There is a wide range of soil types and climatic conditions within the province. Cropping practices and fertilizer use generally reflect the growing conditions in the major soil zones as shown on the map . Brown soils Brown soils occur in the semi-arid short grass prairie region of the province where the annual precipitation is about 30 cm. There are about five million acres of dryland cultivation and seven million acres of native range within the Brown soil zone. Dryland farming consists mainly of wheat-fallow rotations.
Moisture limits crop production the most.
Minimum or conservation tillage is required to reduce wind erosion and conserve moisture. Dark Brown soils Dark Brown soils occur in the prairie region where the average annual precipitation is about 35 cm. There are about eight million acres of Dark Brown soils of which almost five million are cultivated. Wind erosion and salinity control may necessitate stubble cropping when moisture levels are less than adequate. Conservation tillage practices are required.