Soil Survey of Bristol County, Massachusetts
NORTHERN PART
The following Map Unit Description is from the 1981 Soil Survey of Bristol County, NORTHERN Part. Please note: map unit symbols are DIFFERENT for Bristol North and Bristol South reports, do NOT use these descriptions for Bristol South.
MeA-Merrimac fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level, and somewhat excessively drained. It is on glacial outwash plains. Slopes are smooth or very gently undulating and are generally 300 to 600 feet long. The mapped areas are irregular in shape and are from 5 to 50 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, black fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable, fine sandy loam that is dark brown in the upper 2 inches and dark yellowish brown in the lower 20 inches. The substratum to a depth of 61 inches is loose and is light olive brown. It is very gravelly coarse sand in the upper 18 inches and is gravelly coarse sand in the lower 19 inches.
Included with these soils in mapping are areas of Hinckley and Sudbury soils that are generally less than 3 acres in size. Also included are areas of soils that have stones scattered over the surface more than 100 feet apart and areas of Merrimac soil that has sandy loam in the lower part of the subsoil. Included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderately rapid in the subsoil and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. Reaction is extremely acid to medium acid. The root zone extends into the loose substratum. Root growth is restricted by lack of moisture.
This soil has fair to good potential for farming, and most acreage has been farmed. It has good potential for most urban use, and much of the acreage has been developed for homesites. The soil has poor potential for most sanitary waste disposal facilities. It has good potential for trees and fair potential for open land and woodland wildlife habitat. Some acreage has reverted to or has been planted in trees.
The soil is well suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. Drouthiness is the major concern of management. Good tilth is easily maintained. The hazard of erosion is slight. Conservation management includes water management, improving tilth, and increasing organic-matter content. If this soil is farmed, use of minimum tillage, cover crops, and grasses and legumes in the cropping system improve tilth and increase organic-matter content. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that help to maintain desirable pasture plants.
The soil is suited to trees and has slight limitation for this use. Productivity is moderate. Important species are eastern white pine, red oak, and white oak.
The soil has few limitations for most urban use. Rapid permeability is a limitation for sanitary waste disposal facilities. Capability subclass IIs.
MeB-Merrimac fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, gently sloping, and somewhat excessively drained. It is on glacial outwash plains. Slopes are smooth or undulating and are generally 50 to 400 feet long. The mapped areas are irregular in shape and are from 5 to 50 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, black fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable and is dark brown fine sandy loam in the upper 2 inches and dark yellowish brown fine sandy loam in the lower 19 inches. The substratum to a depth of 61 inches is loose and is light olive brown. It is very gravelly coarse sand in the upper 18 inches and is gravelly coarse sand in the lower 19 inches.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Hinckley and Sudbury soils that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included are soils that have stones scattered over the surface from 60 to more than 100 feet apart. Included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderately rapid in the subsoil and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. Reaction is extremely acid to medium acid. The root zone extends into the loose substratum. Root growth is restricted by lack of moisture.
This soil has fair to good potential for farming, and most acreage has been farmed. It has good potential for most urban use, and much acreage has been developed for homesites. This soil has poor potential for most sanitary waste disposal facilities. It has good potential for trees and fair potential for openland and woodland wildlife habitat. Some acreage has reverted to or has been planted in trees.
The soil is well suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. Drouthiness is the major concern of management. Good tilth is easily maintained. The hazard of erosion is moderate. Conservation management includes water management, controlling erosion, improving tilth, and increasing organic-matter content. If this soil is farmed, the use of minimum tillage, cover crops, and grasses and legumes in the cropping system help control erosion, improve tilth, and increase organic-matter content. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that help to maintain desirable pasture plants.
The soil is suited to trees and has slight limitation for this use. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine, red oak, and white oak.
The soil has few limitations for most urban use. Rapid permeability is a limitation for sanitary waste disposal facilities. Capability subclass IIs.
MeC-Merrimac fine sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes. This soil is deep, sloping, and somewhat excessively drained. It is on glacial outwash plains. Slopes are smooth or rolling and are generally 50 to 300 feet long. The mapped areas are irregular in shape and are from 5 to 40 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, black fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable, dark brown fine sandy loam in the upper 2 inches and very friable, dark yellowish brown fine sandy loam in the lower 17 inches. The substratum to a depth of 61 inches is loose and is light olive brown. It is very gravelly coarse sand in the upper 18 inches and is gravelly coarse sand in the lower 19 inches.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Hinckley soil that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderately rapid in the subsoil and rapid in the substratum. A vailable water capacity is moderate. Reaction is extremely acid to medium acid. The root zone extends into the loose substratum. Root growth is restricted by lack of moisture.
This soil has fair to good potential for farming, and most acreage is or has been farmed. It has fair potential for most urban use and some acreage has been developed for homesites. This soil has poor potential for most sanitary waste disposal facilities. It has good potential for trees and fair potential for openland and woodland wildlife habitat. Much of the acreage has reverted to or has been planted in trees.
The soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. Erosion is the major concern of management. Drouthiness is also a concern. Good tilth is easily maintained. The hazard of erosion is moderately severe. Conservation management includes controlling erosion, water management, improving tilth, and increasing organic-matter content. If this soil is farmed, the use of minimum tillage, cover crops, and grasses and legumes in the cropping system help control erosion, improve tilth, and increase organic-matter content. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that help to maintain desirable pasture plants.
The soil is suited to trees and has slight limitation for this use. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine, red oak, and white oak.
The soil is limited for urban use because of slope. Rapid permeability is a limitation for sanitary waste disposal facilities. Capability subclass IIIe.
Merrimac Official Series Description
