BROOKDALE AREA SOIL TYPES

The Brookdale area is noted for its general fertile and productive soils. However there is variation within the general area, ranging from heavy soils, with stones and potholes in the northwest, to a more easily worked loam over much of the remainder, with pockets of coarser, sandier soil.

Standard commercial crops over the years have been wheat, durum wheat, oats, barley and flax. Special crops, started to come in the late 50''s and early 60''s and included rapeseed, sunflowers, potatoes, buckwheat, corn, mustard and many others.

The heavier soils hold moisture longer and are thus more drought tolerant than the lighter soils. On the other hand, the heavier soils also have more surface run-off, because they will not absorb moisture from heavy thunderstorms as fast as the loams and sands will.