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Overview

The Atlas of Canada, 5th Edition gives a very sparse overview of the Soil Capability for Agriculture in its map mcr4023.

This has been overlaid on to a standard map of the region.

This map indicates that there is only one section of Class 1 land and one section of Class 2 land and the vast majority of the land is Class 3 or lower.

The land in the region appears never to have been assessed, in total although the soil report RAB Bulletin 20 – Soil Resources of the Nelson Map Area, actually breaks out in good detail the soil capability for a good percentage of the region. And the report RAB Bulletin 15 – Soil Resources of the Lardeau Map Area covers the other parts.

The best soils for agriculture in our region are located on fluvial and lacustrine deposits. Other lands suitable for arable agriculture include some glaciofluvial terraces, fluvial fans, and glacial till deposits. The medium to coarse-textured low water holding soils usually improve significantly in their agricultural capability when irrigated. The following refers to improved (irrigated or drained) ratings where feasible.

Soil Capability Classes

Capability Class 1

These soils occur predominantly in the vicinity of Creston on the better drained portions of the Kootenay River floodplain (dyked and drained areas) and on the silty lacustrine uplands. These soils have gentle topography, are stone free, and have no climatic limitations.

Capability Class 2

These soils are found on the Kootenay River floodplain, the lacustrine deposits south of Creston, in the Salmo and Slocan River valleys and on the stone-free terraces along the Columbia River. The main limitations are poor soil drainage on the floodplain, poor soil structure in the lacustrine areas, frostiness on the Salmo River floodplain and low moisture holding capacity on sandy terraces.

Capability Class 3 and 4

These soils occur on moderately sloping glacial tills, lacustrine deposits, fluvial fans and medium to coarse textured glaciofluvial deposits. Major limitations, (which may occur individually or in combination) are adverse topography, low soil moisture holding capacity, high water table, stoniness, and short freeze-free periods.

Capability Class 5

These soils are scattered throughout the region on moderately sloping glacial till, coarse textured fans, stony glaciofluvial terraces, and poorly drained alluvium that is susceptible to flooding. Limitations, either singly or in combination, include adverse topography, stoniness, low soil moisture holding capacity, inundation and high water tables.

Capability Class 6

These soils are found on steep, shallow soils over bedrock, predominantly at the lower elevations in the south and west aspects in the Columbia and the Kootenay river valleys. Scattered pockets of Class 6 lands also occur in the krummholz subzone of the Subalpine Engelmann spruce-alpine fir zone above 2,130 m elevation. Class 6, lands are limited in extent by the prevailing moist 'climatic conditions. These conditions favour dense, coniferous forest vegetation at the expense of vegetation suitable for grazing.

Capability Class 7

Areas severely limited by adverse topography, shallowness to bedrock, and harsh climate and which do not produce natural forage are rated as Capability Class 7.

Note: Category A is equal to Class 1, Category B = Class 2 and Category C = Class 3.

Agricultural Soil Capability Map - Southern Region

The approximate arable area in the Nelson map area is 103,490 hectares (classes 1 to 5 inclusive) and is 6.4% of the 'total. Of this about 25,060 hectares will improve at best, one capability class with irrigation. The table above indicates the correlation between parent material, soil association, and agricultural capability classes.

All agricultural classes (except class 1) have subclasses attached to the class number. They indicate the kind(s) of limitations that restrict the use of the land for agriculture. The class number indicates the degree of the limitation.

Climatic Capability for Agriculture

The highest potential agricultural capability of a soil or area is determined by its climatic characteristics that affect crop production. Climate classes form the base for soil capability for agriculture classes. For example, soils having Class 1 capability for agriculture must be located in an area which has at least a Class 1 climate capability for agriculture rating. The soil capability for agriculture rating cannot be higher than the climate capability for agriculture rating for the area in which the soil is located. Within the Nelson map area a wide range of climatic conditions exist.

The effects of changing management practices and land use on climate should be kept in mind.

Industrial development, creation of man-made water bodies and changes in forest harvesting practices change the face of the land and al so cause changes in the local climates.

Certain assumptions must be made in interpreting and applying the climate capability for agriculture classification. For a detailed description of these see the publication Climate Capability Classification for Agriculture (B.C. Land Inventory. 1972).

The following are brief definitions of the climatic classes present in the Nelson map area, together with the associated key crops. More adequate definitions may be found in the publication referred to above.

Climatic Class la

Identifying Areas: Slocan, Columbia Gardens, and Castlegar.

Elevation: Valley bottom to 980 m elevation on warm aspects. to 880 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is 120 to 150 days. Full capability can only be achieved when supplemental water is supplied.

Winter Climate: There are low minimum temperatures occasionally below -37°C. Snow cover is continuous.

Range of Crops: Key crops - corn and hardy apples in select microclimates.

Climatic Class 1a2

Identifying Areas: Creston and front benches adjacent to large lakes.

Elevation: Up to 980 m on warm aspects, to 880 m on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is 120 to 150 days. Full capability can only be achieved when supplemental water is supplied.

Winter Climate: Winter minimums do not exceed -34°C. Snow cover is continuous.

Range of Crops: Key crops - corn and apples.

Climatic Class 1

Identifying Areas: Areas between 980 m and 1250 m elevation on warm aspects; 910 m and 1220 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is 90-120 days. Annual precipitation is more than 380 mm and the May-September precipitation is greater than 230 mm. There is no significant heat deficiency and no serious moisture deficiency. There is a climatic moisture deficit of a to 38 mm during the growing season in areas not irrigated.

Range of Crops: Key crop - corn.

Climatic Class 2

Identifying Area: Areas between 1250 m and 1400 m elevation on warm aspects, 1220 m and 1370 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is 75 to 90 days. Annual precipitation is less than 38 mm. The May-September precipitation is less than 200 to 250 mm. There is a climatic moisture deficit of 38 to 114 mm during the growing season in areas not irrigated.

Climatic Class 3

Identifying Area: Up to 1550 m elevation on all aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze- free period is 60-75 days. Annual precipitation is less than 330 mm. The May-September precipitation is less than 548 mm. A climatic moisture deficit of 114 to 190 mm occurs during the growing season in areas that are not irrigated.

Climatic Class 4

Identifying Area: Frost pooling areas in climate Class 2 and 3 areas.

Characteristics: The freeze'-free period is 50 to 60 days. A climatic moisture deficit of 190 to 267 mm occurs during the growing season in areas that are not irrigated.

Climatic Class 5

Identifying Area: Areas between 1550 m and 1830 m elevation on warm aspects, 1550 m and 1740 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze- free period is 30 to 50 days. A climatic moisture deficit of 267 to 871 mm occurs during the growing season in areas not irrigated. Only suitable for forage crop production.

Climatic Class 6

Identifying Area: Areas between 1830 m and 2070 m elevation on warm aspects, 1740 and 1920 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is less than 30 days. The approximate range of growing degree-days above 5.6 °C is 400 to 650. A climatic moisture deficit of 340 to 406 mm occurs during the growing season in non- irrigated areas. The areas are limited to the production of native grass and browse species of plants.

Climatic Class 7

Identifying Area: Above 2070 m elevation on warm aspects, above 1920 m elevation on cool aspects.

Characteristics: The freeze-free period is highly variable but it is usually less than 30 days.

Crops Suitability for Soils

Soil Capability Rating System

One measure of agricultural potential is the Land Capability Classification System for Agriculture in British Columbia. Where this mapping is not available, there is the Canada Land Inventory (CLI) mapping. Both systems identify land according to its potential and limitations for agriculture using a rating system of Class I to 7.

The classification systems are based on climate and soil characteristics as well as on consideration of topography, drainage, and other landscape characteristics but are not based on the current use of the land.

The best agricultural lands are rated Class 1 because they have the ideal climate and soil to allow a farmer to grow the widest range of crops. Class 7 is considered non-arable, with no potential for soil bound agriculture. As the class numbers increase from Class 1 to Class 7, the range of crops decreases. Associated with each class is a subclass that describes limitations such as topography, stoniness, soil moisture deficiency, low fertility, etc.

However, the ratings give no indication of the yield of individual crops. For example, for a particular crop, some Class 4 lands may produce higher yields than Class 3 or 2 but the range of crops for Class 4 is narrower than for Class 3 or 2. Similarly, a higher-numbered class does not necessarily mean lower quality agricultural land. Some of these lands are highly suitable for specialty crops. For instance, some blueberry and cranberry lands in Richmond are rated Class 5 but represent unique soils that are highly prized for blueberries and cranberries. The forage lands in west-central BC, which are an integral part of beef farming in that area, are Class 5. In the southern interior, the natural grasslands, unique in North America, are rated as Class 6, but are important to the ranching industry.

The land capability classification for agriculture has two main components; the capability class and the capability subclass. The class identifies potential for agriculture. The subclass identifies limitations or special management practices needed to improve the soil.

Soil Survey Information - Southern Region

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