Prince Edward Island, which has a provincial flower, a provincial bird and a provincial tree, now has a provincial soil. Agriculture and Forestry minister Eric Hammill today officially designated the Charlottetown soil series as the Provincial Soil of Prince Edward Island.
The Charlottetown Series is the most predominant soil type on the Island, accounting for approximately one-third of its total acreage. It is characterized by a sandy loam texture, is moderately well drained and is relatively stone free. It is considered the best soil for potato production.
The designation of a provincial soil is an initiative of the Canadian Society of Soil Science to recognize and designate a soil type in each of the ten provinces.
"Designating a provincial soil is a formal recognition of our most important natural resource - the land," said Mr. Hammill during a ceremony in Charlottetown on Friday. "In designating a provincial soil, let us all rededicate ourselves to its protection, conservation and sustainability."
The recommendation to designate the Charlottetown Series for Prince Edward Island came from Dr. Umesh Gupta of Charlottetown, a Past President of the Canadian Society of Soil Science.
Dr. Gupta said designating a provincial soil is only symbolic, but the underlying principle is to maintain the sustainability of soils as the primary source of everything needed for human survival.
"Such an official designation would help promote the need to protect soils and increase public awareness of this important resource," said Dr. Gupta.