic Gleysol and Orthic Humic Gleysol subgroups .

Rego Humi c Gleysol Soils

This subgroup is distinguished by a dark colored Ah horizonmore than three inches thick . This horizon is underlain abruptlyby one or more gleyed and mottled Cg horizons . There is noilluvial B horizon . There may be up to six inches of peat onthe surface .

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The members in the surveyed area are the Hjorth series,Niven complex, Sim and Elk series .

Orthic Humic Gle,yso l Soils

These soils have a dark colored Ah horizon more than threeinches thick, which has a high content of organic matter . Thishorizon is underlain abruptly by one or more gleyed horizons,one of which is a weakly developed illuvial B horizon . One ormore gleyed Cg horizons are beneath the illuviated B horizon .There may be up to six inches of peat on the surface . The onlyrepresentative in the surveyed area is the Hazelwood series,

Rego Humic Gleysol Soils

HJORTH SERIES

The Hjorth soils occupy small areas on the Fraser floodplainin the northern part of TVIatsqui Municipality . The topography isgently sloping to undulating ; slopes are from two to six percent,and the elevations range from nine to 16 feet .

The parent material consists of lateral accretions of siltloam to silty clay loam texture, which spread from the Fraserand numerous, meandering flood-channels . The following soilswere differentiated :

Hjorth series gg acresHjorth-Annis complex 15 iHjorth-Hallert complex 40 nHjorth-Fairf ield-Page complex 13 i

The Hjorth series is composed of moderately poorly drainedRego Humic Gleysol soils . The native vegetation consists of aheavy growth of cottonwood, alder, willow, scattered cedar, andcascara . There is also a dense understory of shrubs, and a thingrowth of sedges . The profile has a dark surface horizon and agleyed and mottled subsoil . An undisturbed profile was describedas follows :

Horizon IDepthnches Description

L ~- 0 A thin layer of undecomposed leaves, wood.,needles and moss .

0- 6 Very dark brown (10YR 2/2, moist) silt loam .Moderate, medium to fine blocky structure .Friable when moist . Numerous worm casts .Roots common . pH 5 .4 .Clear boundary :


Cgl 6-16 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, moist) silt loam witha few distinct mottles . Moderate, mediumblocky structure . Friable when moist .Many worm channels and casts, some contain-ing Ah horizon material . Occasional roots .pH 5 .4 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 16-24 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, moist) silt loam withmany distinct, dark-red (2 .5YR 3/6, moist)mottles . Massive . Friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5.3 .Gradual boundary :

IICg 24+ Dark-gray (lOYR 4/1, moist) sandy loam withmany distinct, dark-red (2 .5YR 3/6, moist)mottles . Massive . Friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .

Land Use

The Hjorth soils are used for the production of forage crops .Drainage is necessary for water table control, the main limita-tion being poor drainage . The organic matter content of the soilis relatively high, and other plant nutrients are available inmoderate amounts .

NIVEN SOIL COMPLEX

This soil complex occupies scattered areas on Matsqui Prairie .The largest acreages are in the transition between the mineralsoils of the Fraser floodplain and the organic swamp deposits .The topography is very gently undulating, with slopes up to threepercent, and elevations are between 10 and 15 feet . The mappedareas are as follows :

Niven complex 307 acresNiven-Hjorth complex 22 "

The parent material consists of Fraser floodplain and finetextured alluvial-colluvial fan deposits which overlie peat .Surface textures vary from silt loam to silty clay loam . Themineral soil layer above peat is from 15 to 30 inches thick.The soils are poorly to very poorly drained .

The Niven complex varies in genetic development from RegoHumic Gleysol, which occupies most of the acreage, to Rego Gleysol .The native vegetation is composed of alder, vine maple, and cedar,

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with an understory of rose, skunk cabbage, nettles, sedges, andgrasses : A cultivated profile 400 feet northwest of the Highway11-Townshipline road junction was given the following description :

HorizonDepthInches

Ap 0- 6

CgF 6-16

Cg 16-20

F 20+

Land Use

Description

Dark-gray to gray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, dry) orvery dark gray (l0YR 3/1, moist) silty clayloam . Weak, medium subangular blocky struc-ture . Friable when moist . Roots common .pH 5 . 5 .Abrupt boundary :

Interstratified peat and silt . The mineralsoil gleyed and mottled . Organic matter inthin layers between layers of silt . Firmwhen moist . Occasional roots, pH 5 .8 .Clear boundary :

Gray to grayish-brown (l0YR 5/1 - 5/2,moist) silt loam . Common, coarse, prominentmottles . Massive . Firm when moist . pH 6 .0 .Abrupt boundary :

Partly decomposed brown to dark-brown peat .pH 5 .8 .

The Niven soil complex is used for the production of forageand specialized crops . The comparatively level topography isdesirable for crops that require even maturity . Drainage ispoor to very poor, requiring tile drainage in most areas, particu-larly if perennial crops are produced . Irrigation is beneficial,particularly for vegetables, except where subsurface moisture isavailable throughout the growing season, Cultivation takesconsiderable power, owing to heavy texture and sticky consistence .

These soils have various levels of organic matter in thecultivated layer, but chiefly the content is medium . Response tothe application of nitrogen should be favorable, and liming is.Zecessary . Composite sampling is needed to determine fertilizerrequirements, because of profile variation and past practices ondifferent farms .

SIM SERIES

This series is derived from local stream deposits, nearcreeks which cross Tdatsq~ii Prairie . These are poorly drainedsoils associated with the Lickman, Bates and McElvee series .

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Most of the topography is gently undulating,three percent . The elevations are from 10 tosoils are as follows :

with slopes up20 feet . The

tomapped

Sim series 50 acresSim-Hazelwood complex 176 "Sim-Bates complex 80 "Sim-Beharrel complex 57 "

The parent material was deposited by overflow of sediment-laden creek-water during flood stages . In addition to overflowfrom the main channels, semi-abandoned channels also served tospread the sediments . The deposits of the streams overlie thoseof the Fraser floodplain in layers from one to three feet thick .The surface textures range from silt loam to silty clay loam .

The Sim series is composed of Rego Humic Gleysol soils .Uncleared areas have a native cover of cottonwood, alder, willow,salal, blackberry, thimbleberry, nettles, sedges, and grasses .A cultivated profile about 900 feet southeast of the crossingof Harris Road over the B . C . Hydro Authority Railway wasdescribed as follows :


Ap 0- 7 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, dry) or very dark grayto black (l0YR 3/1 - 2/1, moist) silt loam.Weak, medium subangular blocky breaking togranular structure . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .3 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 7-16 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or gray tograyish-brown (l0YR 5/1 - 5/2, moist) siltyclay loam . Weak, coarse subangular blockystructure . Common, medium, distinctyellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, moist) mottles .Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 5 .1 .Abrupt boundary :

Cg2 16-25 Light brownish gray to light-gray (l0YR 6/2- 6/1 dry) or grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2,moist~ silt loam . Massive. A few medium,distinct, reddish-brown (5YR 4/4, moist)mottles . Firm when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .0 .Gradual boundary :

Cg3 25+ Light-gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or gray (l0YR5/1, moist) silty clay loam . Massive . Afew medium, prominent, strong brown (7 .5YR5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .pH 5,0 .

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Land Use

The Sim soils are used chiefly for hay ; pasture and silagecrops . The poor drainage is due mainly to the low gradient forrunoff . Flooding and ponding occur in the wet season :

On individual farms the soil productivity could be increasedby tile drainage, if suitable outlets are available. In thelevel to undulating topography the undulating areas are thebetter drained . Where drainage is poor grasses supplant legumes,and these in turn give way to buttercup and thistle . The soilsare friable, have good root penetration, and minimum power isrequired for cultivation . A high moisture holding capacitylimits the need of irrigation to infrequent applications in thedry season .

ELK SERIES

The Elk soils are derived from the finer textured fanmaterials on the edges of Matsqui Prairie and Glen Valley, adja-cent to the upland . In some cases the Elk series is associatedwith the coarser textured Isar series, which occurs at the apexof fans, with Elk soils lower down on the fan aprons . The topo-graphy is gently to steeply sloping ; slopes being from two to 15percent . The elevations are from 20 to 60 feet . The soils weremapped as follows :

Elk series 248 acresElk-Niven complex 44 11Elk-Isar complex 10 "Elk-Columbia complex 61 "

The parent material is composed of a surface layer from 18to 36 inches thick, which overlies sands and gravels . The sur-face textures are loam, silt loam and silty clay loam . Theroughly stratified sands and gravels are occupied by a fluctuat-ing water table, and average drainage of the Elk soils is poor .

The Elk series is composed of Rego Humic Gleysol soils .The native vegetation consists of a tree cover of alder andwillow, with an understory of blackberry, bracken, buttercup,scattered sedge and dandelion . A cultivated profile on a fanone-quarter mile southeast of River and Bradner road junctionwas described as follows :


Ap 0- 7 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, dry) or very darkgrayish brown (l0YR 3/2, moist) loam .Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure .Very friable when moist . Roots common .pH 5 .2 .Clear boundary :

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Cgl 7-15 Gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or grayish-brown (l0YR5/2, moist) silt loam . Sand pockets through-out . Weak, coarse subangular blocky struc-ture . Many medium, distinct, strong-brown(7 .5YR 5/6, moist) mottles . Friable whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

IIC 15-20 Medium sand of various colors . Single-grained . A few medium, distinct, brown(7 .5YR 4/4, moist) mottles . Loose whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .3 .Abrupt boundary :

Cg2 20-30 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or dark-gray togray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, moist) silt loam .Massive . A few fine, faint, yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/6, moist) mottles . Friable whenmoist . pH 4 .1 .Clear boundary :

IICg 30+ Light-gray (5Y 6/1, dry) or gray (2 .5Y 5/0,moist) loamy fine sand . Single-grained .Very friable when moist . pH 4.2.

Land Use

The Elk soils are farmed for forage and rough pasture .Productivity is limited by poor drainage . Seepage from creeksand springs keep the soils moist throughout the year . Intercept-ing tile drains and ditches, to pick up down-slope seepage, arebeneficial . Irrigation is not necessary, except in locationswhich become too dry.

Orthic Humic Gleysol Soils

HAZELW00D SERIES

This series is derived from Fraser floodplain deposits .Most of the surveyed areas are in the east central part ofMatsqui Prairie . The topography varies from near level to undu-lating with slopes from one to five percent . In drainage sequencethe Hazelwood soils are associated with the Beharrel series, theHazelwood series being in the more poorly drained positions . TheHazelwood soils are also associated with the Sim series wherestreams have deposited material on the floodplain . The range ofelevation is from 10 to 18 feet . Acreages mapped are as follows :

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Hazelwood series 985 acresHazelwood-Sim complex 327 "Hazelwood-Beharrel complex 154Hazelwood-Annis complex 81 "Hazelwood-Niven complex 30 "

The parent material was deposited by the Fraser River duringflood stages . The mode of deposition was chiefly by verticalaccretion . The river load of fine materials was carried intoponds, where they settled on the bottom . The surface texturesvary from silt loam to silty clay loam . Subsurface texturesdiffer from place to place, but a silty clay Btg horizon iscommon in all areas .

This is a poorly drained group of Orthic Humic Gleysolsoils . Porosity is limited and permeability very slow ; the Btghorizon being least permeable. Water drains so slowly that thewater table remains near the surface most of the winter . TheHazelwood soils have an Ah horizon high in organic matter, andin some areas there is a buried IIAh horizon . In a few unclearedareas the native vege~tation consists of cottonwood, alder, maple,and scattered cedar, with an undergrowth of thimbleberry, black-berry, nettles, thistle, and grasses . A cultivated profile about600 feet northeast of the Bell-Clayburn road junction wasdescribed as follows :

HorizonDepthInches

Ap 0- 9

9-14

Btg 14-24

Description

Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, dry) or black tovery dark gray (l0YR 2/1 - 3/1, moist) siltloam . Weak, medium subangular blocky break-ing to medium granular structure . Friablewhen moist . Roots common . pH 4.7 .Abrupt boundary :

Gray (2 .5Y 5/0 - 4/0, dry) or very darkgray to dark-gray (2 .5Y 3/0 - 4/0, moist)silty clay loam . Strong, medium subangularblocky structure . Very firm when moist.Occasional roots . pH 5 .0 .Abrupt boundary :

5/1, moist) silty clay . Strong, coarseprismatic, breaking to coarse subangularblocky structure . Organic matter and claycoatings on prism surfaces . Organic matterdeposits in cracks between prisms . Manymedium, distinct reddish-brown (5YR 4/4,moist) mottles . Extremely firm when moist .pH 5 .1 .Gradual boundary :

Light-gray (2 .5Y 7/0, dry) or gray (l0YR

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DepthHorizon

Cg

Inches

24-29

Description

Zight-gray (7 .5YR 7/0, dry) or gray (l0YR5/1 - 6/1, moist) silty clay loam . Massive .Many medium, distinct, reddish-brown (5YR4/4, moist) mottles . Very firm when moist .pH 5 .5 .Gradual boundary :

IICgl 29-36 Light-gray (10YR 7/1, dry) or gray tograyish-brown (l0YR 5/1 - 5/2, moist) veryfine sandy loam . Massive . A few medium,distinct, yellowish-brown (10YR 5/6, moist)mottles . Very friable when moist . pH 5 .6 .Gradual boundary :

IICg2 26+ Loamy sand of various colors . Single-grained .Loose when moist . A few medium, distinctmottles . pH 5 .9 .

Land Use

Most of the acreage of Hazelwood soils is farmed for dairy-ing . There are scattered areas of specialized crops . The nearlevel topography is suitable for crops requiring uniform maturity .

The poor drainage is due to the low gradient for runoff .Saturation in winter occurs for periods long enough to damagethe roots of perennials . Soil productivity is increased by tiledrainage . When adequately drained the prismatic structure ofthe subsoil gradually converts to subangular blocky structure,thus improving porosity and root penetration . A few widelyspaced irrigations would be beneficial in the dry season .

ELUVIATED GLEYSOL SOILS

These soils, which occur in the Lower Fraser Valley, may ormay not have a dark colored surface horizon . They are characteri-zed by eluvial and illuvial horizons, which are gleyed andmottled, and the subsoils beneath are also gleyed and mottled .The Eluviated Gleysols developed under swamp forest . In thesurveyed area they are represented by the Humic Eluviated Gleysolsubgroup .

Humic Eluviated Gle,ysol Soils

This subgroup is distinguished by a dark colored horizonmore than three inches thick . It is underlain by a gleyed andmottled Btg horizon containing accumulated clay . The Btg horizonshrinks and cracks on drying to form prismatic structure . On

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wetting the soil swells, the cracks close, and the mass becomesvery slowly permeable . Under natural conditions there may be asurface layer of organic matter up to six inches thick .

The Beharrel series is the only representative in thesurveyed area .

BEHARREL SERIES

The Beharrel soils were derived from deposits of the Fraserfloodplain . Most of the mapped areas are in the central part ofMatsqui Prairie . The distinguishing features are impermeabilityand poor to very poor drainage .

The topography is gently sloping to undulating, with slopesfrom two to four percent . These soils are associated with theHazelwood series, and soils derived from stream deposits such asthe Bates and Sim series . Elevations vary from 10 to 20 feet .The following Beharrel soils and associated complexes were mapped :

Beharrel series 720 acresBeharrel-Bates complex 192 "Beharrel-Hazelwood complex 102 "Beharrel-Niven complex 32 "

The deposition of parent material was by vertical accretion .In the freshet season silts and clays were carried into pondedareas where the sediments settled . Surface textures range fromsilty clay loam to silty clay, with minor areas of silt loam andclay . The Btg horizon has silty clay texture, and often comeswithin the plow layer . There is textural stratification in theprofile, indicating different velocities of flow during freshets .There may be buried IIAh or F horizons at different depths inthe profile . The Aeg horizon is often mixed with the cultivatedAp horizon .

The Humic Eluviated Gleysol Beharrel series developedunder cottonwood, birch, alder, cascara, and scattered cedar,and an undergrowth of thimbleberry, salmonberry, devil's club,hardhack, and sedges . A cultivated profile about 500 feet east-northeast of the Clayburn Creek crossing of Harris Road wasdescribed as follows :


Ap 0- 7 Gray (l0YR 5/1 - 6/1, dry) or very darkgray (l0YR 3/1, moist) silty clay loam .Strong, medium subangular blocky structure .A few fine, faint mottles . Firm when moist .Roots common . pH 5.9 .Diffuse boundary :

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Aeg 7-11 Light-gray (l0YR 7/1, dry) or dark-gray togray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, moist) silty clay loam .Moderate, fine subangular blocky structure .Common,f ine, distinct, dark-red (2 .5Y 3/6,moist) mottles . Firm when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5 .7 .Gradual boundary :

Btg 11-19 Light-gray to light brownish gray (10YR 6/1- 6/2, dry) or gray (l0YR 5/1, moist) clay .Strong, coarse prismatic, breaking to coarseblocky structure . Organic matter and claycoatings on prisms . Common, medium, promi-nent, brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) mottles .Extremely firm when moist . Occasional rootsin cracks between prisms . pH 5 .3 .Clear boundary :

Cgl 19-24 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or gray (l0YR 5/1,moist) silty clay loam . Weak, medium suban-gular blocky structure . Common, medium,distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4,moist) mottles . Firm when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .3 .Abrupt boundary :

CgF 24-27 Stratified muck and silt . Friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .2 .Clear boundary :

Cg2 27-35 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1 - 7/1, dry) or grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) silt loam . Massive .A few medium,- distinct, yellowish-brown(l0YR 5/4, moist) mottles . Very firm whenmoist . pH 5 .5 .Gradual boundary :

Cg3 35+ Light-gray (5Y 6/1, dry) or gray (5Y 5/l,moist) silt loam. Massive . A few medium,distinct mottles . Firm when moist . pH 5 .4 .

L d Use

The Beharrel series is all cultivated and used chiefly forthe production of forage crops . Though the topography varies,the major part is near level and lies at low elevations . Inwinter soil saturation is long enough to drown or kill the rootsof perennial crops . The surface and subsurface soil structurewould be improved by drainage .

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In places heavy soil texture at or near the surface makescultivation difficult . Grasses help to granulate the soil wherethe Ah horizon is thin and underlain by a heavy textured B hori-zon which forms a part of the plow layer . Moisture-holdingcapacity of the Beharrel soils is good and drought resistancehigh,. Irrigation would be beneficial only in very dry summers .

MUCK SOILS

The Muck soils occupy areas adjacent to the upland onMatsqui Prairie and in Glen Valley . They occur in depressionsthat serve as catchments of seepage from the upland . Undernatural conditions the water table is at or near the surfacemost of the year. The wet environment favors the accumulationof organic matter and delays decomposition, so that the rate ofaccumulation up to an equilibrium is faster than the rate ofdecay . In places the organic deposits may be up to three feetor more thick .

The organic material is composed chiefly of the remains ofreeds, sedges, wood and moss. . The surface is well decomposed,with less decomposition beneath . The organic deposits overliestrongly gleyed mineral f loodplain sediments of fine texture .The muck soils are from medium to strongly acid .

These soils were mapped according to the thickness of eachdeposit . Areas 12 to 24 inches thick over mineral soil wereclassed as Shallow Muck . Those deeper than 24 inches were mappedas Deep Muck . In Matsq~ui Municipality the shallow phase isrepresented by Banford Muck, and the deep phase by Gibson Muck .

Shallow Muck

BANFORD MUCK

This soil type occurs in depressions on the lowland thatborders the upland around Mataqui Prairie and Glen Valley . Thetopography is from level to very gently undulating, and eleva-tions vary from eight to 15 feet .

The Banford Muck is associated withseries . The Banford and Gibson .auckstopographic or other surfaceThere is merely a difference

the Annis and Gibsonare intermixed, without

evidence to distinguish them .in the thickness of the organic

layer. The mapped areas are as follows :

Banford Muck 46 acresBarlford-Annis complex 216 "Banford-Gibsen complex 23Banford-Hallert-Annis complex 36

In the cultivated soil the organic material has decomposedto muck, beneath which it changes to partly decomposed peat . Theorganic layer is from 12 to 24 inches thick, and the underlyingmineral soil ranges in texture from silt loam to silty clay . Theoriginal vegetation was a swamp forest . A cultivated profileabout one-quarter mile north, 100 yards west of the Gray-Lefeuvreroad junction, was described as follows :


Hp 23-16 Ver dark gray to dark-gray (l0YR 3/1 - 4/l,dry~ or black (l0YR 2/1, moist) muck . Veryfriable when moist . Roots common . pH 4 .3 .Clear boundary :

F-H 16-11 Very dark grayish brown to dark-brown (l0YR3/2 - 3/3, dry) peaty muck . Friable whenmoist . Roots common . pH 4 .2 .Gradual boundary :

FCg 11- 0 Light-gr,ay and dark grayish brown (l0YR 7/1and l0YR 4/2, dry) or dark grayish brown tobrown (l0YR 4/2 - 4/3, moist) mucky silt .Weak, medium subangular blocky structure .A few fine, faint mottles . Firm when moist .Roots abundant . pH 4 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 0-14 Light-gray (l0YR 7/1, dry) or grayish-brown(l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay loam. Massive .A few fine, distinct, dark yellowish brown(l0YR 4/4, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .Roots common . pH 4 .7 .Clear boundary :

Cg2 14+ Light-gray (l0YR 6/1 - 7/1, dry) or gray(5Y 5/1, moist) silt loam . Massive . A fewmedium, prominent, yellowish-brown (l0YR5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .pH 4 .6 .

Land Use

See land use section under Gibson Muck .

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Deep Muck

GIBSON MUCK

This soil type overlies Fraser floodplain deposits . Itoccupies depressions near the upland in association with theBanford and Annis series . The topography is level to very gentlyundulating, and elevations are from eight to 15 feet . In placesthe Gibson and Banford series are associated without visibleevidence as to the boundary between them, inasmuch as the GibsonMuck is distinguished only as deep and Banford Muck as shallowphases . The mapped areas are as follows :

Gibson Muck 1,369 acresGibson-Banf ord complex 70 "Gibson-Triggs complex 36 "

The Gibson Muck developed under the influence of a watertable at or near the surface most of the year . The organic layerover fine textured Fraser floodplain material is 24 inches ormore thick . The cultivated layer has decomposed to muck, beneathwhich the organic deposit is partly decomposed peat . Identifiableplant remains indicate that the organic matter was derived chieflyfrom reeds and sedges, and minor wood and moss. The reactionsare from slightly to strongly acid .

A cultivated profile at the east end of Harris Road near thefoot of Sumas Mountain was given the following description :


Hp 36-33 Dark-brown to very dark grayish brown (l0YR3/2 - 2/2, moist) muck . Very friable whenmoist . Roots abundant . pH 4 .6 .Clear boundary :

F 33-30 Very dark grayish brown to dark-brown (l0YR3/2 - 3/3, moist) peat . Partly decomposedorganic matter containing recognizable stemsof plants and bits of wood . Friable whenmoist . Roots comrnon . pH 4.4 .Clear boundary :

FH1 30-24 Very dark grayish brown to dark-brown (l0YR3/2 - 3/3, moist) peaty muck . Decomposedand partly decomposed organic material inlayers . Friable when moist . Roots common .pH 4 .5 .Gradual boundary :

-53-

DepthHorizon Inches Deu cri ption

FH2 24-12 Very dark brown to black (l0YR 2/2 - 2/1,moist) peaty muck . Decomposed and partlydecomposed organic layers . Friable whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 4 .7 .Diffuse boundary :

H 12- 0 Very dark brown (l0YR 2%2, moist) muck .Decomposed organic matter with no recognizableplant remains . Friable when moist . pH 5 .1 .Abrupt boundary :

IICg 0+ Gray (2~5Y 5/0, moist) silty clay, Massivestructure .

L d Use

Drainage with provision for the maintenance of a water tableat an appropriate depth is requ;_red, to prevent or delay thedestru..̂tion of the organic layer after the organic soils arecultivated .

Seepage from the upland can often be corrected by means ofintercepting tile lines or ditches bottomed on the underlyingmineral soil . The height at which the water table is heldaffects crop production and the rate at which the organic layersubsides .

The water table should be maintained at the height requiredfor optimum crop yields (which :nay s" a~~y with the crop) . A watertable about 30 inches from -the surface at maximum is satisfactoryfor most crops . A water control system which permits progressivelowering of the water table as --he growing season progresseswould be satisfactory,

These are not poor soils . If properly managed they arehighly productive, particularl for specialized crops, such asvegetables and blueberries (20~ . The reclamation of organicsoils is discussed under Triggs Peat .

PEAT SO?LS

Organic deposits surfaced by Sphagnum peat occupy smallareas in Glen Valley . The peat occurs in a basin, which acts asa catchment for see~,age from the upland, and the water table ispermanently near the surface . The organic material, which maybe up to 10 feet deep or more, is raw near the surface and thesubsurface layers have different degrees of decomposition .

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The Sphagnum moss and the bog water are lerw in carbonatesand other minerals . High acidity is achieved by dominance ofhydrogen ions derived from decomposition of organic matter.Thus, in the centre of the bog, acidity may become high enoughin the bog water to sterilize it, and decay of the peat does nottake place . This process builds the centre higher than the outeredges, where more decomposition occurs . The result is a raisedbog or "Hochmoor" . In such places the undecomposed peat may bemined for commercial use .

In the surveyed area the Peat soils are represented byTriggs Peat .

TRIGGS PEAT

This soil type occupies small areas in Glen Valley, in thenorthwest part of Matsqui Municipality . The topography isgenerally depressional to near level, and elevations are betweeneight and 12 feet . A total of 155 acres were mapped as TriggsPeat, and an additional 90 acres were classified as a Triggs-Gibson complex .

The parent material consists of Sphagnum peat more than 36inches thick, overlying mineral soil deposits of the Fraser flmod-plain . Beneath the surface layer of living plants the moss iswell preserved9 and the water table is within a few inches of thesurface . The peat is extremely acid .

Under natural conditions there is a thin tree cover oflodgepole pine, alder and bog birch . Shrubs and other plantsinclude hardhack, labrador tea, cranberry and bracken . Anundisturbed profile about 200 feet west of Lefeuvre-Mathersroad junction was described as follows :

DepthHorizon Inches Descrip~tion

1 0- 5 Living Sphagnum moss and a litter of hard-hack and labrador tea leaves . Fibrousroots abundant . pH 4 .2 .Clear boundary :

2 5- 9 Brown (7 .5YR 5/4, moist) slightly decomposedSphagnum moss . Fibrous roots abundant .pH 3 " 7 .Abrupt boundary :

3 9-14 Dark reddish brown to dark-red (2 .5YR 3/4 -3/6, moist). Partly decomposed Sphagnum moss .Roots abundant . pH 3 .4 .Clear boundary :

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4 14-30 Very dusky red to dark reddish brown (2 .5YR2/2 - 2/4, moist) partly decomposed SphagnumMOSS . Slightly fibrous . Tree roots abun-dant . pH 3 .6 .Gradual boundary :

5 30+ Dusky red to dark reddish brown (2 .5YR 3/2- 3/4, moist) slightly decomposed Sphagnummoss . Tree roots abundant . pH 4 .4 .

Land Use

At the time of the survey (1963) the entire acreage ofpeat was in the native state . This soil type could produceberries, cranberries and vegetables if cleared and drained .Methods of reclamation are as follows :

(c)

Burning of peat or of logs and brush onpracticed .

Forest on peat should be bulldozed,rot a year before clearing. Shrubsplowed in .

It is not advisable to plow for twobreaking in order to give turned inpose . During this period the waterThough liming at this stage may notaccelerate decomposition .

Triggsblue-

peat should not be

and the trees allowed toand small trees may be

or three years afterplants a chance to decom-table should be kept low .be economical, it may

(d) The use of a heavy roller is sometimes desirable to compactthe soil, and improve the capillary rise of moisture .

(e) In subsequent years, adequate liming and fertilization willimprove soil productivity . Rapid subsidence of the peat isnot desirable . This can be reduced by keeping the watertable as high as is feasible for crop production .

Inasmuch as severe restrictions on productivity are imposedby very poor drainage, extreme acidity and low content of availableplant nutrients, only moderate crop yields can be expected forsome years after reclamation .

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Upland Soils

ACID BROWN FOREST SOILS

These soils have low base saturation and an accumulation ~iforganic matter which imparts a dark color to the surface horizons .Only the Orthic subgroup was found in Matsqui Municipality .

Orthic Acid Brown Forest Soils

This subgroup is characterized by a thin L-H horizon under-lain by a distinct dark-brown Ah horizon . There is a darkyellowish brown Bf horizon beneath . A transitional BC horizonmay or may not be present, The Orthic subgroup is representedby the Bateman series .

BATEMAN SERIES

This series occurs chiefly on the slopes of the upland facingMatsqui Prairie and in minor areas scattered in MatsquiMunicipality . The top,~graphy varies from undulating to steeplysloping ; slopes are from five to 30 percent . The range cf eleva-tion is from 50 to 225 feet . The classified areas are as follows :

Bateman series 30 acresBateman-Calkins complex 77 11Bateman-Ryder complex 67 "Bateman-Marble Hill (shallow phase) complex 13 "

The parent material consists of loess which overlies glacialoutwash, glacial till and glaciolacustrine deposits (13) . Thesurface texture varies from loam to silt loam and the underlyingglacial drift varies from gravelly sandy loam to loam7 and minorsilty clay loam.

The Bateman series occurs where moisture is available ; asin association with Calkins series on seepage slopes and onnorth-facing slopes . Though associated with poorly drainedCalkins soils, the Bateman series is well drained . Soil moistureconditions encourage the earthworm activity responsible for thedevelopment of an Ah horizon .

These are Orthic Acid Brown Forest soils which developedunder a mainly deciduous forest of alder, willow, vine maple,and scattered Lcuglas fir and cedar . There is a rich understoryof shrubs and smaller plan'-s . An undisturbed profile about 200yards southwest of the Old Clay'~urn-Clayuurn road junction wasdescribed as follows :

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L-H 2- 0 Deciduous leaves and dead grass .

Ah 0- 9 Dark grayish brown to brown (l0YR 4/2 - 4/39dry) or dark-brown (7 .5YR 3/2, moist) siltloam. Moderate, fine to medium subangularblocky breaking to medium granular structure .Friable when moist . Roots cammon . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

Bf1 9-20 Brown to light-brown (7 .5YR 5/4 - 6/4, dry)or brown to dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist)silt loam . Weak, medium subangular blockystructure . Friable when moist . Occasionalroots, pH 6 .3 .Diffuse boundary :

Bf 2 20-25 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, dry) or darkyellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist) silt loam.Weak, medium subangular blocky structure .Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 6~0 .Clear boundary :

IICl 25-35 Gravelly loam of variegated colors . Single-grained . Loose when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 6 .0 .Clear boundary :

IIC2 35+ Gravelly sandy loam of variegated colors .Single-grained . Loose when moist . pH 6 .0 .

Land Use

Most of the mapped acreage was native at the time of thesurvey (1963), or used for rough pasture . Minor areas are clearedand show a good growth of grasses and clovers .

Inasmuch as the Bateman soils are usually near seepageareas, the soil moisture supply appears to be adequate . Manage-ment is governed by the management required for the major soiltype in each complex. The heavy tree cover makes clearing andreclamation costly.

CONCRET IONARY BROWN SOILS

This group re-,embles Acid Brown Wooded soils, except for thepresence of magnetic iron concretions (shot) in the upper part ofthe solum . The Concretionary Brown soils support a heavy forest

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of coniferous trees and deciduous secondary growth . Only theOrthic subgroup was found in Matsqui IIZunicipality.

Orthic Concretionary Brown Soils

This subgroup has an L-H horizon of forest litter which isunderlain by a brownish Bfcc horizon containing numerous ironconcretions or "shot" . In turn the Bfcc horizon is underlain bya transitional BC or C horizon . There is no marked translocationof sesquioxides or clay . The representatives in MatsquiMunicipality are the Nicholson silt loam and the Abbotsford series .

NICHOLSON SILT LOAM

This soil type occupies scattered areas in the western partof Matsqui Municipality at from 300 to 400 feet elevations . Thetopography varies from very gently undulating to undulating ;slopes are from two to nine percent .

The Nicholson silt loam occurs in association with theWhatcom and Scat series and was mapped as complexes with them .The following are acreages of Nicholson silt loam and other soilsin which the Nicholson soil type occupies most of the areas :

Nicholson silt loam 108 acresN icholson-Whatcom complex 33 "Nicholson-Whatcom-Scat complex 144 "Nicholson-Scat-Whatcom complex 160 "Nicholson-Whatcom (shallow phase)-Whatcom (anthropic

pahse) complex 197 'rNicholson-Whatcom (anthropic phase) complex 83 "iJicholson-Whatcom (anthropic phase)-Scat complex 89

In addition to the above complexes there are minor oneslisted in Table 2 .

The Nicholson silt loam is derived from Whatcom glacio-marine .deposits . The average surface texture is silt loam, butthere are minor areas of loam . Numerous, hard iron concretionsoccur in the upper part of the solum . A few stones are presentin the profile, but not enough to hinder cultivation .

Drainage is from well to imperfect. Soil permeability isgood in the solum, but the parent material beneath is impervious .A perched water table is indicated in some places by mottling inthe lower part of the solum and upper part of the parent material .The imperfectly drained areas are generally associated with theScat series .

The Nicholson silt loam is an Orthic Concretionary Brownsoil . It developed under the coast forest of Douglas firg hemlock

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and cedar, which has been removed and replaced by dense deciduousgrowth . Uncleared areas support stands of alder, birch, cotton-wood and scattered fir, and an understory of blackberry, salmon-berry, thimbleberry, nettles, and bracken . A relatively undis-turbed profile was given the following description :

DepthHorizon Inches Descriktion

L-H 2- 0 Raw to well decomposed leaves, twigs andother organic material . pH 5 .3 .

Ahj 0- 1 Dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/2~ dry) or dark-brown (l0YR 3/3, moist) silt loam . Weak,fine subangular blocky structure . Veryfriable when moist . Roots abundant . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

Bfccl 1- 7 Light-brown to brown (7 .5YR 6/4 - 5/4, dry)or brown to dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist)silt loam . Weak, fine subangular blockystructure . Numerous hard iron concretions .Very friable when moist . Roots abundant .pH 5 " 7 .Gradual boundary :

Bfcc2 7-14 Light-brown (7 .5YR 6/4, dry) or brown (7 .5YR5/4, moist) silt loam . Weak, medium suban-gular blocky structure . Numerous to moderatenumber of concretions . Very friable whenmoist, Roots abundant, pH 5.5 .Gradual boundary :

BC 14-18 Brown (l0YR 5/3, dry) or brown to dark-brown(7 " 5YR 4/2, moist) silt loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure . Scatteredconcretions, Very friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

C1 18-28 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or brown (l0YR5/3, moist) sandy clay loam . Massive . Afew medium, distinct, dark yellowish brown(l0YR 4/4, moist) mottles . Very firm whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 6.6 .Gradual boundary :

C2 28+ Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) orgrayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clayloam . Massive . Common, distinct, strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, moist) mottles. Extremelyfirm when moist . pH 6 .5 .

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Land Use

A large acreage of the Nicholson silt loam and associatedcomplexes is in the native state, costly to reclaim . Wherecultivated these soils are used chiefly to produce pasture andforage . When cultivated the soils have good physical propertiesand a high moisture-holding capacity .

When the land is being cleared, care should be taken not toremove the topsoil . If the parent material is exposed, it takesyears of good management to make it productive . In many placesthe Nicholson silt loam is associated with the poorly drainedScat series~ which makes early spring cultivation difficult .When dry farmed these soils give good yields of early maturingcrops, but late maturing ones would benefit from irrigation .

ABBO'SSFORD SERIES

This series occupies areas in the southern part of MatsquiMunicipality, from Clearbrook Road west to the municipal boundary.The topography is level to gently undulating with slopes to threepercent, and there is very hummocky micro-relief caused by up-rooting trees . The elevations range from 150 to 200 feet . TheAbbotsford soils and associates are as follows :

Abbotsford loam and gravelly loam 1,408 acresAbbotsford loam 85Abbotsford gravelly loam 1,448 "Abbotsford gravelly loam (stony phase) 866 "Abbotsford-Defehr complex 107 "Abbotsford-Columbia complex 715 "Abbotsford series (anthropic phase) 715 "Abbotsford-Marble Hill complex 522 "Abbotsford-Lehman complex 81

The Abbotsford soils are derived from shallow loess . Thisoverlies and is mixed in the upper 24 inches of glacial outwash.The latter consists of sorted gravel interbedded with medium andcoarse sands . There is glacial till at depths from which aperched water table is derived . Water saturates the sands andgravel above it, thus forming an aquifer that could supplydomestic and irrigation water.

The surface textures are loam in areas of thick loess, andgravelly loam where the loess is thin, Excessively stony areaswere separated as a stony phase . The uprooting of trees hasmixed gravel into the loess in places, making the loam andgravelly loam difficult to separate . The soils are well torapidly drained, except in small areas affected by continuousseepage from higher elevations .

These are Orthic Concretionary Brown soils with a nativecover of scattered Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, birch, alder,and willow, and an understory of Oregon grape, thimbleberry, redhuckleberry, blackberry, and grasses . An undisturbed profileabout 100 yards northeast of the Boundary-Hamm road junction wasdescribed as follows :


L-H 12- 0 Organic litter composed of Leaves, needlesand a root mat . pH 5.7 .

Bf ccl 0- 4 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, dry) or dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) loam . Numerouscemented iron concretions . Weak, very finesubangular blocky structure . Friable whenmoist . Roots common . pH 5 .7 .Clear boundary :

Bfcc2 4-11 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, dry) or darkyellowish brown (l0YR 4/4 - 5/4, moist)loam . Numerous cemented iron concretions .Weak, very fine sub,angular blocky structure .Very friable when moist .pH 5 .9 .Gradual boundary :

Roots common .

BC 11-16 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, dry or 5/8,moist) loam. Scattered iron concretions .Weak, very fine subangular blocky structure .Very friable when moist . Roots common .pH 6 .0 .Clear boundary :

CIIC 16-24 Light yellowish brown (l0YR 6/4, moist)gravelly sandy loam . Massive . Friablewhen moist . Occasional roots . pH 6 .0 .Abrupt boundary :

IIC 24+ Gravelly sand of varied colors . Single-grained . Loose when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .8 .

Land Use

Where uncleared the Abbotsford soils have a fairly lightforest cover, but large stumps are evidence that a heavy forestformerly existed . The stumps make land clearing costly .

One cut of hay is generally obtained when the land is dryfarmed . Inasmuch as the soil is too droughty to carry productive

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pastures through the summer, dairying is limited without irriga-tion .

An irrigation water supply is available within 30 feet ofthe surface . This is not cornraonly used . Good drainage makesthese soils desirable for the production of small fruits andvegetables . Though yields are low when dry farmed, these soilswould be productive and valuable if irrigated . In the stonyphase, the stones interfere with cultivation, and require clear-ing .

ACID BROWN WOODED SOILS

Forested soils of low base status and no distinct eluvialor illuvial horizons are grouped as Acid Brown Wooded soils .They developed under a dense coast forest, are well to imperfectlydrained, and occupy most of the upland area in MatsquiMunicipality .

The upper part of the solum is characterized by a brightreddish brown color, that fades with depth . There is a thinlayer of forest litter on the surface . Orthic, Gleyed andDegraded subgroups were found .

Orthic Acid Brown Wooded Soils

Beneath a thin L-H horizon of forest litter there is areddish-brown Bf horizon . The soils are well drained and a transi-tional BC horizon may be present,

This subgroup is represented by the Whatcom, Columbia,Aidergrove, Peardonville, Laxton, Marble Hill, and Ryder series,and the Poignant complex .

Gleyed- Acid Brown Wooded Soils

These soils have characteristics similar to those of theOrthic subgroup, except for gleying and mottling in the lowerpart of the solum caused by a fluctuating water table . The onlyrepresentative is the Defehr series .

Degraded Acid Brown Wooded Soils

In this subgroup slight movements of organic matter and ses-quioxides have occurred . These are expressed by a light colored,discontinuous Aej horizon a quarter to an inch thick, underlainby an illuvial reddish-brown Bf horizon less than eight inchesthick that contains a slight accumulation of organic matter andsesquioxides . The only representative is the Cox series .

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Orthic Acid Brown Wooded Soils

WHATCOTv1 SILT LOAM

This soil occupies a major acreage west from Mt . Lehman roadto the municipal boundary . The topography varies . The forms arefrom very gently undulating to very steeply sloping and gentlyrolling to rolling . Though slopes range from two to 40 percent,most of the area has slopes from six to 15 percent . The eleva-tions are from 275 to 450 feet . The following Whatcom soils andassociated complexes were mapped :

Whatcom silt loam 2,135 acresWhatcom-Scat complex 4,873Whatcom-Ryder-Scat complex 804 "Whatcom-Whatcom (shallow phase)-Scat complex 987 "Whatcom-Scat-Nicholson complex 594 "Whatcom (shallow phase)-Whatcom-Scat complex 591 "Whatcom (shallow phase)-Columbia-Whatcom complex 408 "

(Minor additional complexes are listed in Table 2 .)

The soil is derived from Whatcom glacio-marine deposits from25 to 300 feet thick . The textures of this material are stonysilty clay, silty clay, clay and silt . The unweathered parentmaterial is massive, compact, hard and very slowly permeable . Insome areas there may be a shallow overlay of loess, but this can-not be identified or separated . The surface texture is siltloam, with minor inclusions of loam .

Where the depth to unweathered parent material is less than18 inches, the soil was mapped as a shallow phase . In someplaces the solum has been removed, by improper methods of landclearing and levelling, from knolls and ridge tops, and theparent material is exposed . Such areas were mapped as an anthro-pic phase .

This well to moderately well drained Orthic Acid BrownWooded soil has good permeability above the tight parent material .There are scattered iron concretions, many soft, in the upperpart of the solum . Minor areas of the Gleyed subgroup on seepageslopes and near Scat soil boundaries were included .

The original forest consisted of hemlock, cedar and Douglasfir; the deciduous trees and shrubs being well shaded down . Thisforest was destroyed and replaced by alder, birch, maple and ashrub layer of hazelnut, thimbleberry, salmonberry and others .Fireweed, nettle and bracken are common . An undisturbed profileabout 300 yards northeast of the Lefeuvre-Starr road junctionwas given the following description :

HorizonDepthInches

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Description

L-H 2- 0 Raw to well decomposed leaves, twigs andother organic matter . pH 4 .0 .

Ahj 0- 1 Dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/2, dry) or dark--brown (l0YR 3/3, moist) silt loam . Weak,fine subangular blocky structure . Veryfriable when moist . Roots abundant . pH 5 .0 .Clear boundary :

Bfh 1- 4 Reddish-brown (5YR 5/4, dry) or dark reddishbrown (5YR 3/4, moist) silt loam . Weak,fine subangular blocky structure . Scatterediron concretions . Very friable when moist .Roots abucidant . pH 5 .1 .Gardual boundary :

Bfl 4-13 Brown (7 .5YR 5/4, dry) or brown to dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) silt loam . Weak,fine subangular blocky structure . Scatteredsmall concretions . Very friable when moist .Roots abundant . pH 5 .4 .Diffuse boundary : .

Bf2 13-21 Brown to pale-brown (1GYR 5/3 - 6/3, dry)or dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4, moist)silt loam . Moderate, medium subangularblocky structure . Scattered very fineconcretions . Friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5 .6 .Gradual boundary :

BC 21-29 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or dark yellowishbrown (l0YR 4/4, moist) silty clay loam .Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure .A few medium, faint, strong-brown (7 .5YR5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Clear boundary :

C 29+ Pale-brown to very pale brown (10YR 6/3 -7/3, dry) or brown to yellowish-brown (l0YR5/3 - 5/4, moist) silty clay loam. Massiveto strong, very coarse pseudo-prismaticstructure . Common, medium, distinct, brownto dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) mottles .A few scattered stones . Extremely firmwhen moist . pH 5 .3 .

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L d Use

Most of the cleared acreage is in pasture and forage crops,for dairying, but the soil can be used for a wide range of othercrops . There is a bulb producing area at Bradner, and scatteredareas are in small fruits, nursery stock and vegetables .

A large acreage is still uncleared, because of the highclearing cost . When the land is being cleared, care should betaken not to expose the compact parent material . It would takeyears of manure and fertilizer applications and cultivations tomake exposed parent material productive . When cleared and culti-vated, the Whatcom silt loam is one of the best dry farming soilson the upland . However, irrigation would maintain production inthe dry season .

In many areas this soil is associated with the poorlydrained Scat series . In such places early spring and wet seasoncultivation is difficult .

COLUMBIA SERIES

Most of the soils mapped as Columbia series and associatesoccupy southwestern areas of the upland in Matsqui Municipality .There are minor acreages scattered in the western section . Thetopography varies from very gently sloping and undulating tosteeply sloping ; the slopes are from two to over 40 percent .Most of the acreage lies between 175 and 250 elevations, with afew small areas lower. The acreages of the Columbia series andassociated soils, in which the Columbia series dominates, are asfollows :

Columbia series 329 acresColumbia-Abbotsford complex 420 "Columbia-Peardonville complex 235 'Columbia-Whatcom (shallow phase) complex 208 "Columbia-Aldergrove complex 142 "Columbia-Defehr complex 56 "Columbia-Elk complex 66 "Columbia-Lynden complex 26 "Columbia-Abbotsford-Defehr complex 22 "

The Columbia series is derived from glacial outwash deposits .These consist of stratified, glacial, recessional and pittedsands and gravel up to 25 feet thick . It is derived also fromexposures of Huntington gravels (13) on the slopes of gullies .The surface textures vary from loam to gravelly loamy sand .Surface stone is variable, and associated chiefly with uprootingof trees and blasting of stumps, which brought stones to thesurface . Scattered iron concretions (many are soft) occur inthe upper part of the solum .

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This is a well to rapidly drained Orthic Acid Brown Woodedsoil . The present tree cover is moderate . It consists ofscattered Douglas fir, alder, willow, vine maple, and cottonwood .Other growth is composed of Oregon grape, thimbleberry, black-berry, fireweed, vetch, and bracken . An undisturbed profileabout one-half mile northwest of the Lefeuvre-Huntington roadjunction was described as follows :

HorizonDepthInches

L-H 1- 0

Bfh 0- 4

Bfl 4-12

Bf2 12-18

IIC1 18-26

1102 26+

Land Use

Description

Raw to well decomposed leaves, needles andother organic litter . pH 5 .6 .

Brown (7 .5YR 5/4, dry) or dark-brown tobrown (7 .5YR 4/2 - 4/4, moist) sandy loam .Weak, fine subangular blocky structure .Scattered iron concretions . Friable whenmoist . Roots abundant . pH 5 .7 .Clear boundary :

Brown (7 .5YR 5/4, dry) or reddish-brown(5YR 4/4, moist) sandy loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure . Scatterediron concretions . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 5 .7 .Gradual boundary :

Brown to yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/3 - 5/4,dry) or dark yellowish brown (l0YR 4/4,moist) gravelly sandy loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky breaking to single-grainedstructure . Occasional iron concretions .Very friable when moist . Roots abundant .pH 5 .6 .Clear boundary :

Sandy gravel of variegated colors, Single-grained . A few iron stains . Loose whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Clear boundary :

Sandy gravel of variegated colors . Single-grained . Loose when moist. Occasionalroots . pH 5.8 .

The coarse textured Columbia series has low moisture-holdingand cation exchange capacities . Where the topography is moderateand irrigation water available these well drained soils arecapable of producing average yields of vegetables and smallfruits .

For most crops, irrigation is necessary. Under dry farmingone poor crop of forage may be expected, and pasture dries inearly summer. Much of the steeply sloping area is used forgrazing . Stoniness may be a problem on the coarser texturedareas, and would require stone clearing . Underlying sands andgravels are a source of materials for construction ; gravel pitsare common in this series .

ALDERGROVE SERIES

In Matsqui Municipality this series occupies scatteredareas between Lefeuvre Road and the west municipal boundary .The topography ranges from very gently sloping and undulatingto very strongly rolling ; slopes are from two to 30 percent .Elevations are from 200 to 350 feet . All of the Aldergroveseries was mapped in association with other soils as follows :

Aldergrove-Whatcom complex 177Aldergrove-Nicholson complex 52Aldergrove-Scat-Whatcom complex 51Aldergrove-Whatcom (shallow phase)-Scat complex 37

This soil is derived from shallow glacial outwash sands andgravels that ov--rlie Whatcom glacio-marine deposits . The thick-ness of this overlay is from one to six feet . The surface tex-tures are loam, gravelly loam, and sandy loam .

The profile is well to moderately well drained . There issome drainage restriction where the overlay is only one to twofeet thick . This is indicated by faint mottling in the C andIIC horizons . In areas having gravelly overlay a few cobblesmay be found in the profile .

This is an Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soil . The originalclimax forest was composed chiefly of hemlock, cedar and Douglasfir. This forest is gone and the regrowth consists of alder,vine maple, scattered birch and an understory of huckleberry,blackberry, nettles, trillium, and others . Large stumps of theoriginal forest are common . An undisturbed profile on a 15percent slope, about 200 yards west of the Swenson-Station roadjunction was described as follows :


L-H lti- 0 Raw and partly decomposed leaves, twigs andother litter. Some charcoal . pH 5 .5 .

Bfh 0- 4 Brown (7 .5YR 5/4, dry) or dark reddish brown(5YR 3/29 moist) loam . Weak, fine tomedium granular structure . Scattered ironconcretions . Very friable when moist .Roots abundant . pH 5 .8 .Clear boundary :

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Bfl 4-13 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, dry) or reddish-brown (5YR 4/3, moist) loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure . Scattered ironconcretions . Very friable when moist .Roots abundant . pH 5 .9 .Gradual boundary :

Bf2 13-22 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4 - 5/6, dry) orreddish-brown (5YR 4/4, moist) sandy loam.Weak, fine subangular blocky structure .Very friable when moist . Roots abundant .pH 6.0 .Gradual boundary :

IIBC 22-31 Pinkish-gray (5YR 6/2, dry) or dark reddishgray (5YR 4/2, moist) loamy sand or finesand . Weak, fine subangular blocky breakingto single-grain structure . Very friablewhen moist . Roots common . pH 6.1 .Gradual boundary :

IN 31-43 Medium sand of variegated colors . Single-grained . Lnose when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 6.1 .Abrupt boundary :

IIIC 43+ Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) orgrayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) silty clay .Moderate, medium pseudo-subangular blockystructure . Very friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .0 .

Land Use

When the topography is not severe, cultivated areas are usedfor the production of small fruits . This soil is fairly droughtresistant because moisture is available to plant roots at the topof the underlying glacio-marine stratum . Areas of steeply slop-ing and rolling land are used for spring and early summer pasture,but they dry out in midsummer. To get optimum yields, irrigationis required, but a water supply for this purpose may be difficultto obtain .

On Aldergrove-Whatcom and Aldergrove-Nicholson complexes themanagement is usually determined by the best management for anyone of the soils in the given complex . These soils are suitablefor nurseries . The dense cover of native vegetation and oldstumps are costly to clear.

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POIGNANT SOIL COMPLEX

This complex occupies very steep slopes on Sumas Mountain .The topography varies from smooth hilly to extremely hilly ; slopesare from 35 to 65 percent . The elevations are from 100 to 2,500feet . The soils were mapped as follows :

Poignant-Ryder (shallow phase)-Rock Outcrop complex 1,404 acresPoignant-Rock Outcrop complex 151 "Poignant-Rock Outcrop-Ryder (shallow phase) complex 1,268 "

The parent material is chiefly colluvium . It consists of amixture of talus from bedrock, weathered glacial till and loess,all of which was mixed by down-slope creep . Rock outcroppingsare common .

The stabilized slopes have developed an Orthic Acid BrownWooded soil profile . This varies to Orthic Regosol on the mostrecently eroded material . The soil texture varies from siltloam to stony gravelly sand . Angular stones are common andshallow profiles over bedrock occur . Drainage is generally good,because of the steep slopes . The vegetation is composed ofDouglas fir, maple, alder, willow, scattered cedar, salmonberry,thimbleberry, and scattered grass . One of many soils in thiscomplex was described as follows :

HorizonDepthInches

L-H 2- 0

Bf 0- 6

BC 6-13

Land Use

Description

Leaves, needles, other organic litter androck fragments . pH 5 .7 .

Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, moist) stonyloam . Very weak, medium subangular blockystructure . Rock fragments mixed with loess .This horizon discontinuous . pH 5.9 .Gradual boundary :

Brown (l0YR 5/3, moist) stony loam . Struc-tureless . Numerous coarse rock fragments .pH 6.0 .Abrupt boundary :

Bedrock,

The Poignant complex is nonarable> In many places it isalso poor land for forest, because of steep slopes, shallowprofile to bedrock, and associated bedrock exposures .

Moisture-holding capacity of the soil is low. Trees growwell only if protected behin~'. ou .croNpings of bedrock or inareas of seepage .

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PEARDONVILLE SERIES

The Peardonville soils occur in Matsqui Municipality in twoareas . One area, about a mile wide, is near the Mt . Lehman Roadand old Highway No . 1, trending southwest to Langley Municipality .The other occupies a stretch of upland about one-half mile wideoverlooking the west and southwest section of Matsqui Prairie .The topography varies from undulating and gently rolling slopesto nine percent to 30 percent slopes and strongly rolling land .The elevations lie between 175 and 325 feet . The Peardonvilleseries and associated soils in which it is dominant were mappedas follows :

Peardonville series 470 acresPeardonville-Peardonville (stony phase) complex 736Peardonville (stony phase)-Peardonville-Ryder

(shallow phase) complex 250 "Peardonville (stony phase)-Peardonville complex 85 "Peardonville-Calkins complex 49 'Peardonville-Columbia complex 29 "

The parent material consists of loess underlain by glacialdrift . The drift consists of stratified gravel and sands, tilland glacio-marine deposits . The thickness of the loess variesfrom about six inches on knolls and ridges to over 24 in depres-sions. The variations in the soil profile include a variableloess cover, and the drift components . These are so intimate asto preclude separation .

Surface textures are silt loam and stony loam . The stonyloam is on the knolls and ridges, and the silt loam in depres-sions. The stone content of the profile ranges from none at allto very stony .

This well drained Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soil originallysupported the climax coast forest, which has been destroyed . Inuncleared areas the present vegetation is composed of alder,maple, hazelnut, thimbleberry, salmonberry, nettle, bracken, andothers in a dense stand . An undisturbed profile about one-halfmile north, 200 yards east of the Peardonville-Ross road junctionwas described as follows :


L-H 1- 0 Leaves, twigs and other organic material,raw to well decomposed . pH 4 .7 .

Bfh 0- 6 Brown (l0YR 5/3, dry) or dark yellowish brown(l0YR 3/4, moist) silt loam . Weak, fine

subangular blocky structure . Scattered ironconcretions . Very friable when moist .Roots abundant . pH 5.4 .Clear boundary :


Bf 6-12 Brown (l0YR 5/3, dry) or brown to dark-brown(7 .5YR 4/4, moist) loam . Weak, fine subangu-lar blocky structure . Scattered iron concre-tions . Very friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5 .5 .Gradual boundary :

IICl 12-23 Light yellowish brown (2 .5Y 6/4, dry) orolive-brown (2 .5Y 4/4, moist) sandy loam .Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure .Friable when moist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .9 .Diffuse boundary :

IIC2 23-44 Light brownish gray (2 .5Y 6/2, dry) or darkgrayish brown to grayish-brown (2 .5Y 4/2 -5/2, moist) loamy sand . Weak, fine subangu-lar blocky breaking to single-grain structure .Fragments of sandy loam till . Loose whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 6 .1 .Diffuse boundary :

IIC3 44+ Light brownish gray (2 .5Y 6/2, dry) orgrayish-brown to olive-brown (2 .5Y 5/2 -4/4, moist) medium sand and fine gravel con-taining fragments of sandy loam till .Single-grained . Loose when moist . pH 6 .2 .

Land Use

Management is complicated . Variability of texture beneaththe loess topsoil affects moisture-holding capacity and the perco-lation rate . Some areas are fairly productive when dry farmed ;others are greatly in need of irrigation . Irrigation is necessaryfor the production of small fruits . Clearing is costly .

In many areas rough topography limits land use to pasture,but cultivation requires little power where the land is undulating .The depth to a water supply for irrigation varies with the thick-ness of till or glacio-marine deposits . The aquifer beneath hasnot been well explored, hence the flow rate and kind of well thatwould be most satisfactory have not bee determined .

LAXTON SERIES

This series occupies a narrow north-south strip from the 49thparallel to Matsqui Prairie, between Gladwin and PIIcCallum roads,and scattered areas around Matsqui Prairie . The topography isgently to strongly rolling ; slopes are from six to 40 percent .

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Elevations range from 70 to 275 feet . The Laxton series andassociates were mapped as follows :

Laxton series 76 acresLaxton-Marble Hill complex 231 "Laxton-Marble Hill (shallow phase)-Marble Hill

complex 203 "Laxton-Marble Hill-Marble Hill (shallow phase)

complex 175 "Laxton-Ryder-Bateman complex 129

The Laxton soils are derived from shallow loess that overliesduned fine sands and minor areas of lacustrine sand on the uplandaround Matsqui Prairie . Surface textures are loam and silt loam,and minor very fine sandy loam . In places, erosion of the loesshas brought the underlying sand near the surface . Scatteredcemented layers about one-half inch thick of precipitated sesqui-oxides occur up to depths of seven feet or more .

The Laxton series is a rapidly drained Orthic Acid BrownWooded soil . Scattered iron concretions occur in the upper partof the solum . In uncleared areas the present vegetation consistsof scatt~ered Douglas fir, alder, maple, birch, and a lower storyof rose, Oregon grape, red huckleberry, carrot leaf, oxeye daisy,and scattered grass . An undisturbed profile on a ridge about 200yards east of the new Highway No .l-Gladwin road junction wasdescribed as follows :


L-H 2- 0 Leaves, grasses and other organic litter,partly decomposed . pH 5 .7 .

Bfh 0- 5 Strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, dry) or brown (7 .5YR4/4, moist) loam . Weak, very fine subangularblocky structure . Scattered iron concretions .Very friable when moist . Roots common .DH 6 .0 .Gradual boundary :

BC 5-11 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6 - 5/8, dry) orbrown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) very fine sandyloam . Weak, very fine subangular blockystructure . Very friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 6.0 .Gradual boundary :

IIC1 11-17 Light yellowish brown (lOYR 6/4, dry) oryellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, moist) loamy finesand . Single-grained. Iron staining onsome sand grains . Very friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 6 .1 .Diffuse boundary :

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IIC2 17-29 Pale-olive (5Y 6/3, dry) or light olive brown(2 .5Y 5/4, moist) very fine sand . Single-grained . Iron staining on some sand grains .Very friable when moist . Occasional roots.pH 6 .1 .Diffuse boundary :

IIC3 29+ Pale-olive to pale-yellow (5Y 6/3 - 7/3, dry)or light yellowish brown to light olive brown(2 .5Y 6/4 - 5/4, moist) fine sand . Single-grained . Iron staining on some sand grains .Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 6 .1 .

Land Use

The Laxton soils are droughty . At the time of the survey(1963) they were used chiefly for rough pasture . Minor, scatteredacreages were producing small fruits . The moisture-holdingcapacity is low because of the sandy substratum . These soils,except for early spring pasture, require irrigation . With irri-gation they would produce good crops of hay and small fruits .Though cultivation takes little power, the underlying sand shouldnot be brought to the surface if possible . They are also suitablefor the sites of buildings .

MARBLE HILL SERIES

The Marble Hill soils are distinguished from the Ryder seriesby a substratum of coarse textured glacial outwash . They occupyareas east of Clearbrook Road in Matsqui Municipality and scat-tered areas on Sumas Mountain . The topography is from undulatingto moderately hilly ; slopes are from three to 40 percent . Eleva-tions are from 75 to 300 feet ; minor areas occur up to 900 feet .The series and associates in which it has most of the acreage,are as follows :

Marble Hill series 1,352 acresMarble Hill series (shallow and deep phase) n11589Marble Hill loam 682 "Marble Hill-Marble Hill (shallow phase) complex 1,081 "Marble Hill-Ryder complex 134 "Marble Hill-Calkins complex 317Marble Hill-Laxton complex 246 "

(Additional minor complexes are listed in Table 2 .)

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The Marble Hill soils are derived from loess that overliesglacial outwash ranging in texture from medium sand to coarsegravelly sandy loam . Surface textures are loam and silt loam,with minor areas of shallow phase stony loam . As with the Ryderseries, the Marble Hill shallow phase has less than 18 inches ofloess, and this phase is confined to ridges, knolls and steepslnpes. The deep phase, which has more than 18 inches of loess,occupies areas of less severe topography, and depressions .Scattered stones at the surface and spotty textures, are due touprooting of trees .

This well to rapidly drained Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soilhas scattered, more or less soft, iron concretions in the upperpart of the solum . The soil developed under a climax forest, butnow the vegetation consists of a dense ccver of Douglas fir,hemlock, maple, alder, cottonwood, and willow, with undercover ofblackberry, thimbleberry, Oregon grape, salal, red-osier dogwood,bracken, and others . An undisturbed profile 200 yards east ofClearbrook Road and one-quarter mile north of the 49th parallelwas described as follows :


L-H 1-i- 0 Leaves, grass, needles and other organiclitter, partly decomposed . pH 5 .8 .

Bfh 0- 4 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6 - 5/8, dry) orstrong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, moist) loam . Weak,

Bf 4-11

BC 11-16

fine subangular blocky structure . Scatterediron concretions . Very friable when moist .Roots common, pH 5 .9 .Clear boundary :

Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6 - 5/8, dry) orbrown to strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/4 - 5/6,moist) loam . Weak, very fine subangularblocky structure . Scattered iron concre-tions . Very friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5.9 .Gradual boundary :

Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4 - 5/6, dry) orbrown (,5YR 5/4, moist) silt loam . Weak,very fine subangular blocky structure .Very friable when moist . Roots common .pH 5 .7 .Diffuse boundary :

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C 16-24 LiLht yellowish brown (l0YR 6/4, dry) orbrown (7 .5YR 5/4, moist) loam. weak, pseudo-subangular blocky structure . Very friablewhen moist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .7 .Gradual boundary :

C-IIC 24-30 Light yellowish brown (l0YR 6/4, dry) oryellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, moist) gravellyloam . Weak, pseudo-subangular blocky struc-ture . Very friable when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .7 .Abrupt boundary :

IN 30+ Gravelly sand of variable colors . Single-grained . Loose when moist . pH 5 .8 .

Land Use

Utilization is similar to that of the Ryder soils . However,the topography is not as severe, so a larger percentage of theland could be farmed .

Most of the cleared acreage is dry farmed, and good yieldsof early maturing crops are possible . There is a potentialgroundwater aquifer which may be developed as a source of irriga-tion water. Soil productivity, particularly of the shallowphase, could be increased by irrigation . The Marble Hill soilsare suitable for vegetables and small fruits, especially whenirrigated .

RYDER SERIES

This series occupies scattered areas in the eastern half ofthe upland in Matsqui PJunicipality, and on Sumas Mountain . Thetopography varies from gently rolling to hilly ; minimum slopesare six and maximum ones 60 percent . On Sumas Mountain extemelysloping, hilly topography has bedrock outcroppings . The rangeof elevation is from 75 to 2,000 feet . The Ryder series andthose associated in lesser acreage were mapped as follows :

Ryder series 1,201 acresRyder silt loam 356 "Ryder-Ryder shallow phase complex 3,231 "Ryder-4Vhatcom-Calkins complex 1,158 "Ryder shallow phase-Ryder complex 1,105 "Ryder shallow phase-Poignant-Rock Outcrop complex 1,792 "Ryder shallow phase-Ryder-Poignant complex 646 "

(Additional minor complexes are listed in Table 2 .)

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The Ryder soils are derived from loess, and overlie glacialtill and glaciolacustrine deposits . Surface textures are loamand silt loam. Of the underlying materials the till has gravellysandy loam and the glaciolacustrine deposits silty clay loam tex-tures. Where these materials are within 18 inches of the surfacethe Ryder soils were mapped as a shallow phase . This phase usuallyoccupies ridges and slopes subject to erosion . The deep phaseoccurs in level areas and depressions, where soil can accumulateby down-hill movement . There are scattered stones where uprootingtrees have raised them from underlying till .

These Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils are moderately well towell drained . They developed under Douglas fir-cedar-hemlockforest . The present vegetation, mostly deciduous, includesmaple, alder, cottonwood, and willow and an understory of salal,thimbleberry, red-osier dogwood ; bracken, and others . An undis-turbed profile about 100 yards southwest of the Bevan-Emersonroad junction was described as follows :


L-H 12- 0 Leaves, needles, bracken and other organiclitter. pH 5 .8 .

Bfh 0- 7 Stron~-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, dry) or reddish-brown (5YR 4/4, moist) loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure . Scattered ironconcretions . Friable when moist . Rootsabundant . pH 6 .1 .Diffuse boundary :

Bf 7-15 Strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, dry) or dark-brown(7 .5YR 4/4, moist) silt loam . Weak, finesubangular blocky structure. A few ironconcretions . Friable when moist . Rootsabundant . pH 5 .3 .Gradual boundary :

CIIC 15-22 Light yellowish brown (l0YR 6/4, dry) oryellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4 - 5/6, moist)very fine sandy loam . Weak, pseudo-subangularblocky structure . Friable when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5~9~Gradual boundary :

IIC1 22-30 Very pale brown (l0YR 7/3, dry) or pale-brown(l0YR 6/3, moist) fine sandy loam . Weatheredtill . Massive, breaking to single-grainstructure . Slightly compact but friablewhen moist . Occasional roots . pH 5.9 .Clear bcundary :

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DepthHorizon Innhes Descrij)tion

IIC2 30+ Gray (l0YR 6/l, dry) or grayish-brown (10YR5/2, moist) gravelly sandy loam till .Massive . Compact when moist . pH 5 .9 .

Land Use

A substantial, scattered acreage has been cleared and farmedfor forage and small fruits . These soils vary from fairly goodfarm to poor forest land, depending on the topography and thedepth of the solum .

They have a moderate moisture-holding capacity but becomedry in summer and would benefit from irrigation . In the shallowphase irrigation is needed for a second hay or silage crop or forsmall fruits . These soils are not as dry as the Marble Hill orAbbotsford series, and are more suitable than them for dry farming .They give good yields of the early maturing crops .

In places, water supplies for irrigation may be obtainedfrom stratified gravel under the till and glaciolacustrine depositsat depths of 100 feet more or less . A good irrigation per monthduring the dry months should be sufficient .

On Sumas Mountain the Ryder series and associated soilsoccupy the better sites for forestry .

Gle,yed Acid Brown Wooded Soils

DEFEHR SERIES

This is a minor soil series . It occupies scattered areasin the southwestern part of. Matsqui Municipality . The topographyranges from very gently to gently sloping and unaulating ; slopesare from two to five percent . There are a few slightly depres-sional areas . Elevations lie between 150 and 250 feet . TheDefehr series and other soils in which it occupies the greateracreage are as follows :

Defehr series 88 acresDefehr-Custer complex 45 "Def ehr-Lehma.n complex 45 "Defehr-Lehman-Columbia complex 38 "

The Defenr series is derived from a mixture of loess anderoded glacio-marine material of fine texture that overlies sandyand gravelly glacial outwash . The loam or silt loam top layer,up to 12 inches thick, covered the outwash by erosion or down-slope creep, and the sandy and gravelly deposits beneath are up

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to 50 feet thick . Small included areas of gravelly loam occur .Surface stone is variable, ranging from none at all to moderate .These soils are near streams, and where seasonal seepage occursfrom higher elevations .

This is an imperfectly drained Gleyed Acid Brown Wooded soilseries . Water table fluctuations coincide with the seasons . Itis high in winter and drops as precipitation becomes less in thegrowing season . The native cover is composed of Douglas fir,cedar, hemlock, alder, willowy and cottonwood, and shrubs, herbsand ferns . A cultivated profile in a pasture, about 400 yardseast of the Columbia Bithiluthic gravel pit near Ross Road wasdescribed as follows :


Ap 0- 7 Dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/2, dry) or dark-brorrn to dark yellowish brown (l0YR 3/33/4, moist) loam . Weak, fine to medium suban-gular blocky, breaking to weak granular struc-ture . Friable when moist . . Scattered stones .-Roots abundant . pH 5 " 3 "Abrupt boundary :

Bfgj 7-11 Brown (l0YR 5/3, dry) or yellowish-brown todark yellowish brown (l0YR 5/4 - 4/4, moist)gravelly loam . Weak, fine subangular blockystructure . A few fine, faint mottles .Friable when moist . Scattered stones ..Roots abundant . pH 5 .9 .Clear boundary :

Bfg 11-17 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or brown toyellowish-brown (l0YR 5/3 - 5/4, moist)gravelly sandy loam . Weak, fine subangularblocky structure, Common, medium, distinct,strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6, moist) mottles .Friable when moist. Roots common . pH 5 .8 .Clear boundary :

IICgl 17-25 Coarse sandy gravel of variegated colors .Single-grained . Many coarse, distinct,.strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/8, moist) mottles .Loose when moist .. Occasional roots . pH 5 ..9 . .Gradual boundary :

IICg2 25+ Coarse sandy gravel of variegated colors ..Single-grained . :da_ny medium, faint mottles.Loose when moist . pH 5 .7 .

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Land Use

Though cultivated fields have a fluctuating water table inwinter, they are dry in summer because of the coarse underlay .When drained these soils require irrigation .

The roots of perennials may be damaged by soil saturationin winter . The soils remain cold and wet in the spring untilthe water table recedes . Small, scattered areas of continuousseepage have good pasture growth in late summer . Soil managementis complicated by the association of the Defehr with well drainedColumbia and poorly drained Lehman soils ; inasmuch as the manage-ment is usually influenced by each soil in a complex . Stones mayinterefere with cultivation in places .

Degraded Acid Brown Wooded Soils

COX SERIES

The Cox series occurs high on Sumas Mountain . The topographyis strongly rolling to hilly ; slopes are from 15 to 35 percent .Elevations are between 1,900 and 3,000 feet . The Cox soil isassociated with outcroppings of bedrock . A total of 563 acresof a Cox-Rock Outcrnp complex was mapped .

The parent material consists of glacial till quite near thesurface, inasmuch as the solum is only around 12 inches thick .In many places bedrock is also near the surface and in others itoutcrops . Angular stone fragments from the bedrock are common .

This is a Degraded Acid Brown Wooded soil . The profile hasan Ae hozion generally less than an inch thick. In places thishorizon has not developed, due to surface creep, or it wasremoved by erosion when the climax forest was destroyed . Thesolum is well drained as a whole, but in places there is somerestriction because of the shallow profile . The surface texturesare loam and stony sandy loam . The native vegetation is composedof Douglas fir, scattered lodgepole pine, alder and willow .There is a scanty shrub layer and the ground has a moss cover .An undisturbed profile at the west end of Chadsey Lake wasdescribed as follows :

DepthHorizon Inches

Z-H

Aej

Description

3- 0 Leaves, needles and moss, raw to partlydecomposed, pH 5.0 .

0- 4 Gray (l0YR 5/1, moist) fine sandy loam .Weak, medium granular structure . Friablewhen moist . Roots common . pH 5 .0 .Clear boundary :

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Bf ~- 5 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, moist) sandy loam .Weak, medium subangu7.ar blocky structure .Scattered angular fragments of bedrock .Friable when moist . Roots common . pH 5 .5 .Abrupt boundary :

C 5-12 Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, moist) stony sandyloam . Weathered till . Bedrock fragmentscommon . Friable when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5 .5 .

IIC 12+ Bedrock .

Land Use

The Cox series is nonarable . The topography is not as severe

as that of the Poignant complex and moisture appears more abundant,

possibly due to the cooler air, mist and greater moisture efficiencyat the higher elevations . Though trees are scattered, Douglas

fir grows large enough to log . The shallow profile, rock outcrop-pings, inaccessibility and other nf:gative factors puts this soilin the doubtful category for tree farming .

PODZOL SOILS

The Podzols occupy scattered areas in the southwest sectionof Matsqui Municipality . This group is characterized by an L-H

horizon of organic forest litter, beneath which is a lightcolored Ae eluvial horizon . In turn this is underlain by anilluvial Bf horizon in which organic matter and sesquioxides are

the main substances that have accumulated . The solum is moderately

to strongly unsaturated . The Podzols, which developed under a

climax coast forest, are rapidly to imperfectly drained . Twosubgroups were found :

Minimal Podzol Soils

The Minimal Podzol has an L-H horizon of forest litter onthe surface .Ae horizonThis horizon is

neath the organic layer there is a light coloredthan one inch thick, which is not continuous .underlain by an illuvial brown to reddish-brown

Bf horizon more than eight inches thick, which contains accumu-lated organic matter and sesquioxides . The profile is unsaturated,strongly acid near the surface, and less acid with depth . In the

surveyed area this subgroup is represented by the Lynden~series .

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Gle,yed Ortstein Podzol Soils

Under natural conditions this subgroup has an L-H horizon offorest litter on the surface, beneath which is a light coloredeluvial Ae horizon more than an inch thick . The Ae horizon isunderlain by an illuvial brown to reddish-brown, cemented B hori-zon containing accumulated organic matter and sesquioxides . TheB horizon may have mottles and gley, due to water table fluctua-tion . The Cg horizon beneath is mottled and gleyed . The repre-sentative in the surveyed area is the Custer series,

Minimal Podzol Soils

LYi1DEN SERIES

These soils occupy a small acreage in the northwest cornerof Matsqui Municipality . The topography is level to very gentlysloping ; slopes are one-half to three percent . There is hummockymicrorelief, caused by uprooting of large trees . Only 12 acreswere mapped .

The Lynden series is derived from glacial outwash (13), whichconsists of sorted gravel and cobbles interbedded with medium andcoarse sands from 10 to 125 feet thick . The surface, which mayor may not be gravelly and stony, ranges from gravelly sand tosandy loam.

These are Minimal Podzol soils with an Ae horizon less thanone-half inch thick and a well developed Bf horizon beneath . TheAe horizon was destroyed where trees uprooted . The solum israpidly drained . Tree cover is composed chiefly of a dense standof young Douglas fir and alder . The remaining growth is mostlybracken and moss . An undisturbed profile was given the followingdescription :


L 12- 0 Undecomposed moss and forest litter.

Aej 0- Light brownish gray (10YR 6/2 dry) or light-gray to gray (l0YR 6/1, moistj loamy sand .Single-grained, Loose when moist . pH 5 .9 .Abrupt boundary :

Bf1 ~- 9 Yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/4, dry) or dark-brown(7 .5YR 3/2, moist) loamy sand . Very weakfine to medium granular structure . Softwhen dry ; very friable when moist . Occasionalsmall gravel . Fine roots abundant . pH 6 .2 .Gradual boundary :

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HorizonDepthInches

Bf2 9-18

C 18-35

Land Use

Description

Brown (l0YR 5/3, dry) or dark-brown (l0YR4/3y moist) gravelly sandy loam . Single-grained . Loose when dry. Fine roots abun-dant . pH 6.3 .

Coarse gravelly sand of variegated colors .pH 6,4 .

A small acreage is used for building sites and rough pasture .Utilization of the Lynden soils is limited by droughtiness andstoniness . The soils warm early in the spring, hence they aresuitable for early maturing crops . Low moisture-holding capacityseriously affects all crop production . Irrigation is desirablefor any kind of crop production . Water table wells could supplythe necessary water for irrigation in this particular area .

Gle,yed Ortstein Podzol Soils

CUSTER SERIES

The Custer soils occupy small areas along the 49th parallelsouthwest of Abbotsford Airport . The topography varies fromdepressional to very gently sloping, slopes being from none atall to three percent . Elevations range from 130 to 175 feet .Soils in which the Custer series predominates were mapped asfollows :

Custer loam 148 acresCuster-Defehr complex 70 "

The soils are derived from shallow loess overlying glacialoutwash (13), which consists of stratified gravel and cobblesinterbedded with medium and coarse sands from 10 to 125 feetthick. The surface textures, which may or may not include graveland cobbles, range from loam to gravelly sandy loam . The Custersoils developed in areas of seepage and in poorly drained depres-sions .

Gravel content increases with depth and texture becomescoarser. There is a concentration of organic matter at the sur-face, with iron cementation and gley in the subsoil . ThisGleyed Ortstein Podzol is slightly acid at the surface, becomingmedium acid at depths . The deciduous cover is composed of birch,alder, willow, cascara and others . An undisturbed profile one-quarter mile east, 200 yards north of the Ross-Boundary roadjunction was described as follows :

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HorizonDepthInches

L-H 2- 0

Ahe 0- 3

Ae 3- 6

Bfc 6-11

Bgc 11-17

Description

Forest litter . pH 5~1 .

Dark-gray (l0YR 5/1, dry) or very dark gray(lOYR 3/l, moist) loam . Weak, fine granular

structure, Very friable when moist . Roots

abundant,. pH 4.7,Clear boundary :

Gray (10YR 6/1, dry) or grayish-brown (l0YR5/2, moist) loam . Weak, very thin platystructure . Very friable when moist . Roots

common . pH 5.3 .Abrupt boundary :

Brown (7~5YR 5/4, dry) or dark-brown (7 .5YR

4/4, moist) fine sandy loam. Massive,breaking to single-grain structure . Veryfirm when moist . Iron-cemented pockets andstreaks . A few, medium, distinct mottles .Occasional roots, pH 5 .6 .Gradual boundary :

Brown (l0YR 5/4, dry) or dark yellowish brown(l0YR 4/4, moist) sandy loam, Massive,breaking to single-grain structure . Iron-cemented in pockets and streaks . A fewmedium, prominent mottles . Occasional roots .pH 6 . . 0 ~Gradual boundary :

IICg 17+ Gravel.ly loamy sand of variegated colorswith occasional iron stains . A few mediumdistinct mottles . Single-grain structure .Occasional roots, pH 5.8,

Land Use

In small areas cultivated, small fruits showed poor growth,

probably because of a high, fluctuating water table, Reclamationrequires land clearing, drainage and subsoiling to break up theindurated Bfc horizon . When the water table recedes below the

rooting zone, the low moisture-holding capacity of Custer soils

would not carry a crop through a season ; irrigation would berequired .

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GLEYSOL SOILS

Refer to a description of Gleysol and Rego Gleysol soils,

and a description of the Sardis complex in the lowland soils

section, pages 29 and 35 .

HUMIC GLEYSOL SOILS

A description of Humic Gleysol and Rego Humic Gleysol soils

is given in the lowland soils section, page 39 .

In the upland of Matsqui Municipality and onthe Rego Humic Gleysol subgroup is represented by

Lehman, Calkins, Cornock, and Ross series .

Rego Humic Gleysol Soils

SCAT SERIES

Sumas Mountainthe Scat,

This series occurs in association with other soils on the

upland of Matsqui Municipality . It occupies seepage areas, in

which there is a fluctuating water table . The topography is

slightly depressional or level to gently and moderately sloping .

The elevations range from 275 to 450 feet . The Scat series and

associated soils were mapped as follows :

Scat series 147 acresScat-Whatcom complex 219 "Scat-Nicholson complex 229 "Scat-Ross complex 52 "Scat-Nicholson-Aldergrove complex 21 "Scat-Whatcom--Aldergrove complex 20 "

The parent material consists of `rVhatcom glacio-marine

deposits . Surface textures range from silt loam to silty clay

loam, and generally become heavier with depths,

The surface runoff and seepage from higher elevations accumu-

lates on the Scat soils in level to gently sloping areas and in

the depressions . This feature, combined with close proximity to

the surface of impervious parent material, favors poor drainage .

Surface and internal drainage are from slow to very slow .

Though classed as a Rego Humic Gleysol, minor areas of Rego

Gleysol soils were included . The native vegetation is composedof dense stands of alder, birch and aspen, with scattered Douglasfir, cedar and hemlock- There is also a thick understory ofelderberry, hardhack, blackberry, vine maple, bracken, sword

fern, water plaintain, sedges, and others . An undisturbedprofile about 300 yards east of the n4acLure-Bradner road junctionwas described as follows :

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L-H 1- 0 Leaves, needles, twigs and other organiclitter . Raw to well decomposed .

0-10 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/1, dry) or black to verydark gray (l0YR 2/1 - 3/1, moist) siltloam,, Moderate, medium subangular blockystructure . Friable when moist . Rootsabundant . pH 5 .3 .Diffuse boundary :

AC 10-18 Grayish-brown (10YR 5/2, dry) or dark-brownto brown (l0YR 3/3 - 4/3, moist) loam .Moderate, medium subangular blocky structure .Common, fine, distinct, dark reddish brown(5YR 3/4, moist) mottles . Friable whenmoist . Roots common . pH 5 .9 .Gradual boundary :

Cgl 18-28 Very pale brown (l0YR 7/39 dry) or brown(l0YR 5/3, moist) silt loam . Massive,.Many medium, prominent brown to dark-brown(7e5YR 4/49 moist) mottles . Firm whenmoist, pH 6 .2 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 28+ Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, dry) or darkgrayish brown (l0YR 4/2, moist) silty clayloam . Massive . Many medium, distinct, dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/49 moist) mottles . Extremelyfirm when moist . pH 6 .3 :

Land Use

A small acreage was develeped at the time of the survey(1963) and in grass for hay or pasture, The Scat soils aredifficult to cultivate when associated with the Whatcom andNicholson series, because they cannot be handled at the sametime . The forage usually has low feeding value, owing to highsedge content .

Reclamation consists of heavy clearing and expensivedrainage . Drainage outlets are often difficult to find . Indivi-dual areas are often too small to warrant reclamation unless highincome crops are produced .

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LEHTuIAN SERIES

There are scattered areas of the Lehman series on the southernhalf of the upland in Matsqui Municipality . The topography varies

from very gently to gently undulating ; slopes are from two to fivepercent . There are also a few slightly depressional areas . Theelevations are from 130 to 250 feet . The Lehman series andassociated soils were mapped as follows :

Lehman seriesLehman-Ross complexLehman-Defehr complex

113 acres84 "77 "

Lehman-Custer complex 69 "Lehman-Judson complex 12 "

The Lehman soils are derived from a shallow deposit of loessthat overlies and to some extent is :.Zixed with glacial outwash .These glacial sands and gravels are from 10 to 125 feet thick .The surface texture ranges from loam to silt loam. There areminor inclusions of sandy loam underlain by the coarse gravellyor sandy deposits . The soils usually occur near contact withthe finer textured glacio-marine deposits, and some areas arealong occupied and abandoned channels of streams in the outwashplain . Slopewash has produced a discontinuous, shallow overlayat the toes of slopes, but of insufficient thickness or area towarrant separation . Stones are insufficient to interfere withcultivation .

This Rego Humic Gleysol soil series is poorly drained . Thesource of seepage is from higher elevations and lateral seepagefrom streams . The native vegetation is composed of cedar,cottonwood, alder, devil's club, ferns, and others . An undis-turbed profile about 100 yards west of the Boundary-Lefeuvreroad junction was described as follows :


H-L 1~- 0 Well decomposed to raw leaves and roots.Abundant roots form a heavy sod . Earthwormactivity . pH 4~7 .Abrupt boundary :

Ah 0- 7 Gray to dark-gray (l0YR 5/1 - 4/1, dry) orblack (l0YR 2/1, moist) silt loam . Weak,medium subangular blocky structure .Friable when moist . Roots abundant .Earthworms in upper part . p:-3 4 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

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Cg 7-11 Light brownish gray (2 .5Y 6/2, dry) or olive-brown (2 .5Y 4/4, moist) loam . Moderate,medium subangular blocky structure . Common,medium, distinct ; strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6,moist) mottles . Firm when moist . Rootscommon . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

IICgl 11-15 Light brownish gray to light yellowish brown(2 .5YR 6/2 - 6/4, dry) or light olive brown(2 .5Y 5/4, moist) loamy sand . Weak, mediumpseudo-subangular blocky structure . Manycoarse, distinct, strong-brown (7 .~5YR 5/6 -5/8, moist) mottles . Very friable whenmoist . Occasional roots . pH 5 .9 .Abrupt boundary :

IICg2 15-27 Mottled, compact sandy gravel of variablecolors . Single-grained . Laose when moist.Occasional roots . pH 5 .9 .Gradual boundary :

IICg3 27+ Mottled, compact, coarse gravel of variablecolors . Single-grained . Loose when moist .pH 5 .9 .

Land Use

There is scattered cultivation, managed the same as surreund-ing soils . Non-irrigated pastures are fairly productive in latesummer, because of seepage . Small fruits, or other crops whoseroots are damaged by a high water table, should not be planted .Grasses take over as legumes are killed out in the wet season .

Reclamation involves heavy clearing and drainage . Whentile or ditch drained, the Lehman soils require irrigation inthe dry season, because of the coarse and. open subsoil .

CALKIidS SERIES

This series occupies seepages in areas of the Marble Hill,Ryder and Bateman soils . The topography is usually level, butthere is a minor acreage on steep seepage slopes . The elevationsrange from 50 to 1,OQ0 feet . The Calkins series and itsassociates were mapped as follows :

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Calkins series 490 acresCalkins-Bateman complex 82 "Calkins-Judson complex 78 "Calkins-Ryder-Whatcom complex 135 "

The parent material consists of loess, which has accumulatedin depressions by erosion from higher ground . The loess rangesfrom 40 to 72 inches thick, underlain by gravelly or sandy out-wash or till . The profile textures are silt loam and silty clayloam .

This poorly drained Rego Humic Gleysol has a native vegeta-tion composed of alder, cottonwood, and willow, with an under-story of sedges, watercress, skunk cabbage and others . An undis-turbed profile about 200 yards southwest of the Townline-Downesroad junction was described as follows :


0- 9 Very dark brown (l0YR 2/2, moist) silty clayloam . Moderate, medium subangular blockystructure . Roots common . pH 5 . 6 .Gradual boundary :

AC 9-19 Dark-gray (10YR 4/1, moist) silt loam.Massive . Firm when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 5.8 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 19-30 Grayish-brown (2 .5Y 5/2, moist) silty clayloam . Many yellowish-red (5YR 5/6, moist)mottles . Massive . Firm when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .9 .Abrupt boundary :

Cg2 30+ Light brownish gray (l0YR 6/2, moist) siltloam. Massive . Many yellowish-red (5YR5/6, moist) mottles . Firm when moist.pH 6 .6 .

Iiand Use

The Calkins soils occupy small, poorly drained, swampy andforested areas . At present the reclamation of such areas is noteconomic, because the areas are usually too small to return theinvestment . In some cases the smaller depressions could bedeepened or dammed to form ponds, where the underlying materialis impervious .

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CORNOCK SERIES

The Cornock soil is confined to one area in MatsquiMunicipality . This is located in Glen Valley near the west

municipal boundary . The topography is gently sloping and gentlyundulating ; slopes are from two to five percent . Elevations are

between 15 and 25 feet . The total area amounts to 12 acres .

The parent material consists of Fraser River sediments that

are older and at higher elevation than those of the lowland .There are from 15 to 24 inches of loam, silt loam and silty clay

strata with sandy and gravelly glacial outwash (13) beneath .

The drainage of this Rego Hjt.unic Gleysol soil is imperfectto poor, and there is indication that it was more poorly drained

in the past than at present . The improvement is due largely todrainage and control of the water table . A cultivated profilewas described as follows :

HorizonDepthInches Desc-ri tion

AP 0- 8 Dark-gray (5YR 4/l, dry) or black (5YR 2/l,moist) silt loam . Moderate, medium granularstructure . Friable when moist . Rootsabundant . pH 5 .6 .Abrupt boundary :

Ah 8-12 Dark-gray (l0YR 4/19 dry) or very dark gray(l0YR 3/1, moist) silt loam . Moderate,medium granular structure . Friable whenmoist . Roots abundant . pH 5 .3 "Abrupt boundary :

Cg 12-14 Light brownish gray (2 .5Y 6/2, dry) or darkgrayish brown (2 .5Y 4/2, moist) silty clayloam. Moderate, medium subangular blockystructure . Common, medium, faint, yellowish-brown (l0YR 5/6, moist) mottles. Firm whenmoist . Roots common . pH 5 .2 .Abrupt boundary :

IIAhg 14-18 Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, dry) or dark-grayto very dark grayish brown (l0YR 4/1 - 3/2,moist) silty clay loam . Moderate, mediumsuba:ngular blocky structure . Common,medium, distinct brown to strong-brown(7 .5YR 5/4 - 5/69 moist) mottles. Very firmwhen moist . Roots common . pH 5 .1 .Abrupt boundary :

-g0-

DepthTiorizon Inches DescriRtion

IIIC1 18-31 Pale-brown (l0YR 6/3, dry) or dark yellowishbrown (l0YR 4/49 moist) coarse sandy loam .Fine pseudo-subangular blocky breaking tosingle-grain structure . Fine materialcoated on gravel � Very friable when moist .Occasional roots . pH 5 .5 .Gradual boundary :

IIIC2 31+ Fine gravel of variegated colors . Single-grained ., Scattered stones . Loose whenmoist, pH 5 .6~

Land Use

The 12 acres of Cornock soil is farmed for pasture andforage crops . The management is similar to that of the lowlandsoils . This soil may be droughty in the late sumrner, because ofthe coarse underlay, and irrigation is desirable . Improveddrainage of surrounding lowland soils would benefit the Cornockseries, because of its higher elevation .

ROSS SERIES

The Ross soils are in scattered areas on the upland in thewestern half of TuTatsqui Municipality . The topography is fromvery gently sloping to gently undulating ; slopes are from two tofive percent . Elevations are from 150 to 300 feet . The seriesand associated soils were mapped as follows :

Ross seriesRoss-Judson complexRoss-Defehr complex

3'(6 acres62 "

n

The Ross series occurs on the narrow floodplains of streamsoriginating in the higher parts of the upland . The parentmaterial consists of eroded sediments from Whatcom glacio-marinedeposits which were laid . down as meander scrolls and levees onthe margins of the streams . In some cases a narrow floodplainbottoms a steep sided coulee in glacio-marine material . Inothers, where a stream crosses an outwash plain, the soils mayoccur only a few feet lower than the surrounding areas .

The surface textures range from silt loam to silty clayloam . Heavier and lighter textured strata may occur in theprofile, depending on thestream . Gravel and sandsThe profile is stone-freebulldozed . In such cases

variety of materials carried by theare usually more than 24 inches deep .except where the stream bed has beena few stones may be found, but not

enough to hinder cultivation .

The Ross series was mapped as a Rego Humic Gleysol but a few

unmappable areas of Rego Gleysol soils were included . Drainage

is poor ; a few scattered areas have very poor drainage . The

natural vegetation is composed of alder, willow, dogwood, hard-

hack, sedge, nettle, buttercup, and others . An undisturbed pro-

file about 200 feet southwest of the Marshall-Mt . Lehman roadjunction was described as follows :


0- 9 Dark gray to gray (l0YR 4/1 - 5/1, dry) orvery dark gray (l0YR 3/1, moist) silt loam .Weak, medium subangular blocky structure.A few, fine, faint mottles . Very friablewhen moist . Roots abundnat . pH 4 .7 .Gradual bouiidary :

AC 9-13 Grayish-brown (l0YR 5/2, dry) or darkgrayish brown (l0YR 4/2, moist) silt loam .Weak, medium subangular blocky structure .Cormnon, medium, distinct, brown to dark-brown (l0YR 4/4, moist) mottles . Veryfriable when moist . Roots common . pH 5.3 .Abrupt boundary :

Cgl 13-22 Light-gray (l0YR 6/1, dry) or gray (5Y 5/19moist) silty clay loam . Moderate, mediumpseudo-subangular blocky structure . Manymedium ., prominent, strong-brown (7 .5YR 5/6,moist) mottles . Firm when moist . Occa-sional roots . pH 5.4 .Gradual boundary :

Cg2 22+ Light olive gray (5Y 6/2, dr ~ or dark-grayto gray (5Y 4/1 - 5/1, moist~ silty clay .Massive . Fine, medium, distinct brown todark-brown (7 .5YR 4/4, moist) mottles .Extremely firm when moist . pH 6.2 .

Land Use

One large area was cultivated for pasture and forage cropsat the time of the survey (1963) . Reclamation involves clearingdense swamp forest and expensive drainage . A high income cropwould be required to cover the cost . Water table control isdifficult, because of lateral seepage from streams . Small areasnear streams make cultivation difficult . Cultivation is compli-

cated by heavy subsoil texture . If required, irrigation water isreadily available from nearby creeks .

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MUCK SOILS

Refer to the general description of Muck soils on page 50 .

These soils occupy scattered areas on the upland in thesouthern half of Matsqui Municipality . The areas in which theyoccur serve as catchments for seepage water . Under naturalconditions the water table is at or near the surface most of theyear .

Water saturation delays decomposition of the organic litter .The surface soil is usually well decomposed muck, containingsome mineral soil, and the balance of the profile is semi-decomposed . The underlying material varies, but generally it isfine textured and gleyed~ In the upland the Muck soils arerepresented by Judson Muck .

JUDSON MUCK

This soil occupies scattered depressions and seepage areason the upland . The average topography is level ; minor areas aregently undulating . Elevations lie between 145 and 180 feet .The Judson Muck is associated with the Ross series on creekfloodplains . The classified areas are as follows :

Judson Muck 563 acresJudson-Ross complex 255 I'

woodThe organic material, composed chiefly of reeds, sedges,and moss, accumulated under poor drainage . The surface

layer has humified to muck, beneath which is semi-decomposedpeat . The Judson soil was separated into a shallow phase (12 to24 inches thick) and a deep phase (more than 24 inches of organicmaterial) . Oxidized mineral soil eroded in and mixed with theorganic deposit imparts a reddish color . The underlying mineralsoil is fine textured and strongly gleyed . Natural vegetationconsists of alder, birch, coast pine, hard!-hack;labrador tea,and sphagnum moss . A cultivated profile about 200 yards east ofTownline Road on the 49th parallel was described as follows :


Hp 46-39 Very dusky red (2 .5YR 2/2, moist) loamymuck . Weak, coarse subangular blocky struc-ture . Friable when moist . Roots abundant .pH 4~2 .Gradual boundary :

H 39-32 Dusky-red to dark reddish brown (2 .5YR 3/2- 3/4, moist) muck . Friable when moist .Roots common . pH 4.2~Diffuse boundary :

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Fl 32-17 Dark-brown (7 .5YR 3/2, moist) peaty muck .Friable when moist . Occasional roots .pH 4 . 4 .Diffuse boundary :

F2 17- 0 Dark-brown (7 .5YR 4/2 - 4/4, moist) peatymuck . Friable when moist . Occasionalroots . pH 4 .5 .Abrupt boundary :

IICg 0+ Gray (l0YR 5/1, moist) silt loam . Massive .A few faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4,moist) mottles . Firm when moist .

Land Use

The Judson Muck is difficult to reclaim inasmuch as themuck areas occupy seepages near creeks and around lakes . Flattopography and no outlets make gravity drainage almost impossible .There is also a high clearing cost .

If drained, the water table should be controlled so that thesurface layer will not dry, subside and crack . When reclaimedand well managed, the Judson Muck is valuable for vegetable andblueberry production (20), but grasses may not do well . Apasture sward may revert to sedges and mosses, and thus requiresa grass that can compete with them, such as reed canarygrass .

MISCELLANEOUS LAND TYPES

D,ykes and Ditches

About 91 acres are occupied by dykes and ditches in MatsquiMunicipality .

Gravel Pits

Gravel pits are scattered throughout Matsqui Municipality .Some are operated by private firms, others by the municipalityand the British Columbia Department of Highways . The pits occupyabout 79 acres .

Lakes,-Ponds-and Sloughs

Lakes, ponds and sloughs occupy about 330 acres in the low-land and upland areas of the municipality .

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Rock Outcrops

A total of 697 acres were mapped as rock outcrop andassociated nonarable land in the municipality and on SumasMountain .

Subdivided Areas

The town of Abbotsford, the village of Clearbrook and theMatsqui and Clayburn hamlets occupy about 955 acres .

Trans-Canada Highway

The right-of-way of the Trans-Canada Highway occupies about378 acres in Matsqui Municipality .

Table 2 - MAP SYMBOLS AND ACREAGES OF THE DIFFERENT SOILS ANDMISCELLANEOUS AREAS

Soils Map Symbol Acreage

Abbotsford gravelly loam ADgl 11448Abbotsford gravelly loam (stony phase) AD gl(st) 866Abbotsford loam AD1 85Abbotsford series AD1-gl 17408Abbotsford series (anthropic phase) AD : an 715Abbotsford--Marble Hill soil complex AD-MH 52 2Abbotsford-Columbia soil complex AD-CL 715Abbotsford-Defehr soil complex AD-DR 107Abbotsford-Lehman soil complex AD -LH 81

Aldergrove-Nicholson soil complex AE-N 52Aldergrove-Scat-Whatcom soil complex AE-SC-W 51Aldergrove-Whatcom soil complex AE-W 177*Aldergrove-Whatcom :sp-Scat soil complex AE-W : sp-SC 37

Annis muck AN 194Annis-Banford soil complex AN-BD 40Annis-Hallert soil complex AN-HT 53Annis-Hallert-Beharrel soil complex AN-HT-BL 91Annis-Hazelwood soil complex AN -HD 14,~nnis-Hjorth soil complex AN-HJ 43Annis-Sim soil complex AN-SI 23

Banford muck BD 46Banford--Annis soil complex BD-AN 216Banford-Gibson soil complex BD-GN 23Banford-Hallert-Annis soil complex BD-HT-AN 36

-95-

Table 2 - Continued


Bateman series BA 30Bateman-Calkins soil complex BA-CN 77Bateman-Marble Hill :sp soil complex BA-MH :sp 13Bateman-Ryder soil complex BA-RD 67

Bates series BT 37Bates-Lickman soil complex BT-LK 137Bates-Sim soil complex BT-SI 93

Beharrel series BL 720Beharrel-Bates soil complex BL-BT 192Beharrel-Hazelwood soil complex BL-HD 102Beharrel-Niven soil complex BL-NN 32

Calkins series CN 490Calkins-Bateman soil complex CN-BA 82Calkins-Judson soil complex CN-JN 78Calkins-Ryder-Whatcom soil complex CN-RD-W 135

Columbia series CL 329Columbia-Abbotsford soil complex CL-AD 420Columbia-Abbotsford-Defehr soil complex CL-AD-DR 22Columbia-Aldergrove soil complex CL-AE 142Columbia-Defehr soil complex CL-DR 56Columbia-Elk soil complex CL-EK 66Columbia-Lynden soil complex CL-LY 26Columbia-Peardonville soil complex CL-PD 235Columbia-Whatcom :sp soil complex CL-W :sp 208

Cornock series CR 12

Cox-Rock outcrop soil complex CX-RO 563

Custer loam C 148Custer-Defehr soil complex C-DR 70

Defehr series DR 88Defehr-Custer soil complex DR-C 45Defe?ar-Lehman soil complex DR-LH 45Defehr-Lehman-Columbia soil complex DR-LH-CL 38

Elk series EK 248Elk-Columbia soil complex EK-CL 61Elk-Isar soil complex EK-IS 10Elk-Niven soil complex EK-NN 44

-96-

Table 2 - Continued


Fairfield series F 245Fairf ield-Hjorth soil complex F-HJ 208Fairfield-Monroe soil complex F-M 262Fairfield-Pdionroe-Page soil complex F-M-PE 360Fairfield-Pdionroe-Monroe : sp soil complex F-M-PJI : sp 444Fairfield-Monroe :sp soil complex F-M:sp 86Fairfield-Monroe :sp-Page soil complex F-M :sp-PE 78Fairf ield-Page soil complex F-PE 301Fairf ield : sp-1Vlonroe : sp soil complex F : sp-M : sp 28Fairf ield :sp-Prest :sp-Grevell soil

complex F:sp-PR :sp-G 52

Gibson muck GN 1,369Gibson-Banf ord soil complex GN-BD 70Gibson-Triggs soil complex GN-TR 36

Grevell series G 83Grevell-Fairfield :sp soil complex G-F :sp 57Grevell-Monroe :sp soil complex G-PlI :sp 44

Hallert series HT 1,031Hallert-Banford soil complex HT-BD 79Hallert-Gibson soil complex HT-GN 31

Hazelwood series HD 985Hazelwood-Annis soil complex HD-AN 81Hazelwood-Beharrel soil complex HD-BL 154Hazelwood-Niven soil complex HD-NN 30Hazelwood-Sim soil complex HD-SI 327

Hjorth series HJ 99Hjorth-Annis soil complex HJ-AN 15Hjorth-Hallert soil complex HJ-HT 40Hjorth-Fairf ield-Page soil complex HJ-F-PE 13

Isar series is 242Isar-Elk soil complex IS-EK 45

Judson muck JN 563Judson-Ross soil complex JiJ-RS 255

Zaxton series LX 76Laxton-Marble Hill soil complex LX-MH 231Laxton-Marble Hill-Marble Hill :sp soil

complex LX-MH-MH :sp 175Laxton-Marble Hill :sp-Marble Hill soil

complex LX-MH:sp-MH 203Laxton-Ryder-Bateman soil complex LX-RD-BA 129

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Table 2 - Continued


Lehman series LH 113Lehman-Custer soil complex LH-C 69Lehman-Defehr soil complex LH-DR 77Lehman-Judson soil complex LH-JN 12Lehman-Ross soil complex LH-RS 84

Lickman :sp-Lickman soil complex LK :sp-LK 31Lickman-Bates soil complex LK-BT 79Lickman :sp-IvIcElvee soil complex LK :sp-ME :sp 31

Lynden series LY 12

Marble Hill series Mfi 11352Marble Hill loam MH1 682Marble Hill-Marble Hill :sp soil complex MH-MH :sp 17081Marble Hill-Laxton soil complex MH-LX 246Marble Hill-Laxton-Marble Hill :sp soil

complex MH-LX-MH :sp 106Marble Hill-Laxton-Bateman soil complex MH-LX-BA 159Marble Hill-Ryder soil complex MH-RD 134Marble Hill-Ryder-Bateman soil complex PIIH-RD-BA 78Marble Hill-Ryder-Calkins soil complex MH-RD-CN 58Marble Hill-Abbotsford soil complex PtIH-A-D 31Marble Hill-Calkins soil complex MH-CN 317Marble Hill :sp MH :sp 178Marble Hill :sp-Marble Hill soil complex MH :sp-MH 17589Marble Hill :sp-Marble Hill-Laxton soil

complex MH :sp-MH-LX 187Marble Hill :sp-Ryder :sp-Marble Hill

soil complex MH :sp-RD :sp-MH 89

McElvee series ME 41McElvee :sp-McElvee soil complex ME :sp-ME 163

Monroe-Monroe :sp soil complex M-M :sp 120Monroe-Fairfield soil complex I14-F 128Monroe-Fairf ield-Monroe :sp soil complex M-F-M :sp 542Monroe :sp M:sp 62Monroe :sp-Monroe soil complex M:sp-M 144Monroe :sp-Fairfield soil complex M:sp-F 98

Nicholson silt loam Nsil 108Nicholson-4"lhatcom soil complex N-W 33Nicholson-Whatcom (anthropic) soil

complex N-W:an 83Nicholson-Whatcom-Scat soil complex tI-W-SC 144

- 98 -

Table 2 - Continued


Vicholson-Whatcom (anthropic)-Scat soilcomplex N-W:an-SC 89

Nicholson-Whatcom:sp-Whatcom (anthropic)soil complex N-W :sp-W :an 197

Nicholson-Aldergrove-Scat soil complex N-AE-SC 42Nicholson-Scat soil complex N-SC 57Nicholson-Scat-Whatcom soil complex N-SC-W 160

Niven soil complex NN 307Niven-Hjorth soil complex NN-HJ 22

Page series PE 347Page-Fairf ield soil complex PE-F 244Page-Prest soil complex PE-PR 274

Peardonville series PD 470Peardonville-Peardonville (stony) soil

complex PD-PD(st) 736Peardonville (stony)-Peardonville soil

complex PD(st)-PD 85Peardonville (stony)-Peardonville-Ryder

:sp soil complex PD(st)-PD-RD :sp 250Peardonville-Calkins soil complex PD-CN 49Peardonville-Columbia soil complex PD-CL 29

Poignant-Rock outcrop soil complex PT-RO 151Poignant-Ryder :sp-Rock outcrop soil

complex PT-RD :sp-RO 1,404Poignant-Rock outcrop-Ryder :sp soil

complex PT-RO-RD :sp 1,268

Prest series PR 252Prest-Page soil complex PR-PE 119Prest :sp-Grevell soil complex PR :sp-G 88Prest : sp-Idlonrce : sp-Fairfield : sp soil

complex PR : sp-114 : sp-F : sp 98

Ross series RS 376Ross-Judson soil complex RS-JN 62Ross-Defehr soil complex RS-DR 9

Ryder series RD 11201Ryder silt loam RDsil 356Ryder-Ryder :sp soil complex RD-RD :sp 37231Ryder-Ryder.sp-Calkins soil complex RD-RD :sp-CN 58Ryder-Ryder :sp-IvIarble Hill soil complex RD-RD :sp-MH 189

-99-

Table 2 - Continued


Ryder-Peardonville soil complex RD-PD 140Ryder-Laxton-Marble Hill soil complex RD-LX-b'IH 127Ryder-Ryder :sp-Laxton soil complex RD-RD :sp-LX 197Ryder-Marble Hill :sp-Marble Hill soil

complex RD-MH :sp-MH 60Ryder-Marble Hill soil complex RD-IVIH 208Ryder-Marble Hill-Bateman soil complex RD-MH-BA 33Ryder-Ryder :sp-Poignant soil complex RD-RD :sp-PT 189Ryder-Whatcom soil complex RD-W 210Ryder-Whatcom-Calkins soil complex RD-W-CN 11158Ryder-Calkins soil complex RD-CN 180Ryder :sp RD :sp 40Ryder :sp-Ryder soil complex RD :sp-RD 1,105Ryder :sp-Ryder-Laxton soil complex RD :sp-RD-LX 332Ryder :sp-Ryder-Marble Hill :sp soil

complex RD :sp-RD-MH :sp 293Ryder :sp-Ryder-Rock outcrop soil complex RD :sp-RD-RO 412Ryder :sp-Ryder-Poignant soil complex RD :sp-RD-PT 646Ryder :sp-Bateman-Laxton soil complex RD :sp-BA-LX 134Ryder :sp-Laxton soil complex RD :sp-LX 78Ryder!sp-Whatcom soil complex RD :sp-W 350

Ryder :sp-Marble Hill :sp soil complex RD :sp-MH :sp 127Ryder :sp-Rock outcrop soil complex RD :sp-RO 148Ryder :sp-Rock outcrop-Ryder soil complex RD :sp-RO-RD 80Ryder :sp-Marble Hill :sp-Poignant soil

complex RD : sp-1'JfH : sp-PT 77Ryder :sp-Poignant-Rock outcrop soil

complex RD :sp-PT-RO 1~792

Sardis soil complex SD 195Sardis-Lickman :sp soil complex SK-LK:sp 25

Scat series SC 147Scat-Whatcom soil complex SC-W 219Scat-Nicholson soil complex SC-N 229Scat-Ross soil complex SC-RS 52Scat-Nicholson-Aldergrove soil complex SC-N-AE 21Scat-Whatcom-Aldergrove soil complex SC-W-AE 20

Sim series SI 50Sim-Bates soil complex SI-BT 80Sim-Beharrel soil complex SI-BL 57Sim-Hazelwood soil complex SI-HD 176

Triggs peat TR 155

Triggs-Gibson soil complex TR-GN 90

- 100 -

Table 2 - Continued


Whatcom silt 1,-)am W 2,135Whatcom-Whatcom (anthropic) soil complex W-W :an 112Whatcom-Whatcom :sp soil complex W-W :sp 192Whatcom-Whatcom :sp-Scat soil complex W-W :sp-SC 987Whatcom-Nicholson-Scat soil complex W-N-SC 350Whatcom-Aldergrove-Nicholson soil

complex W-AE-N 100Whatcom-Scat-Nicholson soil complex W-SC-N 594Whatcom-Scat soil complex W-SC 47873Whatcom-Aldergrove-Scat soil complex V7-AE-SC 61Whatcom-Ryder soil complex W-RD 393Whatcom-Ryder-Scat soil complex W-RD-SC 804Whatcom-Whatcom (anthropic)-Scat soil

complex W-W : an-SC 90Whatcom-Scat-Whatcom :sp soil complex VV-SC-W :sp 256Whatcom :sp-Whatcom soil complex W :sp-W 227Whatcom :sp W :sp 40Whatcom :sp-Whatcom-Scat soil complex W :sp-W-SC 591Whatcom :sp-Nicr.olson soil complex W :sp-N 100Whatcom :sF-Scat soil complex W :sp-SC 28Whatcom:sp-Whatcom-Ross soil complex VJ :sp-W-RS 60

Whatcom :sp-Columbia-Whatcom soil complex W :sp-CL'W 408

Whatcom (an.thropic)-Nicholson soilcomolex W : an-N 31

Miscellaneous Land T ypes

Rock outcrops RO 697

Dykes - 91

Gravel pits GP 79

Lakes, ponds and sloughs - 330

Trans-Canada Highway - 378

Subdivided areas - 955

Total 667006

*sp - shallow phase

CHEMIC AL ANALYSES

The following discussion of soil properties is given to aidinterpretation of the chemical data in accompanying tables ofchemical analyses :

Soil Reaction

Pure water has a pH of 7 .0, which represents neutrality .Values less than pH 7 .0 denote different intensities of acidity,and those above pIH 7,0 represent intensities of alkali carbonatesand hydroxides-. The range for soils varies from about pH 3~0 to10 .0 . In Matsqui Municipality the soils range from pH 4 .5 to 7 .0 .

Plants vary in their ability to grow at different pH values,and through no single factor may be responsible for limitinggrowth, nutrient availability to different plants at differentpH has significance . That is to say, in alkaline soils of thesemi-arid or arid regions, growth may be limited by low availabi-lity of zinc or manganese at existing pH, On the other hand, inacid soils, appreciable amounts or zinc, manganese, iron, aluminumand copper may become soluble to the extent of being toxic . Soilshaving reactions in the range pH 6 .2 to 7 .5 are regarded as prac-tically neutral, and this is the ideal situation for most crops.

In the Lower Fraser Valley, soil pH values are importantbecause they indicate whether or not liming is desirable, butsince soils have different degrees of buffer capacity, pH is notreliable to estimate the amount of lime required or the frequencyof liming . The amount of lime actually required may depend uponthe soil type, Less lime is needed by a sandy soil with lowexchange capacity than .'ay a clay soil with a higher exchangecapacity to achieve the same degree of base saturation .

The relationship between pH and nutrient availabilitydiffers in different mineral soils . It is also emphasized thatin acid peat and muck soils the relationship between pH andnutrient availability is not the same as in acid mineral soils .

Organic Matter

The content of organic matter varies from less than one per-cent in mineral soils to 100 percent in organic soils . Thoughthe climate favored accumulation of organic matter under theoriginal or natural conditions an areas of poor drainage inMatsqui Municipality, its maintenance in cultivated mineral soilsis often a problenL for the farmer .

Organic matter contributes to plant growth through itsbeneficial effects on the physical, chemical and biologicalproperties of a soil ., A large part of the nitrogen, phosphorusand sulphur are held in organic combination unavailable to the

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growing plant . These elements must be changed over to mineralforms before they can be used by the crop . This important changeis made by the micro-biological population of the soil .

The fertility of a soil is influenced by the size of themicro-biological population it can hold . A large populationmakes more minerals available to plants than a small one, and thecrop yield is increased accordingly . The population is increasedas humus is built up in a well drained soil .

Frequent additions of organic residues that decomposereadily are in part synthesized into complex compounds (humus)that bind soil particles into structural units called aggregates .These help to maintain a loose, open, granular condition thatimproves tilth, increases resistance to erosion, and facilitatesthe movement of air and water through the soil . Nioisture-holdingand cation exchange capacities and a carbon dioxide-oxygen rela-tionship beneficial to root development are also improved,

Phosphorus

This is a major, essential element . Most of the phosphorusin the soil is in forms not immediately available to the growingplant . It is held in organic and inorganic compounds, and theproportion of each varies widely, Available phosphorus originatesfrom breakdown of soil minerals, organic matter, or from additionsof phosphate fertilizer . Inorganic phosphorus is the only formutilized by crop plants . Organic forms must be converted tomineralized ones by the action of soil organisms before the phos-phorus is available.

The chemistry of phosphorus in the soil is complex . Onecondition is its low solubility in the soil solution . Whenapplied as fertilizer it changes into less soluble compounds andsome of it may become fixed in unavailable forms . The extent andnature of the fixation may affect the efficiency of applicationsin different soils .

Acid soils have an excess of chemiually active iron andaluminum, and alkaline ones an excess of calcium. These elementscombine with phosphorus and make it less available than it was asfertilizer . Iron and aluminum phosphates are least soluble atpH 4 .0 ; their maximum availability is between pH 6 .5 . and 7 .0 .As the pH increases from 7,0 to 8.5 in alkaline soils, calciumphosphate is formed and availability decreases .

The fixation process takes place rapidly after fertilizeris applied, so the phosphorus does not move very far from thepoint of application . This means that the plant root must moveto the phosphorus, rather than the opposite, as is -the case withnitrogen . In consequence, the best results are obtained bydistributing the phosphate fertilizer as close to the rooting

- 103 -

zone as possible . Top-dress applications are most effective whena crop has an abundance of feeding roots in the upper two inchesof soil, as in humid or irrigated areas . Where well drained soilsare dry-farmed the roots go deeper, and the best results may benbtained by drilling the fertilizer with the seed .

The data on phosphorus levels in the following tables arebased on two methods of analysis . The P-1 method (adsorbed phos-phorus) measures the most available form . The P-2 method(adsorbed plus acid soluble phosphorus) measures the availableand reserve forms .

Though plants vary in their demand, the following may beused as a general guide as to the most available phosphorus in asoil, based on the P-1 method :

Very low - 5 parts per millionLow - 5 - 10 " " "Moderate - 10 - 20 " " "Moderately high - 20 - 30 " " "High - 30 + "

Nitrogen

This is a -major nutrient element supplied by organic matteror as fertilizer . It is not a soil mineral, Nitrogen is fairlyexpensive to supply and easily lost from the soil . Successfulfarming requires maintenance of an adequate nitrogen supply .

The ultimate source of nitrogen is the atmosphere . Higherplants cannot use atmospheric nitrogen directly . It must becombined with other elements . This process is called nitrogenfixation,. One of the chief methods of transfer is through theagency of certain soil organisms, the most important beingsymbiotic . These live in symbiotic relationship with legumes .A part of this nitrogen is used by the growing legumes and theremainder is made available to other plants when the crop isrotated . In addition to the help of other nitrifying organismsin the soil, up to about four pounds per acre is suppliedannually by thunder storms, the amount depending in the frequencyof the storms .

Though large amounts of nitrogen are rleased in the soileach year, plant growth is limited more often by nitrogendeficiency than by the lack of any other nutrient . In aclditionto natural sources of nitrogen a fertilizer program is necessaryin order to replenish the losses due to removal by crops andleaching . From 75 to 100 pounds of nitrogen per acre should beavailable each year for crops.

The dependence of the availability of natural or soilnitrogen on microbial activity makes interpretation of analytical

- 104 -

values more difficult than is the case of available phosphorusand potassium . However, the probable response of crops toapplied nitrogen fertilizers can be estimated by taking previousyields into account, if residues returned to the soil, theadequacy of other nutrients, weather and soil conditions arealso given due consideration . Actual analytical values of totalnitrogen in the soil can serve only as a partial guide . Forthis purpose the following levels may be used :

Very low - 0 .10 percentI~ow - 0,10 - 0 .25 "Medium - 0 .25 - 0 .40 "High - 0 .40 + "

Cation Exchange Capacity

The clay minerals and the organic matter in soils exhibitcation exchange properties . The interchange between cations inexchangeable form, which takes place in solution, is known ascation exchange . In the order of quantity, the principalexchangeable cations are calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium,aluminum, and hydrogen . The cations, which are positive, areadsorbed on the negatively charged surfaces of the clay particles .

The solid part of the soil consists of primary minerals,clay minerals and hydrous oxides, plus organic matter and livingorganisms . The soil solution in the pore spaces between particles,which actually is a broth or culture media, enables an exchangeof ions to take place .

Cation exchange capacity is expressed as milli-equivalentsof cations required to neutralize the negative charge of 100grams of soil at pH 7,0 . Depending upon the content of organicmatter and the type and content of clay minerals present, cationexchange capacities range from almost none at all to over 100milli-equivalents per 100 grams of soil .

The cation exchange capacities of soils influence plantnutrition . Nutrient cations (calcium, magnesium, potassium),held as exchangeable bases, are available to plants, and noteasily leached from soil . Because the cation exchange capacityof a soil depends on the content of organic matter and clay,there is variation of such capacity from soil to soil, and infact, from soil horizon to horizon in the same profile . Totalcation exchange capacities below five milli-equivalents per 100grains of soil are very low, five to 10 are low, and 10 to 20are medium . Over 20 is considered high .

Exchangeable Cations

Hydrogen and aluminum are the dominant exchangeable cationsin most acid soils. In neutral Coils calcium and magnesium

- 105 -

cations are most common . Strongly alkaline soils contain a largeamount of exchangeable sodium in addition to calcium and magnesium .

The level of exchangeable potassium is an indication of thepotassium supplying power of the soil . As with other minerals,the exchangeable potassium is in equilibrium with the fixed forms .As the exchangeable potassium is removed by plants, the equili-brium is disturbed, arnd more potassium is released from the fixedforms to restore it . The maintenance of an adequate supplydepends upon the reserve and rate of release .

The following levels of exchangeable potassium have beenused as an approximate guide :

Very low - less than 30 parts per millionLow - 30 - 60 " " "Moderate - 61 - 90 " " "Moderately high - 91 -120 " " "High - 121 + " " "

Methods of Analysis

The percent of organic matter in soil samples was obtainedby the wet combustion method, described by Peach (19) . Availablephosphorus was determined by the prccedure described by Laverty(15) . Total nitrogen was determined by the procedure describedby Atkinson _et _al (1), modified by selenium as a catalyst assuggested by Bremner (2) .

Determination of cation exchange capacity was by the methoddescribed by Peach (19) . Total exchangeable bases were determinedon the ammonium acetate extract . Exchangeable potassium andsodium were obtained by use of a Beckman B flame spectrophotometer.Versenate titration with Erichrome Block T indicator was used todetermine exchangeable calcium plus magnesium . Calcon indicatorwas employed to obtain calcium alone .

INTERPRETATION OF CHEMICAL A-11TALYSES

Table 3

This table presents data pertaining to 'the significantchemical constituents in most of the lowland soils in MatsquiMunicipality, The surface horizons range froiri very strongly acidto neutral .

It is noteworthy that the least acid reactions urc in thesubsoils of soils recently deposited by the Fraser River (e .g .Grevell and Monroe series) . This can be expected because theFraser carries calcareous sediments from the interior, and theriver water is neutral to mildly alkaline (pH 7 .0 - 7.5) .

- 106 -

As distance from the river is increased on the floodplain,the slightly acid runoff water from the upland and rain becomesan influential factor, tending to leach the calcium in the sedi-ments and to acidify the soils (e .g. Hallert and Beharrel series) .

The percent base saturation of the lowland soil increaseswith depth. At the surface it is usually low . There is a rapidincrease to medium and high values in the subsoil . This is dueto the downward movement of calcium in the mineral soil profiles .Because of a high content of organic matter, cation exchangecapacities are high to extremely high in the plow layer of theHumic Gle,ysol soils . They are medium in the Regosol soils, dueto a lower content of organic matter .

The above serves to explain why the calcium and magnesiumcontent of soils originally deposited as lateral accretion by theFraser (e .g . Fairfield series) is higher than those deposited aslateral and vertical accretion deposits of local streams thateroded sediments from the upland (e .g. McElvee series) .

The analyses indicate low exchangeable potassium in almostall lowland soils . Exchangeable sodium is also at a low, safelevel, in quantities that are not harmful to plants .

In Table 4, which gives analyses of composite surface samples,the total nitrogen in lowland soils is related to the content oforganic matter . There is higher nitrogen in poorly drained HumicGleysols than in well drained Regosols . Most carbon-nitrogenratios are from 10 to 17, which is optimum for nitrogen availabi-lity . Though capable of supplying part of the nitrogen require-ment for a crop, if drainage is adequate the nitrogen supply israpidly depleted .

The data on phosphorus indicates that P-1 (available phos-phorus) and P-2 (available plus acid soluble phosphorus) have awide range of values between soil series .

Recent work indicates that soils derived from lateral accre-tion deposits of the Fraser, near the river, are high in calciumphosphate, whereas floodplain soils farther from the river andthe upland soils are high in iron and aluminum phosphates .

Table 4

The analyses of composite samples in Table 4 consists ofsurface samples from the major soils of the lowland in MatsquiMunicipality . From this information a few generalizations arepossible .

It is noteworthy that the soils derived from lateral accre-tion deposits near the river have higher base saturation thanthose that developed from vertical accretion deposits fartheraway from it .

- 107 -

Table 4 also indicates a progressive increase in the contentof organic matter and nitrogen in the following order : RegosollGleysol to Peaty Gleysol soils . The soils derived from lateralaccretions near the Fraser River are lower in available phosphorusthan those derived from vertical accretions farther away .

The high P-1 value of 102 parts per million in the CompositeNo . 2 of Sim series was caused by an application of superphosphatein the previous year. Similarly, a higher than average pH of 5 .8and calcium content (18 .3 rr_illiequivalents per 100 grams of soil)in Composite No . 3, Hazelwood series, was due to liming theprevious crop .

Table 5

This table contains data pertaining to chemical propertiesof selected upland soil profiles and composite surface samplesin Matsqui Municipality . These results show that total nitrogenis proportional to organic matter content in the different soilhorizons . Most upland soils have a wide carbon-nitrogen ratio .There is moderate organic matter accumulation (three to fourpercent) in the surface mineral horizons of the well drainedupland soils (e .g . Abbotsford and Whatcom series) . The uplandsoils with imperfect to poor drainage, such as Custer and Lehmanseries, have a larger accumulation of organic matter .

In the upland soils the analyses show a lower base saturationpercentage than those of the lowland, though pH values may besimilar (e .g. Abbotsford vs . Monroe series) . This can beexplained by the greater role played by iron and aluminum in thebase exchange of the upland soils . In most profiles there is anincrease in percentage base saturation with depth, which illus-trates the downward movement of bases in the profile .

Cation exchange capacities and exchangeable cations are lowin comparison with those of the lowland soils . It has been shownby experiment that the cation exchange capacity will increase ifthe soluble iron and aluminum are removed from Brunisolic soilssimilar to those of the Matsqui upland . The available phosphorusin the surface horizons of these soils is very high in comparisonwith the lowland soils, and only limited application of phosphaticfertilizers would be required .

Teble 3 - CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF LOWLAND SOIL PROFILES IN MATSQUI MUNICIPALITY

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym. e./100 rgns .----

Total Base

Hori-zon

DepthInches pH

OrganicMatter

%

Nitro-gen%

C-NRatio

P1

p.p .m.

P2

p.p .m . Ca Mg K Na Total

CationExchangeCapacity

Satu-ration

Annls Series - Peaty Rego Gleysol soils

Hp 10- 2 5.3 56 .5 1.77 19 .1 50 .3 78 26 .7 3.3 0 .3 0 .3 30 .6 86 .6 35 .3F-H 2- 0 4.8 94 .9 2.44 22 .5 11 .8 18 12 .5 2.3 0 .2 0 .2 15 .2 125 .5 12 .1Cgl 0- 6 5.2 8.8 0.32 15 .6 8.3 25 14 .4 4.8 0.2 0 .3 19 .7 47 .5 41 .5Cg2 6-12 5 .4 1 .8 0 .10 11 .0 7 " 5 23 11 .3 5 .7 0 .2 0 .6 17 .8 31 .0 57 .4Cg3 12+ 6.1 0.5 0.04 8.4 4.4 54 11 .8 2.6 0.1 1.0 15 .5 20 .2 70 .4

Bates Series - Gleyed Mull Regosol soils

Ap 0- 7 5.2 17 .9 0.88 11 .9 10 .9 22 4.8 1 .6 0.2 0.3 6 .9 49 .9 13 .8Cgj 7-14 5 " 4 2 .5 0 .12 11 .6 16 .8 29 3 " 5 1 .4 0.1 0.1 5 .1 23 .8 21 .4Cgl 14-26 5.4 0.9 0.05 9.4 21 .4 41 7.8 1 .4 0.1 0.2 9 .5 20 .3 46 .8Cg2 26+ 5 .5 0 .6 0 .04 9 .0 16 .6 43 9 .0 2 .6 0 .1 0 .2 11 .9 14 .6 81 .5

Banford Series - Shallow Muck soils

Hp 23-16 4 .3 55 .8 1.99 16 .3 30 .0 54 4.3 1.2 0.5 0 .3 6.3 81 .7 7 .7F-H 16-11 4.2 91 .2 2.28 23 .2 5.0 12 3 .9 1.3 0.2 0 .3 5.7 52 .4 10 .9FCg 11- 0 4 .7 38 .0 0 .96 22 .9 1 .0 12 7 .6 3 .7 0 .2 0 .2 11 .7 62 .8 18 .6Cgl 0-14 ~4 .7 8 .1 0 .31 15 .3 3 .4 11 8 .6 3 .6 0 .1 0 .2 12 .5 32 .2 38 .8Cg2 14+ 4 .6 - - - - - 11 .8 6 .4 0 .2 0 .3 18 .7 29,4 63 .6

Teble 3 - Continued

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym.e ./100 gms .

Total Base

Hori-2on

DepthInches pH

OrganicMatter

%

Nitro-gen%

C-NRatio

P1

p.p .m .

P2



Satu-ration

Beharrel Series - Humic Eluviated Gleysol soils

Ap 0- 7 5.9 6 .2 0.30 12 .0 19 .3 66 10 .9 2 .9 0.1 0.2 14 .1 28 .0 50 .4Aeg 7-11 5.7 5 .0 0 .25 11 .8 19 .8 63 8 .8 3 .5 0 .1 0.2 12 .6 27 .2 46 .7

3tg 11-19 5.3 3 .0 0.12 14 .3 6 .4 34 8 .8 5 .7 0 .1 0.2 14 .8 28 .0 52 .9Cgl 19-24 5.3 5 .2 0 .18 17 .3 5 .0 66 9 .6 6.0 0.1 0 .3 16 .0 31.4 51 .6CgF 24-29 5.2 21 .6 0 .73 17 .2 5 .6 39 14 .2 7 .5 0.2 0 .3 22 .2 57 .8 38 .1Cg2 29-35 5.5 3 .7 0 .16 13 .6 4.1 136 6 .8 6.4 0.1 0 .3 13 .6 18 .8 72 .4Cg3 35+ 5.4 2 .9 0 .13 12 .5 3 .8 124 6 .1 4.1 0.1 0 .2 10 .5 16 .0 65 .7

Elk Series - Rego Humic Gleysol soils

Ap 0- 7 5=2 24 .9 0 .43 33 .6 20 .1 37 6 .0 0 .8 0.2 0 .1 `7 .1 27 .3 26 .0,gl 7-15 5.6 1 .6 0 .08 12~2 11 .0 55 4 .9 0.8 0.2 0 .1 6.0 14 .5 41 .4TIC 15-20 5.3 0.8 0 .04 13 .9 16 .4 23 2 .0 0.4 0 .1 0 .1 2.6 6 .5 40 .0Cg2 20-30 4.1 5.0 0 .12 24 .0 17 .7 26 9 .6 2,2 0 .2 0 .2 12-2 20 .9 58 .3TICg 30+ 3.7 1 .6 0.04 21 .1 11 .6 51 7 .4 1 .2 0 .2 0 .2 9,0 11 .2 80 .3

Fairfield Series - Gleyed Mull Regosol soils

Ap 0- 9 5.4 7 .0 0.33 12 .2 48 .0 122 10 .3 1.6 0 .3 0.1 12 .3 30 .2 40 .7Igjl 9-14 5 .5 1 .9 0.12 9.6 16 .1 63 8 .4 1.4 0 .1 0.2 10 .1 23 .0 43 .9-gj2 14-22 5.8 0 .9 0 .06 8.7 11 .2 45 10 .2 2 .2 0 .1 0 .2 12 .7 20 .5 62 .0~gj3 22-32 5.8 1.2 0.07 10 .3 8.4 28 9.8 2.2 0 .1 0.2 12 .3 19 .7 62 .4Cgj4 32-39 5.8 - - - 9 .0 30 6 .9 1~8 0.8 0.1 9.6 15 .2 63 .2IIC 39+ 6.2 - - - 40 .6 70 1.8 0.8 Tr . 0.1 2 .7 5.1 53 .0

0`c

Table 3 - Continued

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacity---- m.-e-/100 gms ._

Total Base

Hori-zon

DepthInches pH

OrganicMatter

%

Nitro-gen%

C-NRatio

P1p .p .m .

P2p.p .m . Ca Mg K Na Tctal


Satu-ration

Gretiell Series - Orthic Regosol soils

C1 0- 9 7 .1 0 .2 0 .02 7 .5 2 .5 71 5 .3* 0 .2 0 .1 5 .6 4 .3 100 .0C2 9-12 7.3 0.4 0 .02 11 .9 2 .2 106 8.0 0 .2 0.1 8 .3 7.8 100 .0Cgj 12-22 7.4 0.7 0 .04 10 .1 2 .5 57 4.4 0.8 0 .l 0.1 5 .4 5 .7 94 .7 ,C3 22+ 7 .4 0 .2 0 .01 9.2 2 .2 54 3 .6 0 .1 0.1 3 .8 3 .5 100.0 F,

0Hallert Series - Peaty Rego Gleysol soils i

AP 0- 7 5 .0 27 .5 0 .93 17 .2 8.6 21 7 .0 1.9 0.2 0.2 9 " 3 57 .7 l6 .lFCg 7-17 5 .0 30 .4 1 .07 16 .4 5 .0 14 19 .2 4.5 0 .2 0.2 24 .1 65 .1 37 .0Cgl 17-26 5 .4 12 .3 0 .40 18 .0 2.1 62 12 .1 8.6 0 .1 0.2 21 .0 39 .9 52 .7Cg2 26-34 5 .4 6 .4 0 .24 15 .4 4 .7 100 9 .8 6 .4 0 .2 0 .2 16 .6 28 .7 57 .8C93 34+ 5 .4 5 .8 0 .27 12 .5 2.6 28 10 .1 5.8 0 .1 0 .2 16 .2 26 .2 61 .9

HGzelwood Series - Orthic rLumic Gleysol soils

Ap 0- 9 4 .8 25 .3 0 .98 16 .0 21 .3 41 5.5 1.8 0 .3 0.3 7 .9 59 .3 13 .39-14 5 .1 11 .6 0.32 20 .0 6.3 12 10 .1 3.6 0 .1 0.2 14 .0 39 .8 35 .2

Btg 14-24 5 .2 2.6 0.10 13 .8 4 .4 11 11 .8 5.2 0 .2 0.2 16 .9 30 .7 55 .0Cg 24-29 5 .5 1 .1 0 .06 11 .4 4 .1 21 7 .1 3 .8 0 .1 0 .1 11 .1 17 .6 63 .1IICgl 29-36 5 .7 0 .8 0.06 8.2 5 .4 23 4.3 2 .3 Tr . 0.1 6 .7 10 .2 65 .8IICg2 36+ 5 .9 1.1 0.06 11.2 5.4 24 3.1 2.0 Tr. 0.1 5 .2 7.4 70 .3

*Ca &Mg

Table 3 - Continued


Hori- Depthzon Inches H

OrganicMatter

%

TotalNitro-gen%

C-ltRatio

plp .p .m .

P2p.p .m . a g K a otal


BaseSatu-rationJ

Lickman Series - Mull Regosol _~oils

Ap 0- 7 6.3 8.1 0 .34 13 .7 21 .6 43 3.8* 0.1 0.3 4.2 24 .2 17 .4C1 7-17 6.1 1.5 0 .08 10 .4 47 .1 63 1.5 0.3 0.1 0.2 2.1 10 .9 19 .3

C2 17-22 5 .7 0.9 0 .05 9 .2 44 .8 59 1.2 0.2 0.1 0.2 1.7 8 .1. 21 .0

Cgj 22-28 5 .7 0.8 0 .05 10 .6 24 .7 42 2 .6 0 .7 Tr. 0.2 3.5 10 .0 35 .0

Cg 28+ 5 .8 0.5 0 .04 7 .9 26 .1 55 2 .6 0.9 Tr. 0.2 3 .7 7 .9 46 .8TJIcElvee Series - Rego Gleysol soilsTApg 0- 6 5 .6 4 .5 0.22 11 .9 8 .1 28 4.2 0 .6 0 .1 0 .2 5 .1 15 .9 32 .1

CE,l 6-13 5 .6 1.6 0.08 11 .6 16 .1 68 3 .5 0 .5 0.1 0 .2 4 .3 12 .3 35 .0IIC91 13-16 5 .8 0.9 0.05 10 .5 11 .2 61 2.9 0 .6 Tr . 0 .2 3 .7 7 .8 47 .4C¬2 16-28 5.7 2 .8 0 .15 10 .6 14.4 44 6.7 1 .0 0.1 0.2 8 .0 20 .3 39 .4IIIC9 30+ 5 .8 0 .8 0 .06 10 .6 22 .0 59 2 .4 0 .6 Tr. 0 .1 3 .1 7 .5 41 .3

Monroe Series - Mull Regosol soils

Ap 0- 8 5.9 4.5 0.18 14 .2 14 .8 103 10 .4 1.0 0.2 0.2 11 .8 21 .4 55 .2C 8-12 6.1 1.7 0 .11 8.6 2.8 56 9.2 1.0 0.1 0.1 10 .4 18 .3 56 .8

CIIC 12-14 6.3 1.0 0.08 7 .4 3.8 60 8.0 0.8 0.1 0.1 9.0 14 .1 63 .8

IICl 14-22 6 .6 0.9 0.04 14 .7 8.6 87 4 .1 0.4 0.2 0.1 4.8 6 .8 70 .6

IIC2 22-25 6 .8 0.6 0.02 17 .7 9.0 52 1.6 0.4 0.1 0.1 2.2 3 .1 71 .0

ILC3 25-30 6 .5 ~ - - 5 .1 74 5 .0 0 .8 0 .1 0 .1 6 .0 8 .1 74 .1IIC4 30+ 6 .7 - - - 6.6 74 3 .1 0 .7 0 .1 0.1 4 .0 5 .1 77 .4

Table 3 - Continued

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym. e./100 g!ns .

Total Base

Hori-2on

DepthInches pH

OrganicMatter

%

Vitro-gen%

C-NRatio

P1

p .p .m .

P2



Satu-ration

Page Series - Rego Gleysol soils

gp 0- 6 5.8 9.5 0 .38 14 .6 50 .6 96 12 .6 2.5 0 .2 0.2 15 .5 42 .1 36 .8Cgl 6-15 5 .7 1.0 0 .09 9.3 6 .6 19 9.8 4.5 0 .2 0 .2 14 .7 26 .2 56 .1Cg2 15-27 5 .7 0.9 0 .06 8 .8 7 .8 21 12 .8 7.9 0.2 0.3 21 .2 29 .9 70 .9C93 27-34 6 .0 0.9 0 .05 10 .8 7 .2 31 11 .8 10 .3 0 .2 0.3 22 .6 29 .2 77 .4Cg4 34+ 6 .0 0 .7 0 .05 8.9 9.4 43 10 .6 13 .3 0 .2 0.4 24 .5 32 .6 75 .2

Pre--t Series - Rego Gleysol soils

L-u 3- 0 4 .5 68.2 - - 25 .4 50 6 .6 2.9 1.3 0 .2 11 .0 36 .4 30 .2

Cg1 0-10 5.4 4.3 0.23 11 .0 5.4 100 8.2 5 .0 0.4 0.2 13 .8 24.4 56 .6Cg2 10-18 5 " 7 2.5 0.13 11 .2 4 .7 147 6 .7 5 .6 0.3 0 .2 12 .8 17 .5 73 .1IICg 18-27 6 .4 0.9 0.11 4 .6 3.8 90 4 .0 3.0 0.1 0.2 7 .3 7.0 100.0

Table 4 - CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF COMPOSITE SURFACE SAMPLES OF SELECTED LOWLAND SOILS IN MATSQUI MUNICIPALITY

Exchangeable Cations and Exchanoe Capacitymoe./100 gms .

Total BaseOrganic Vitro- P P Cation Satu-

Semple Matter gen C-id 1 2 Exchange rationNo . ~0 %U Ratio p.p .m . p.p .m. Ca Mg K Na Total Capacity

Arnlis Series - Peaty Rego Gley sol soils

1 4.9 53 .9 1.80 17 .3 9 .1 19 8.5 2.3 0.4 0 .4 11 .6 88.1 13 .22 4 .8 38 .9 1.41 16 .0 14 .8 28 9 .3 1.9 0 .4 0 .3 11 .9 75 .9 15 .73 4 .8 41.4 1.47 16 .4 10 .9 22 5 .9 4.7 0.3 0 .3 11 .2 82 .1 13 .64 4 .6 52 .3 1 .72 17 .6 16 .2 28 4 .4 0.4 0 .2 0.3 5 .3 84 .4 6 .35 4.6 61 .1 2 .06 17 .2 24 .4 37 8 .8 0 .6 0.3 0 .2 9 " 9 90 .8 10 .9

Beharrel Series - Humic Eluviated Gleysol soils

1 5 .4 8.1 0 .34 12 .8 30 .4 79 9 .5 1 .3 0 .3 0 .3 11~4 30 .2 37 .72 5.2 7.6 0.34 12 .9 20 .7 74 6.9 2.5 0.2 0.4 10 .0 32 .2 31 .03 5.5 11 .9 0 .55 12 .5 9 .0 23 15 .3 2 .7 0 .3 0 .2 18 .5 51 .2 36 .14 5.1 12 .8 0.56 13 .4 40 .2 76 7.3 1 .8 0.4 0 .2 9 .7 40 .2 24 .25 5 .7 12 .5 0.54 13 .4 36 .3 76 13 .2 1 .6 0.2 0 .4 15 .4 40 .9 38 .5

FGirfield Series - Gleyed Mull Regosol soils

1 5 .5 4 .9 0 .25 11.5 7 .2 85 10 .1 2 .1 0 .2 0 .2 12 .6 23 .3 54 .02 5.5 5 .6 0.33 10 .0 15 .6 66 9.1 2 .6 0.1 0.2 12 .0 26 .4 45 .53 5.8 4.5 0.24 10 .8 3,5 103 11 .5 1.2 0.2 0.3 13 .2 23 .7 55 .64 5.5 5.8 0.28 11 .8 20 .7 76 7.6 1.1 0.2 0.2 9 .1 25 .9 35 .2

5 5 .5 6.8 0 .32 12 .0 17 .7 78 13 .0 2.3 0.4 0.2 15 .9 31 .4 50 .6

Table 4 - Continued


Total Base

SampleNo . pH

OrganicMatter

%

Nitro-gen%

C-N P1Ratio p.p .m .

P2p .p .m . Ca Mg K Na Total


Satu-ration

Gibson Series - Deep Muck soils

1 5.5 47 .4 1.44 19 .1 25 .2 45 30 .8 2.2 0.3 0.3 33 .6 82 .3 40 .82 5.1 69 .3 2.86 14 .0 8 .8 17 30 .8 2.0 0.3 0 :2 33 .3 139 .1 23 .93 4.7 58 .1 2 .57 13 .1 5.6 10 15 .1 2.5 0 .3 0.3 18 .2 132.1 13 .8 ,

4 4.7 75 .9 2.40 18 .4 34 .4 51 17 .0 2.5 0.2 0.2 19 .9 113 .8 17 .6 ,~5 5 .0 70 .8 2 .28 18 .0 11 .9 19 19 .6 1.4 0.4 0.2 21 .6 108.7 19~8

Hallert Series - Peaty Rego Gleysol

1 4.9 24 .5 0.87 16 .4 19 .2 48 8.2 0.4 0.2 0 .2 9.0 53 .8 16 .72 5.3 36 " 2 1.20 17 .5 9.4 19 20 .1 2 .8 0.2 0 .2 23 .3 70 .8 32 .9

3 5.0 33 " 9 1 .20 16 .4 9.6 20 10 .1 1 .5 0.3 0 .3 12 .2 64 .8 18 .8

4 5.3 25 .6 0.93 16 .0 22 .2 47 10 .7 0.5 0 .2 0 .2 11 .6 51 .7 22 .4

5 5 .2 19 .4 0 .71 15 .9 22 .2 52 6.2 0 .8 0 .2 0.2 7 .4 45 .9 16 .1

Hazel-wood Series - Orthic Humic Gleysol soils

1 5.0 22 .4 0 .80 16 .2 58 .5 96 8.8 1 .8 0 .5 0.3 11 .4 53 .7 21 .32 5.3 21 .9 0 .79 16 .0 63 .7 106 11 .6 1 .7 0 .4 0.3 14 .0 52 .0 26 .9

3 5 .8 26 .7 0.90 17 .2 31 .7 47 18 .3 2 .7 0.3 0.4 21 .7 60 .9 35 .64 5 .4 21..5 0 .80 15 .5 28 .6 48 11 .8 2 .7 0.2 0.5 15 .2 60 .8 25 .0

5 5 .3 22 .2 0 .59 29 .7 47 .1 76 8.2 2 .7 0.2 0 .4 11 .5 54 .7 21 .0

Table 4 - Continued


Total Base

SempleNo . pH

OrganicMatter

%

Iditro-gen

%

C-NRatio

P1

p .p .m .P2

p .p .m . Ca Mg K Na Total

CationExcnangeCapacity

Satu-ration

Monloe Series - Mull Regosol soils

1 5.7 4 .0 0.21 11 .1 8.6 54 6.8 0.9 0 .2 0.2 8 .1 16 .9 48 .02 5.7 5 .7 0.28 11 .9 22 .4 54 9.3 1.2 0 .4 0.2 11.1 . 28 .4 39 .13 5.9 3.4 0.18 11 .1 11 .8 86 8.9 1.2 0 .2 0.2 10 .5 18 .1 58 .04 5.7 3.9 0.20 11 .6 5.3 68 8.6 1.5 0 .2 0.2 10 .5 18 .9 55 .65 5.9 4.0 0.20 11 .2 13 .2 51 11.3 1.3 0 .4 0 .2 13 .2 23 .9 55 .2 ~F--

Page Series - Rego Gleysol soils

1 5.2 7.0 0 .37 11 .0 45 .2 129 7 .5 1.1 0 .8 0 .2 9 .6 27 .3 35 .22 5.5 5 .0 0.28 10 .3 11 .6 68 9.2 2:1 0 .2 0 .2 11 .7 25 .8 45 .33 5 .5 4 .6 0.28 9 .9 5 .6 56 8 .0 1.5 0 .2 0.2 9 .9 25 .0 39 .64 5.3 4.2 0.33 7.4 16 .6 68 7.8 1.9 0.2 0.2 10 .1 33 .0 30 .65 5.5 4 .3 0.28 9.1 2 .8 93 9 .0 2.8 0.3 0.2 12 .3 23 .2 53 .0

Sim Series - Rego Humic Gleysol soils

1 5.2 10 .4 0.43 14 .1 39 .5 63 6 .0 2.0 0.2 0.2 8,4 40 .6 20 .72 5.2 9.8 0 .42 13 .4 102.0 178 4 .6 0.7~ 0.5 0.2 6.0 30 .6 19 .63 5.4 8.3 0 .41 11 .8 27 .3 66 5 .7 0 .9 0.3 0 .2 7.1 30 .2 22 .24 4.8 13 .2 0 .71 10 .8 53 .1 94 4 .2 1.0 0.3 0.3 5.8 37 .7 15 .45' 5.5 12 .4 0 .55 13 .1 12 .8 27 13 .5 1.9 0.3 0.4 16 .1 48 .0 33 .6

Table 5 - CHEMICAL ANALYSES OF UPLAND SOIL PROFILES AND COMPOSITE SURFACE SAMPLES IN MATSQUI MUNICIPALITY

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacity-_ m, e./l0~ms .

Hori-zon

DepthInches H

OrganicMatter

%

TotalNitro-gen%

C-NRatio

P1

p .p .m . a g K a otal


BaseSatu-ration

Abbotsford Series - Orthic Concretionary Brown soils

L-H 12- 0 5.7 32 .6 0.62 28.5 101.0 21 .3 2.7 1.1 0.2 25 .3 61 .6 41 .1Bfccl 0- 4 5.7 3.3 0.12 16 .2 76 .0 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1 1.0 15 .1 7.3Bfcc2 4-11 6.0 1.7 0.08 12 .4 12 .0 0.8 0.2 Tr. 0.1 1.1 13 .8 8.0BC 11-16 6.0 1.2 0.06 12 .4 9.6 0.5 0.3 Tr. 0.1 0:9 11 .2 8.0CII0 16-24 6.0 0.8 0.05 9 .4 14 .1 0.5 0.3 Tr . 0.1 0.9 9.8 9.2IIC 24+ 5 .8 0 .3 0 .02 10 .1 89 .0 0 .5 0 .3 Tr. 0 .1 0 .9 3 .6 25 .0

Aldergrove Series - Orthic Acid Brown. Wooded soils

L-H 12- 0 5 .5 43 .0 0.98 25 .5 43 .0 - - - - - - -Bfh 0- 4 5.8 4.4 0.13 19 .6 24.0 1.5 0.9 0.3 Tr . 2 .7 17 .9 15 .1Bf1 4-13 5.9 2 .5 0.08 17 .9 10 .0 1.0* 0 .2 Tr . 1 .2 1.4 .6 8.2Bf 2 13-22 6.0 1 .3 0.06 12 .7 20.5 0.8 0.2 Tr . 1.0 9 .6 10 .4IIBC 22-31 6 .1 0 .6 0 .04 9 .2 38 .0 0 .8 0 .1 Tr . 0 .9 5 .7 15 .8IIC 31-43 6 .1 - 0 .01 - 130 .5 0 .3 0 .1 Tr . 0 .4 2 .7 -IIIC 43+ 5 .0 - 0 .03 - 8 .5 - - - - - - -

Bateman Series - Orthic Acid Brown Forest soils

Ah . 0- 9 5 .6 10 .8 0 .42 15 .0 24 .1 9 .1 0 .1 0 .2 0 .1 9 .5 35 .9 26 .5Bf1 9-20 6 .0 2 .6 0 .08 19 .7 12 .5 2 .1 0 .2 0 .1 0 .1 2 .5 19 .3 13 .0Bf2 20-25 6 .0 1 .9 0 .06 18 .5 20 .2 1 .8 - 0 .1 0 .1 2 .0 18 .6 10 .8IIC1 ~5-35 6 .0 0 .8 0 .04 13 .2 65 .0 0 .8 0.2 0 .1 0 .1 1 .2 9 .4 11 .0

*Ca & Mg

TEble 5 - Continued

Hori-zon

Exchangeable Catmions an. -e ./100

d Exchange Capacigms .

ty

Tctal BaseOrganic Nitrc- P Cation Satu-

Depth Matter gen C-N 1Exchange ration

Inches pH % Ratio p~ P-m . Ca Mg K Na Total Capacity

Cclumbia Series - Orthic Acid Brovvn Wooded soils

L-H 1- 0 5.6 17 .8 0 .45 22 .9 107.0 - - - - - - -BfhBf 1Bf2IIC1IIC2

0- 44-1212-1818-2626+

5 .75 .75 .65 .75 .8

4.63 .22.10 .90.6

0.150.110.080.030 .02

17 .917 .015 .46.76.0

165.051 .528 .030 .036 .0

1 .10 .50.1--

0.60.40 .1--

0 .20 .10 .1--

0.10 .10 .1--

2.01 .10 .4--

14 .813 .69 .4--

13 .58.14.3--

Cor"r~ock Series - Rego Humic Gleysol soils

Al 0- 8 5 .6 21.8 0.96 13 .2 13 .5 11 .1 1.6 0.2 0.1 13 .0 56 .4 23 .0Ah 8-12 5 .3 8.4 0.41 11 .9 11 .5 l. l 0.8 0 .1 Tr. 2 .0 42 .2 4.706 12-14 5.2 3 .5 0.20 10 .1 8.5 1.5 0.9 0 .1 0.1 2 .6 31 .3 8.3IlAhg 14-18 5 .1 4.6 0.27 9.8 7.5 1 .6 1.3 0 .2 0.1 3 .2 33 .0 9.7IIIC1 18-31 5 .4 2.2 0 .12 10 .6 40 .5 - - - - - - -IIIC2 31+ 5.6 1.2 0.07 9.7 61 .0

Custer Series - Gleyed Ortstei.n Podzol soils

L-H 2- 0 5 .2 67 .6 1.67 23 .5 154.0 - - - - - - -.A1, e 0- 3 4.7 8.3 0.33 14 .6 12 .0 7.2 1.8 0 .2 0.1 9.3 20 .4 45 .6.Ae 3- 6 5 .3 1.6 0.06 15 .4 2.5 2.3 1.0 0 .2 0.1 3.6 5.7 63 .2Bfc 6-11 5 .7 2 .3 0 .08 16 .5 5 .5 1 .5 1.0 0 .1 0 .1 2 .7 13 .4 20 .1Bgc 11-17 6 .0 1 .3 0 .05 15 .6 25 .0 0 .9 0 .7 0 .1 0 .1 1 .8 8 .5 21 .2IICg 17+ 5.8 2.0 0 .06 19 .3 23 .0 0.7 0.9 0 .1 0 .1 1.8 9 .9 18 .2

Table 5 - Continued

TotalOrganic Nitro-

Hori- Depth Matter gen C-Nzon Inches pH J o Ratio

P1p.p .m .

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym. e./100 &;:s.

BaseCation Satu-

Exchange rationCa Mg K Na Total Capacity

Deiehr Series - Gleyed Acid Brown Wooded . soils

ApBfgjBfgIIC[,lIICg2

0- 77-11

11-1717-2525+

5.35.95 .85.95.7

10 .1 0.315.9 0 .195.1 0 .153.2 0 .112.3 0 .07

18 .918 .219 .922 .227 .3

22 .06 .06.59.0

18 .5

4 .52 .01.1

' --

1 .00.70 .7--

0.20 .20 .3--

0.20 .10 .3--

5.93.02 .4--

25 .922 .920 .4--

22 .813 .111 .8--

LaxtOn Series - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils

L-H 2- 0 5.7 18 .4 0.43 24 .8 154.5 10 .7 2 .1 0 .8 0 .1 13 .7 35 .8 38 .3Bfh 0- 5 6.1 3 .1 0.12 15 " 4 91 .0 2 .8 . 0.5 0 .1 0 .1 3.5 18 .2 19 .2BC 5-11 6.1 2.4 0 .08 17 .7 19 .5 2 .0 0.6 0 .1 0 .1 2 .8 13 .5 20 .7IIC1 11-17 6.1 0 .8 0 .04 11 .6 42 .3 1 .0 0.3 0 .1 0 .1 1.5 8 .3 18 .1IIC2 17-29 6,1 0 .4 0.02 12~2 56 .3 0 .6 0 .1 Tr . 0 .1 0.8 6 .7 12 .0IIC3 29+ 6 .1 - - - 87 " 3 0-7 0 " 3 0~1 0 .1 . 1 .2 5 .0 24 .0

Lehman Series - Rego Humic Gleysol soils

H-L 1z- 0 4.7 18 .3 0.69 15 .4 30 .5 7.3 1.3 0 .4 0.2 9 .2 31-3 29 .4Ah 0- 7 4 .6 9.4 0.34 16 .0 16 .0 2 .4 0.2 0 .1 0.1 2 .8 22 .3 12 .6Cgl 7-11 5 .6 3 .0 0 .11 15 .9 7 " 0 0 .7 0 .2 0 .1 0 .1 1 .1 14 .8 7 .4IICg2 11-15 5 .9 1 .7 0 .06 17 .0 11 .0 - - - - - 9 .0 -IIC93 15-27 5 .9 1 .2 0 .04 17 .0 21 .0 - - - - - - -IICg4 27+ 5 .9 1 .0 0 .03 19 .3 21 .5 - - - - - - -

Table 5 - Continued

TotalOrganic Nitrc-

Hori- Depth Matter gen C-Nzon Inches pH % % Ratio

P1

p.p .m.

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym. e1100 gms . - -

BaseCation Satu-

Exchange rationCa Mg x Na Total Capacity

Marble Hill Series - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils

L-H 1~- 0 5.8 25 .1 0.87 16 .6 83 .5 19 .5 4.3 0 .8 0 .2 24 .8 51 .8 48,1

Bfh 0- 4 5.9 5 .2 0.19 15 .7 35 .7 1.5 0 .3 0 .1 0 .1 2 .0 24 .1 8 .3

Bf 4-11 5.9 2 .8 0 .11 14 .3 8.8 0 .6 0 .3 0 .1 0 .1 1.1 16 .1 6.3

BC 11-16 5.7 2 .3 0 .09 14 .5 9 .1 0 .3 0 .3 0.1 0 .1 0 .8 14 .4 5.5

C 16-24 5.7 1 .6 0.06 14 .8 10 .8 0.3 0 .3 0.1 0 .1 0 .8 12 .0 6.7

C-IiC 24-30 5.7 - - - 19 .7 0 .3 0 .2 0.1 0 .1 0 .7 9 .8 7 .1

IIC 30+ 5 .8 0 .3 0 .02 8 .7 84 .0 0.3 0 .2 Tr . 0 .1 0 .6 4.9 12 .2

Nicholson silt loam - Orthic Concretionary Bro-vm soil

L-H 2- 0 5.3 62 .1 1 .52 23 .7 27 .0 - - - - - - -

Bfccl 1- 7 5.7 5 .9 0 .17 20 .1 5 .0 1 .4 0.5 0 .2 0 .1 2 .2 25 .5 8.6

Bfcc2 7-14 5.5 3 .5 0 .11 18 .6 3 .5 0 .5 0 .3 0 .1 0 .1 1 .0 20 .1 5 .0BC 14-18 5 .6 3 .3 0 .11 17 .6 5 .0 0 .4 1 .2 0 .1 0 .2 1 .9 22 .0 8 .6Cl 18-28 6.6 0 .3 0.02 8.0 3 .0 4.4 3 .0 0 .1 0 .3 7 .8 14 .9 52 .4C2 28+ 6.6 0 .3 0.02 8.0 2.0 9 .0 7 .3 0.2 0 .3 16 .8 22 .8 73 .7

Peardonville Series - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils

L-H 1- 0 4 .7 44 .2 1 .59 16 .1 214 .5 - - - - - - -~fh 0- 6 5 .4 6 .0 0 .22 15 .7 233 .0 2 .9 0 .6 0 .1 0 .1 3 .7 23 .0 16 .1Bf 6-12 5 .5 4 .5 0 .16 16 .3 99 .0 0 .5 0 .7 0 .1 Tr . 1.3 18 .5 7 .0

IIC1 12-23 5 .9 1 .4 0 .05 15 .6 29 .5 - - - - - - -IIC2 23-44 6 .1 - - - 33 .0 - - - - - - -IIC3 44+ 6 .2 - - - 90 .0 - - - - - - -

Table 5 - Continued

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym.e ./100 gms.

Total Base

Hori-zon

DepthInches pH

OrganicNatter

%

Nitro-gen

°

C-NRatio

P1

p.p .m . Ca K Na Total


Satu-ration

Ross Series - Rego Humic Gleysol soils

Ah 0- 9 4.7 12 .4 0.63 11 .4 22 .0 5.7 1.4 0 .2 0 .2 7 .5 37 .4 20 .1

AC 9-13 5 .3 1 .8 0 .15 6 .9 48 .0 6 .2 1 .9 Tr. 0 .3 8 .4 23 .3 36 .1

Cgl 13-22 5.4 0 .5 0 .04 8.0 15 .0 7.4 4 .2 0.1 0.5 12 .2 17 .9 68 .2

Cg2 22+ 6 .2 0 .5 0 .04 8 .0 7~5 12 .6 8 .9 0 .1 0 .5 22 .1 24 .1 91 .7

Ryder Series - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils

L-H 12- 0 5.8 28 .4 0 .82 20 .0 145 .3 19 .3 3 .8 1.7 0 .2 25 .0 51 .9 48 .2

Bfh 0- 7 6 .1 4.4 0 .17 15 .2 30 .1 2.8 0 .9 0 .4 0.3 4 .4 23 .8 18 .5

Bf 7-15 5 .3 3 .4 0 .12 16 .3 24 .8 1 .2 0 .3 0 .2 0 .1 1 .8 20 .0 9 .0

CIIC1 15-22 5.9 1.1 0.05 14 .2 7 .7 0 .3 0 .4 0 .1 0.1 0 .9 10 .8 8 .3IICl 22-30 5 .9 0 .3 0 .02 7 .3 43 .6 0 .1 0 .3 Tr . Tr . 0 .4 5 .3 7 .5

IIC2 30+ 5 .9 0 .2 0 .02 7 .6 72 .0 0 .1 0 .3 Tr . 0 .1 0 .5 4 .5 11 .1

Whatcom silt loam - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soil

L-H 2- 0 4.0 74 .1 2 .53 17 .0 214.5 - - - - - - -

Bfh 1- 4 5 .1 7 .3 0 .27 15 .7 9 .0 1 .6 1 .9 0 .3 0 .1 3 .9 30 .9 12 .6

BIl 4-13 5.4 3.5 0 .15 13 .5 6 .5 0 .3 0.3 0 .3 0 .1 1.0 19 .6 5 .1

Bf2 3.3-21 5 .6 2 .5 0 .12 11 .9 6 .5 0 .3 0 .4 0 .2 0 .1 1 .0 14 .3 7 .0

BC- 21-29 5 .7 1 .9 0 .08 14 .0 25 .5 2 .3 1 .3 0 .3 0 .1 4 .0 24 .1 16 .6

C ~9+ 5.3 0.4 0 .02 12 .5 13 .0 7 .6 3 .0 0 .3 0.2 11 .1 16 .5 66 .7

Table 5 - Continued

Exchangeable Cations and Exchange Capacitym.e . 100 gms .

Total Base

Organic Nitro-

Hori- Depth Matter gen C-N P1

zon Inches pH % % Ratic p . p.m .

Bcat Series - Rego Humic GlP",4ol soils

Ca Mg K Na Total


Satu-ration

p

Ah 0-10 5.3 10 .9 0.44 14 .4 41 .5 5.9 2.1 0 .2 0 .4 8.6 33 .2 25 .9AC 10-18 5.9 3 .1 0.17 10. .4 41 .5 5.8 2 .2 0 .3 0.4 8.7 24 .9 34 .9

Cgl 18-28 6.2 0 .5 0.03 9 .0 16 .0 5.7 2 .2 0 .2 0 .3 8 .4 12 :1 69 .4

Cg2 28+ 6 .3 0 .4 0 .03 7 .0 12 .0 8 .2 3 .1 0 .2 0 .4 11 .9 14 .0 85 .0

Composite Surface Samples

Abbotsford Series - Orthic Concretionary Brown soils

1 5.4 7 .0 0 .20 20 .4 113 .5 4.2 0 .7 0 .7 0 .1 5 .7 18 .3 31 .2

2 5.5 4 .5 0 .15 10 .7 99 .0 2.3 0 .3 0.3 0 .3 2.9 13 .0 22 .3

3 4.3 6 .6 0.22 17 .4 390 .5 4.1 0 .1 1.1 0 .1 5 .4 17 .1 31 .6

4 5 .2 5 .0 0 .13 22 .3 787 .0 2.1 0 .8 0.5 0 .2 3 .6 14 .0 25 .7

5 5.8 6 .9 0.24 16 .8 43 .5 6 .0 0 .9 0.2 0 .1 7.2 18 .7 38 .5

Marble Hill Series - Orthic Acid Brown Wooded soils

1 5.5 10 .4 0 .36 16 .5 36 .5 5 .1 0 .3 0 .2 0.2 5.8 33 .5 17 .32 6 .3 6 .3 0 .28 12 .9 166 .3 10 .4 0 .6 0 .6 0 .2 11 .3 27 .2 43 .4

3 5 .6 8 .5 0 .30 14 .7 55 .7 3 .5 0.4 0 .2 0 .1 4 .2 25 .8 16 .34 6.0 10 .0 0 .37 15 .5 34 .7 12 .1 1.2 0 .2 0 .2 13 .7 35 .5 38 .9

5 5.5 8 .9 0 .27 19 .2 96 .3 4.0 0.3 0.5 0 .1 4.9 26 .7 18 .4

Table 5 - Continued


Total Base

Hori-zcn

R,yder

DepthInches pH

Series - Orthic

OrganicMatter

%

Acid Brown

Nitro-gen%

Wooded

C-NRatio

soils

P1p .p .m. Ca Mg K Na Total


Satu-ration

1 5.5 8 .9 0.33 15 .7 36 .5 5 .1 0 .3 0.2 0 .2 5 .8 33 .5 17 .32 5 .6 6 .0 0.22 16 .0 166 .3 10 .4 0 .6 0.6 0 .2 11 .8 27 .2 43 .43 5 .7 6 .3 0 .23 15 .8 55 .7 3 .5 0 .4 0 .2 0 .1 4 .2 25 .8 16 .3 i4 5 .7 8 .5 0.31 13 .9 34 .7 12 .1 1.2 0.2 0 .2 13 .7 35 .5 38 .6 N5 6 .0 7 .2 0 .26 16 .1 96 .3 4.0 0 .3 0.5 0 .1 4.9 26 .7 18 .4 r"w

Whatcom silt loam - Orthic Acid Brcwn Wooded soili

1 5 .2 7 .5 0 .30 14 .4 17 .0 1 .6 0 .8 0 .5 0 .1 3 .0 22 .7 13 .22 5 .1 9 .4 0.40 13 .6 20 .0 4 .3 0 .2 0 .1 0 .3 4.9 24 .9 19 .73 5.2 5.2 0.21 14 .4 35 .5 2 .7 0 .2 0.1 0 .2 3 .2 19 .4 16 .54 5.2 8.3 0.35 13 .8 9.0 0 .9 1 .5 0.1 0 .1 2.6 25 .8 10 .15 5.0 7.0 0.27 14 .9 11 .0 1 .7 0 .1 0 .2 0 .1 2.1 22 .0 9 .5

-123-

REFERENCES

1 . Atkinson, H . J ., G . R . Giles, A . J . MacLean and J . R . Wright .Chemical methods of soil analysis . Canada Department ofAgriculture, Science Service, Chemistry Division, Ottawa .1958 .

2 . Bremner, J . M. Determination of nitrogen in the soil by theKjeldahl method . Journal of Agricultural Science, Vol . 55,No . 1 . 1960 .

3 . British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Victoria . Annualreports . 1945-61 .

4 . British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Victoria . Climateof British Columbia . Annual reports . 1916-62 .

5 . British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Victoria .Fertilizer reccmmendations for the Lower Mainland - Zone 2 .1962 .

6 . British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Cloverdale .Proceedings of the soils advisory committee, subcommittee ondrainage . 1962 .

7 . British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Kelowna . Interimsoil survey reports of Chilliwack, Sumas and Surrey munici-palities . 1961-62 .

8. British Columbia Department of Agriculture, Victoria. Foragecrop recommendations for the Lower Mainland - Zone 2 . 1963 .

9 . Carne, I . C . Red raspberry growing with particular applica-tion to the Fraser Valley . B . C . Department of Agriculture,Victoria . Horticultural Circular No . 89 . 1962 .

10 . Carne, I . C . Strawberry growing with particular applicationto the Fraser Valley . B . C . Department of Agriculture,Victoria . Horticultural Circular No . 88 . 1962 .

11 . Connor, A. J . The frost-free season in British Columbia .Canada Department of Transport . Meteorological Division,Toronto, Ontario . 1949 .

12 . Corporation of the District of Matsqui . Annual report .Municipal Hall, R. R . No . 1, Abbotsford, B. C . 1961 .

13 . Halstead, E. C . Water resources of Matsqui Municipality,British Columbia . Water supply paper No . 238 . CanadaDepartment of Mines and Technical Surveys, Ottawa . 1959 .

- 124 -

14 . Kelley, C . C . and R. H . Spilsbury . Soil survey of the LowerFraser Valley . Publication 650. Canada Department ofAgriculture, Ottawa . 1939 . (out of print)

15 . Laverty, J . C . The Illinois method (Bray No . 1) for deter-mining available phosphorus in soils . Department of Agronomy .University of Illinois . College of Agriculture, Urbana .1961 .

16 . Lyons, C . P . . Trees, shrubs and flowers to know in BritishColumbia . Second addition . J . M . Dent & Sons (Canada) Ltd .,Vancouver. 1959 .

17 . Tti7enzie, E . L ., 0 . Klassen and F . van Ande1 . Dairy farmmanagement manual . B . C . Department of Agriculture andDepartment of Agricultural Economics, University of B . C .,Vancouver. 1958 .

18 . National Soil Survey Committee . Report of a meeting held atOntario Agricultural College, Guelph, Ontario . February,1960 .

19 . Peach, M ., L . T . Alexander, L . A. Dean and J . F. Reed .Methods of soil analyses for soil fertility investigation .U . S . D . A . Circular No . 757 . Washington, D . C . 1957 .

20 . Thorp, J. R . Highland blueberries in British Columbia .B. C . Department of Agriculture, Victoria . HorticulturalCircular No . 84 . 1959 .

21 . United States Department of Agriculture . Soil survey manual .U . S . Department of Agriculture Handbook No . 18 . U . S .Government Printing Office, Washington 25, D . C . 1951 .

APPENDIX :

Table A - AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL MEAN TEMPERATURES (4)

Degrees F

Station Feb . Mlarch April May June July Aug . Sept . Oct . Nov. Dec . Annual

New Westminster 36 39 43 50 56 60 64 64 59 51 43 39 51

1bbotsford 34 38 42 48 54 59 62 62 58 50 42 38

Agassiz 35 39 43 50 56 60 64 64 60 52 43 38 50

Aldergrove 39 42 44 46 53 60 64 64 54 47 39 36 49

Table B - MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PRECIPITATION AT ALDERGROVE, 1953 TO 1962 (4)

Inches

Year Jan. Feb . March April May Ju_ne July Aug. Sept . Oct. Nov . Dec. Annual

1953 - - - 4.29 1.88 3 .90 2 .13 1.22 5 .42 5.95 12 .01 13 .16 -1954 10 .82 7.38 3.09 4.77 2 .22 3 .93 1 .78 3.71 3 .07 2 .73* 15 .12* 7.42* 66 .041955 5 .08 5.05 5.94 4.54 4.01 2.96 3.55* 0.17* 1 .92 8.82 12 .72 8.07 62 .831956 7 .27 6.42 6.37 0 .80* 1 .41* 6.14* 0 .60 1.71 6.85 11 .29* 3 .74* 13 .68* 66 .281957 3 .88* 5.16 7.55 3 .94 1 .74 2.28 2.07 2 .40 1.13* 3.36 4.71 7.76 45 .98*1958 11 .51 6 .25 2.40* 3 .85 2.22 0.70* 0.41* 1.74 2.67 7.08 9 .01 9.53 57 .371959 9.85 6.35 8.32* 6 .53* 4 .13* 3.03 1.34 1.60 7.98* 5.86 9 .41 8 .82 73 .20*1960 8.15 6.01 5 .69 4.12 2 .98 3.19 1 .49 2 .09 3 .89 6.72 9 .23 9 .31 62 .871961 11 .93* 13 .62* 7 .85 3 .26 4 .02 1.54 0.96 2 .63 1.90 8.47 6 .24 10 .27 72 .691962 9.21 3 .29* 4.99 5 .68 3.36 2.37 1.31 5 .01* 4.63 4.97 10 .42 9.98 65 .22

*High 11 . 93 13 .62 8.32 6.53 4.13 6 .14 3.55 5.01 7.98 11 .29 15-12 13 .68 73 . 20

*Low 3.88 3 .29 2 .40 0.80 1.41 0.70 0,41 0 .17 1.13 2.73 3 .74 7.42 45 .98

Table C - MONTHLY AND ANNUAL PRECIPITATION AT ABBOTSFORD AIRPORT, 1951 TO 1962 (4)

Inches

Year

1951

Jan.

11 .55

Feb .

12 .37

March

8.39*

April

2.02

May

3.28

June

0.93

July

0 .11

Aug .

0.63

Sept .

3 .12

Oct.

7.27

Nov.

5 .48

Dec.

6 .74

Annual

61 .891952 4 .81 3.93 4.43 3.50 2 .82 3.32 0.93 0.88 1 .78* 2.04* 1 .33* 7 .73 37 .501953 17 .36* 4.57 5.44 4.09 2.04 4.52 1 .69 1.07 3 .65 7 .47 10 .79 12 .41* 75 .10*1954 10 .27 5.71 2.66 4.59 2 .57 3.95 1.25 3.68 2 .16 2.41 14 .52* 6 .16 59 .931955 4.10* 5.67 5.14 5.59 4 .80 2.39 2.38* 0.24* 1.93 8.66* 10 .39 8 .17 59 .461956 - - - 1.12* 1 .65 6.38~~ 0 .43 1.56 7 .07* - - - -1957 5 .46 5.00 4.71 4.31 3 .79 3.53 1.59 1.68 3 .58 5 .04 7.56 7 .71 54 .00*1958 10 .90 7.19 2.15* 4.53 1.54* 0.81* 0.02 1.73 3 .05 7.26 8.80 8.35 56 .33

1959 9 .32 5.69 6.74 6.15* 3.22 2.82 1.04 2.19 6 .03 5.48 7.72 8.10 64 .501960 7.50 4 .88 5 .36 3 .22 7.85* 3.22 Tr.* 3.70 2.08 8.38 6.64 5 .63* 58 .461961 8 .46 12 .71* 6 .79 3 .12 4.08 1.08 0.79 2.00 1.99 8.30 5.32 8 .71 63 .351962 6 .79 3 .27* 4 .77 4.39 3.74 1.70 1.09 6 .17* 4.49 3.37 8.44 9 .11 57 .33

High 17 .36 12 .71 8.39 6.15 7 .85 6 .38 2.38 6.17 7.07 8 .66 14 .52 12 .41 75 .10

*Low 4 .10 3 .27 2.15 1.12 1.54 0.81 Tr . 0.24 1.78 2.04 1.33 5.63 54 .00

Table D - SPRING AND FALL FROSTS AND DURATION OF FROST-FREE PERIODS (11)

Last Frost in SpringFirst Frost in Autumn

Frost-free

Station Meani

Earliest Latest Mean Earliest Latest Days

Vancouver City April 1 February 19 April 30 Ncvember 5 September 23 ~ December 5 f 218

Abbotsford Airport April 24 April 4 &Iay 8 October 7 September 18 0ctcber 18 166

Agassiz April 14 February 25 May 24 October 29 September 7 December 24 198

Chilliwack April 20 March 12 May 24 October 21 September 24 December 7 184

i

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Table E - AVERAGE MONTHLY AND ANNUAL SNOWFIJL (4)

Inches

Station Jan . Feb . March April May June July Aug. Sept . Oct . Nov. . Dec . Year

Yearsof

Record

Vancouver City 5 .1 3.8 0.9 Tr .* - - - - - - 1.0 2 .6 13 .6 41

Abbotsford Airport 11 .8 5.1 5.0 0 .3 - - - - - Tr . 2.1 5 .7 30 .0 11

Abbotsford (Upper Sumas) 5 .9 6 .1 2.2 Tr . - - - - - - 2.3 4 .8 21 .3 25

Agassiz 13 .5 9 .9 4 .0 0 .3 0 .1 - - - - - 3 .1 7 .6 38 .5 66

*~ race

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GLOSSARY

Aggregate (soil ) - A single mass or cluster of soil consisting ofrnany soil particles held together as a prism, granule or etherform .

Alluvium - All materials moved and deposited by running water.

Anthropic - A general term meaning man-made . It refers to soilaltered by man .

Available plant nutrients - Nutrients in the soil in condition tobe taken up by plant roots .

Base saturation percentage - The percentage of the total cationexchange capacity of the soil which is satisfied by cationsother than hydrogen .

Boulders - Fragments of rock over two feet in diameter.

Cation exchange ca acit - A measure of the adsorptive capacityof soil for cations9 . hydrogen plus bases) or the amount ofcations that can be adsorbed by a stated quantity of soil,usually expressed as milli-equivalents per 100 grams of dry soil .

Cobble - A fragment of rock from three to ten inches in diameter .

Colluvium - Poorly sorted material which accumulates at the baseof steep slopes through the influence of gravity .

Concretions - Hard concentrations of soil cemented by certainchemical compounds into aggregates or nodules of various sizesand shapes,

Consistence - The relative mutual attraction of the particles inthe whole soil mass, or their resistance to separation ordeformation .

Dry-farming - Farming without irrigation, particularly in areaswhere rainfall in the growing season is not adequate for optimumcrop production .

Dune - A mound or ridge of sand piled by wind .

Eluvial horizon - A soil horizon from which material has beenremoved in solution or water suspension .

Eolian deposit - Wind deposited sediments such as loess and sanddunes .

Floodplain - A river deposit subject to overflow . A floodplainis characterized by a series of lateral accretions near the riverchannel, and then a gentle down-slope to a generally swampedinner margin .

Friable - A soil aggregate easily crushed between the fingers,and nonplastic .

Glaciolacustrine deposits - Sediments deposited in former glaciallakes .

Glacio-fluvial deposits - Material carried, sorted and depositedby melt-water streams .

Glacio-marine deposits - Refers to materials dropped in the seaby glacier ice .

Glacial drift - All material transported and deposited by glaciers

and by melt-water from glaciers . It includes till and glacialoutwash .

Glacial till - An unsorted, generally unconsolidated, heterogeneousmixture of stones, gravels, sand, silt, and clay deposited byglacier ice .

Gle,y - A soil process in which the material has been modified byreduction brought about by saturation with water for long periodsin the presence of organic matter .

Horizon - A layer of the soil profile approximately parallel tothe land surface . It has more or less well defined characteris-tics derived from the soil-building process . Horizon boundariesare described as abrupt if less than one inch wide, clear iffrom one to 22 inches, gradual if 2z to five inches, and diffuseif more than 5 inches vertical width .

Horizon nomenclature - Capital and lower case letters used todesignate horizons in this report are as follows :

Organic Horizons

L - An organic layer characterized by the accumulation of organicmatter in which the original structures were definable .

F - An organic layer characterized by the accumulation of partlydecomposed organic matter . The original structures arediscernable with difficulty . Fungi mycelia often present .

H - An organic layer characterized by an accumulation of decom-posed organic mat~ter in which the original structures areundefinable .

Master Mineral Horizons

A - A mineral horizon or horizons formed at or near the surfacein the zone of maximum removal of materials in solution andsuspension and/or maximum accumulation of organic matter inthe soil itself .

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B - A mineral horizon or horizons characterized by an enrichmentof clay, iron, aluminum, and/or illuvial organic matter insufficient quantities to meet defined limits . These enrich-ments may be accompanied by slight alteration due to hydro-lysis and/or oxidation and the formation of structure .

C - A mineral horizon comparatively unaffected by the pedogenicprocesses operating in the A and B horizons, excepting theformation of gley, the accumulation of carbonates and themore soluble salts . Lithologic changes in the profile areidentified by the Roman numerals II, III, etc .

Lower Case Suffixes

c - A cemented (irreversible) pedogenic horizon .

ca - A horizon with secondary carbonate enrichment .

cc - Cemented (irreversible) pedogenic concretions .

e - A horizon characterized by the removal of clay, iron,aluminum or organic matter . Lighter in color by one or moreunits of value or chroma when dry than the layers below .

f - A horizon enriched with iron . It is redder in color thaneither the horizon above or below it .

g A horizon characterized by chemical reduction and graycolors, often mottled (gley) .

h - A horizon enriched with organic matter .

j - A horizon whose characteristics are weakly expressed(juvenile) .

k - A horizon in which the presence of carbonates is indicatedby visible effervescence with dilute acid .

m - A horizon slightly altered by hydrolysis and/or solution togive a change in color and/or structure (mellowed) .

n - A horizon with distinctive morphological and physical

p

characteristics as shown by black or dark colorations orcoatings on the surface of the peds, and characterized byprismatic or columnar structure and hard to very hardconsistence when dry.

A layer disturbed by man's activities ; i .e ., by cultivationand/or pasturing . Used only in reference to the A horizon .

Hummock,y - Topography characterized by an uneven surface due tosmall knolls .

Illuvial horizon - A horizon that has received material in solu-tion from some other part of the soil profile .

Lateral accretion - Fine sands and silts deposited horizontallynear river margins by drifting along the bottom during freshetoverflow .

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Leaching - Removal of soluble constituents from the soil bypercolating water .

Levee - A natural embankment along a river channel on a floodplain .

Loess - Silty and very fine sand material blown and deposited bywind .

Microrelief - Small surface configurations that are significantin soil forming processes, to the growth of plants, or in thepreparation of the soil for cultivation .

Mottled - Irregular spots or streaks of different colors in soils .Indicates oxidation and reduction caused by a fluctuating watertable .

Muck - Fairly well decomposed organic soil, often containing arelatively high proportion of mineral material .

Orthic - A term used to define the subgroup of soils consideredto be the central concept of a great soil group . Other subgroupsare departures from the Orthic .

Outwash - All materials washed out of melting glacier ice anddeposited by melt water streams .

Parent material - The unconsolidated geological material fromwhich the solum of a soil profile develops .

Peat - Undecomposed to partly decomposed organic material withrecognizable plant remains . Peat accumulates in bogs and seepageareas under very moist conditions .

Ped - An individual natural soil aggregate .

Percolation - Downward movement of water through the soil,especially the downward flow of water in saturated or nearlysaturated soil .

Permeability - The quality or state of a soil or of any horizonin the soil profile that permits passage of water or air to allparts of the mass .

,pH - A logarithmic designation of the relative acidity or alka-linity of soil or other materials .

Plant nutrients - The elements taken in by the plant, essentialto its growth and used by it in the elaboration of its food andtissue .

Plastic - Capable of being molded or modeled without rupturewhen moist .

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Porosit,y - The percentage of the total soil volumeby soil particles .

not occupied

Profile - A vertical section of the soil through all horizons, andextending into the parent material .

Solum - The part of the soil profile above the parent material inwhich soil formation is taking place . The A and B horizons .(Sola is plural .)

Stratified - Composed of, or arranged in, stratastratified alluvium .

or layers, as

Structure - The morphological aggregates in which individual soilparticles are arranged . The following structures are mentionedin this report :

Platy - Thin, horizontal plates ; the horizcntalthan the vertical one,

Prismatic - Large aggregates with vertical axishorizontal, and with well defined surfaces andare usually flat .

axis is longer

longer than theedges . The tops

Blocky - Block-like aggregates ; the vertical and horizontalabout the same length, usually with sharp edges .

axes

Subangular blocky - Block-like aggregates with vertical andhorizontal axes about the same length, usually with sub-roundededges .

Granular - More or less rounded aggregates, with ansmooth faces and edges .

Massive - A cohesive soil mass having no observable

absence cf

aggregation .

Single-grained - A loose, incoherent mass of individual particles,as in sand .

Talus - Fragments of rock collected at the foot of a cliff or asteep slope, chiefly by gravitational forces .

Terrace - A relatively flat, horizontal or gently inclined plainof variable size, step-shaped .

Texture - Soil texture is based on the amount of sand, silt andclay a soil may have . Sand consists of particles which range insize from 2 .0 to 0 .5 mm ; silt from .05 to .002 mm ; while clayconsists of all particles less than .002 mm .

Vertical accretion - Sediments that settle in ponds on the flood-plain in the freshet season .

Water table - The upper limit in the soil or underlying materialwhich is saturated with water.

Weathering - The physical and chemical disintegration and decom-position of rocks and minerals .

soil survey matsqui municipality and sumas mountain...

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