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.
RdA-Ridgebury fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level, and poorly drained. It is in depressions and along drainageways in the uplands. Slopes are smooth and concave. The mapped areas are irregular in shape and are generally 5 to 30 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, very dark gray fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is about 17 inches thick. It is friable, grayish brown fine sandy loam that has yellowish brown, strong brown and brownish gray mottles. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very firm, olive gray gravelly sandy loam that has gray, strong brown, yellowish brown, yellowish red, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Woodbridge and Whitman soils that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included are areas of soils in which the substratum is gravelly loamy sand. Included soils make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil, and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is low. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to medium acid. The root zone extends to the substratum, but root growth is impeded by the seasonal high water table. The high water table is at or near the surface 6 to 8 months of the year .
This soil has fair potential for farming. It has poor potential for urban use, sanitary waste disposal facilities, and for trees. This soil has good to fair potential for wetland wildlife habitat. Most acreage is in hay or pasture, but some areas of soils are in cultivated crops. The rest of the acreage has been abandoned and is growing up in brush.
The soil is limited for cultivated crops, hay, and improved pasture because the seasonal high water table keeps the soil saturated through late spring. The hazard of erosion is slight. Conservation management includes installing field drains where feasible, proper timing of farming operations, and use of adapted plant species. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that help to maintain desirable pasture plants. Keeping livestock from pasture when the soil is saturated increases production and helps prevent cutting the sod.
The soil is limited for most management practices used in the growing and harvesting of trees because of the seasonal high water table. Productivity is moderate. An important tree species is eastern white pine.
The soil has limitations for most urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. The high water table and slow permeability are limitations. Capability subclass IIIw.
RdB-Ridgebury fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, gently sloping, and poorly drained. It is in depressions and along drainage ways in the uplands. Slopes are smooth and concave. The mapped areas are oval or long and narrow in shape and are generally 5 to 15 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, very dark gray fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is about 15 inches thick. It is friable, grayish brown fine sandy loam that has yellowish brown, strong brown, and brownish gray mottles. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very firm, olive gray gravelly sandy loam that has gray, strong brown, yellowish brown, yellowish red, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Woodbridge and Whitman soils that are generally less than 3 acres in size. Also included are areas of soils in which the substratum is gravelly loamy sand. These included soils make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil, and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is low. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to medium acid. The root zone extends to the substratum, but root growth is impeded by the seasonal high water table. The high water table is at or near the surface 6 to 8 months of the year.
This soil has fair potential for farming. It has poor potential for urban use, sanitary waste disposal facilities, and for trees. The soil has fair potential for openland and woodland wildlife habitat. Most acreage is in hay or pasture, but some areas of soil are in cultivated crops. The remaining acreage has been abandoned and is growing up in brush.
The soil is limited for cultivated crops, hay, and improved pasture because the seasonal high water table keeps the soil saturated through late in spring. The hazard of erosion is moderate. Conservation management includes installing field drains where feasible, proper timing of farming operations, controlling erosion, and using adapted species. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation help to maintain desirable plant species. Keeping livestock from pasture when the soil is saturated increases production and helps prevent cutting the sod.
The soil is limited for most management practices used in growing and harvesting trees because of the seasonal high water table. Productivity is moderate. An important tree species is eastern white pine.
The soil has limitations for most urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. The high water table and slow permeability are limitations. Capability subclass IIIw.
ReA-Ridgebury extremely stony fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level, and poorly drained. It is in depressions and along drainageways in the uplands. Slopes are smooth and concave. The mapped areas are oval or long and narrow in shape and are generally 5 to 50 acres in size. Stones are scattered over the surface 5 to 20 feet apart.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, very dark gray fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is about 17 inches thick. It is friable, grayish brown fine sandy loam that has yellowish brown, strong brown, and brownish gray mottles. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very firm olive gray gravelly sandy loam that has gray, strong brown, yellowish brown, yellowish red, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with the soil in mapping are areas of extremely stony Woodbridge and Whitman soils that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included in mapping are areas of soils that have a gravelly loamy sand substratum. The included soils make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil, and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is low. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to medium acid. The root zone extends to the substratum, but root growth is impeded by a seasonal high water table that is at or near the surface 6 to 8 months of the year.
This soil has poor potential for farming, urban use, sanitary waste disposal facilities, and trees. It has fair potential for wetland wildlife habitat. Most is in woodland.
The soil has limitations for farming because of the seasonal high water table and stones on the surface.
The soil has limitations for most management practices used in the growing and harvesting of trees because of the seasonal high water table and stones on the surface. Important tree species are eastern white pine and red maple.
The soil has limitations for most urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities because of the seasonal high water table, slow permeability and stones on the surface. Capability subclass VIIs.
ReB-Ridgebury extremely stony fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, gently sloping, and poorly drained. It is in depressions and along drainageways on uplands. Slopes are smooth and concave. The mapped areas are oval or long and narrow in shape and are generally 5 to 30 acres in size. Stones are scattered over the surface 5 to 20 feet apart.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, very dark gray fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is about 17 inches thick. It is friable, grayish brown fine sandy loam that has yellowish brown, strong brown, and brownish gray mottles. The substratum to a depth of 60 inches is very firm olive gray gravelly sandy loam that has gray, strong brown, yellowish brown, yellowish red, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of extremely stony Woodbridge and Whitman soils that are generally less that 4 acres in size. Also included are areas of soils in which the substratum is gravelly loamy sand. Some drainageways are paved with stones. The included soils make up about 15 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil, and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is low. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to medium acid. The root zone extends to the substratum, but root growth is impeded by the seasonal high water table. The high water table is at or near the surface for 6 to 8 months of the year.
This soil has poor potential for farming, urban use, sanitary waste disposal facilities, and for trees. It has fair potential for woodland wildlife habitat. Most acreage is in woodland.
The soil is limited for farming. The seasonal high water table and stones on the surface are limitations.
The soil has limitations for most management practices used in the growing and harvesting of trees because of the seasonal high water table and stones on the surface. Important tree species are eastern white pine and red maple.
The soil has limitations for most urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. The seasonal high water table, slow permeability, and stones on the surface are limitations. Capability subclass VIIs.
