Kootenay - Soils

Tools, factsheets and resources for the Kootenay agricultural region on the following soil and nutrient topics:

Soil and Nutrient Management Resources

Factsheets and handbooks for soil management and nutrient amendment practices. Note: some information in these documents may not be applicable to all areas. Always refer to your own soil test results and local weather conditions.

Top Requested Documents for Kootenay

• Understanding Soil pH (PDF)
• Acidifying Soils (PDF)
• Manure Sampling and Analysis for Nutrient Management (PDF)
• Choosing and Calibrating Manure Application Equipment (PDF)
• Forage Crop Sampling for Nutrient Management (PDF)

Soil and Nutrient Management

• Environmental Farm Management Planning Reference Guide (PDF) See chapter 6 for nutrients/soil amendments and chapter 8 for soil management.
• Soil management
• Nutrient management / soil amendment

Soil Testing Resources

Guides, contacts and tools for conducting soil tests and determining fertilizer recommendations. More information is available at Nutrient Management.  To contact a soil scientist see “Useful Contacts” on the Nutrient Management page.

• Learn how to take a soil sample (PDF)
• Find a B.C.laboratory to analyze soil samples (PDF)
• Find an Albeta laboratory to analyze soil samples
• Understanding Different Soil Test Methods (PDF)

For Kootenay agricultural region, convert soil test P and K values to “Kelowna method” equivalent values (conversions are based on Lower Mainland and Okanagan samples), use the spreadsheet below for conversion.

• Soil Test Phosphorus and Potassium Converter (XLS)

Find interpretations and fertilizer recommendations for soil test P and K values of the “Kelowna method”.

• Interpretations for Soil Test Phosphorus and Potassium: Guidelines for Southern British Columbia (PDF)

For all nutrients other than P and K, the most recent and comprehensive interpretations are in the following publication:

• Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Methods and Interpretations of Their Results for British Columbia Agricultural Soils (PDF)

Agriculture Canada Soil Surveys

For questions about these maps and data sets, contact Agriculture Canada. (HTML)

• Upper Kootenay and Elk River Valleys
• Upper Columbia River Valley
• Creston area
• Nelson area
•  More Kootenay and B.C. soil maps and surveys

Agricultural Land Commission Maps

For questions about these maps or the Agricultural Land Reserve, contact the Agricultural Land Commission.

• Interior B.C. / Kootenay Panel Region (PDF)
• All Agricultural Land Reserve Map