Ontario Agriculture

The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada

Heavy Clay Soil.

We are looking for heavy clay soil to be used in the construction of a cricket pitch.  Turfgrass is planted on this heavy clay and then rolled with a heavy roller to make it rock hard so that a ball can be bounced off the surface.  Generally the clay content is 30 % or more..

I have looked through the ontario soil surveys and found that the brookston, Caistor, Lincoln and Haldimand clay types all seem to have heavy clay content.  What i'm having difficulty doing to finding access to these soils as most of the locations where they are present is farm land.  I thought i would post on these forums to see if anyone can help me out find a site where we can get access to some of this heavy clay soil.

Thanks .

Views: 1745

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mike Radan on August 11, 2014 at 2:38pm
We have heavy clay soil contact me at Michaelradan@gmail.com
Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on August 11, 2014 at 2:39pm

How much clay do you need for the cricket pitch?

Truckloads?

Permalink Reply by Kato on August 11, 2014 at 3:10pm
Well i would take as much as possible..but a would need at least a truckload
Permalink Reply by OntAG Admin on August 12, 2014 at 3:31am

Responses on Twitter:


EricKaiser46:33am via Twitter for iPhone

@OntAg 30% clay is NOT heavy clay. Need 50%. Have lots. Dirt not for sale. Grow crops in it.


clayalloverAug 11, 8:34pm via Twitter for Android

@OntAg how much acreage? Is eastern ontario too far? Near Alfred college. Bearbrook clay. Some of it is that hard now

Permalink Reply by Kato on August 12, 2014 at 4:40am


ClayAllover: just had a look at the profile of Bearbrook Clay...Wow..60-80% clay.  That is the kind of clay they use on Australian cricket pitches.  Does it shrink/swell...ie..crack when dry?  Its a bit far for us as we are closer to GTA but I wonder if we can raise enough funds to be able to truck some of it....Is there an area where it is accessible.

Only problem with going very heavy clay from what i've read is that it is very difficult to grow grass on it..specially since we roll it hard like concrete with a 2 tonne roller.

I'm also attaching a document that describes the ideal soil for a cricket pitch

Attachments:
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on August 13, 2014 at 2:26pm

There is some pretty heavy clay around Milton area.  You might be able to work something out with a developer in the area who is going to be building homes on the land.

As far as the best clay soil for Ontario conditions.  The University of Guelph Turfgrass Institute might be able to provide some advice.   http://www.guelphturfgrass.ca/

 

 

▶ Reply to Discussion

RSS

Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story

Canadians Back Supply Management and Dairy Farmers Ahead of CUSMA Review

As Canada prepares for a review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a new survey reveals most Canadians want the federal government to protect dairy farmers, maintain supply management, and preserve Canadian control over the nation's food supply.

USMCA Not Renewed - What the Decision Means

The United States has chosen not to renew the USMCA in its current form following the agreement's mandatory six-year review. The trade pact remains in force.

Former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach Supports United Canada

Former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach has endorsed Vote to Stay, encouraging Albertans to support a strong future within Canada and join a growing grassroots movement.

Tragedy averted as central Alberta farmhand rescued from grain bin

On an early morning in May, Aaron Dingle, an 18-year-old New Zealand man here in Alberta working as a farmhand, was rescued from a canola bin where he was buried up to his neck. The entire incident could have ended in tragedy but for the quick response of his employers, and the actions, training, and use of specialized equipment by Hardisty and Killam firefighters who answered the call. Dingle is working at the Burden farm north of Lougheed on an informal farm exchange. John Burden says, “We were part of the Ag Exchange program for many years, and now all those kids keep sending their friends and family our way.” Burden says it’s also much easier for foreign farm workers to come now than in the past. Burden, his son Graham, and Dingle were unloading a canola bin last week, one where they saw a heated core and some sprouting in a small area. Graham says he’d worked in the bin all day Tuesday with a grain vac, sucking out any problem spots, and could see that the further down towards

Canola Watch

One big spray Excess moisture, spraying delays and weeds were the top yield robbers again this week, same as last week. These challenges in combination with advancing crops and weeds, a lot of canola will get just one pass of herbicide this year. Crop stage and max labels rates depend on the system. Last kick at the blackleg can Fungicide labels may say, in many cases, that the window for blackleg on canola is from the two- to six-leaf stage...but six-leaf is usually too late to prevent early infection that drives yield loss. Application around the two-leaf stage is best, if the situation justifies a spray. Remember 2024? It was a bad blackleg year. Fields with canola this year that were in canola in 2024 will be at higher risk, especially if the cultivar is the same. Moisture could increase early infection rates. Relative humidity of 80 per cent or higher and cool temperatures of 13-18°C are conducive to blackleg infection. Tank mixing fungicide with herbicide can save a field pa

© 2026   Created by Darren Marsland.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service