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.
WrA-Woodbridge fine sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level, and moderately well drained. It is in oval shaped areas on the tops of hills, or in broad flats at lower elevation. The mapped areas range from 5 to 15 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, dark brown fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable sandy loam about 22 inches thick. The upper 8 inches of the subsoil is dark yellowish brown, and the lower 14 inches is yellowish brown and has dark brown and brownish yellow mottles. The substratum to a depth of 62 inches is very firm, light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam that has yellowish red, brownish yellow, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Ridgebury soil that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included are areas of gently sloping soils, and areas of soils that have a loamy sand substratum. The included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and is slow or moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The root zone extends to about 30 inches, below which root growth is restricted by the very firm substratum. Reaction is medium acid to very strongly acid. A high water table is within a depth of 3 feet in winter and spring.
This soil has good potential for farming, and most acreage has been farmed. It has poor potential for most urban use and for most sanitary waste disposal facilities. The soil has good potential for trees and openland wildlife habitat, and fair potential for woodland wildlife habitat. Much of the acreage is farmed, but some acreage has been abandoned and has grown up to shrubs and trees.
This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. The high water table is a concern in spring. Conservation management includes installation of artificial drainage. Mixing crop residue and animal manure into the plow layer improves tilth and increases organic-matter content. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation help to maintain desirable plant species. Keeping livestock from pasture when the soil is saturated prevents cutting the sod and is a desirable pasture management practice.
The soil is well suited to trees. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine and northern red oak.
This soil has limitations for urban use because of a seasonal high water table and high potential frost action. It has limitations for sanitary waste disposal facilities because of the moderately slow or slow permeability and the high water table. Capability subclass IIw.
WrB-W oodbridge fine sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, gently sloping, and moderately well drained. It is in rectangular or oval shaped areas on or near the tops of drumloidal hills or in irregularly shaped areas at lower elevations. Slopes are generally smooth and slightly concave and are generally 100 to 400 feet long. The mapped areas range from 5 to 25 acres in size.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, dark brown fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable sandy loam about 20 inches thick. The upper 8 inches of the subsoil is dark yellowish brown, and the lower 12 inches is yellowish brown and has dark brown and brownish yellow mottles. The substratum to a depth of 62 inches is very firm, light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam that has yellowish red, brownish yellow, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Ridgebury soil that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included in mapping are areas of nearly level soils, and areas of soils that have loamy sand in the substratum. The included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil, and slow or moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The root zone extends to a depth of about 28 inches, below which root growth is restricted by the very firm substratum. Reaction ranges from medium acid to very strongly acid. A high water table is within a depth of 3 feet in winter and spring.
This soil has good potential for farming, and much of the acreage has been farmed. It has poor potential for urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. The soil has good potential for trees and for openland wildlife habitat, and fair potential for woodland wildlife habitat. Some acreage has been abandoned and has grown up to shrubs and small trees.
The soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. The high water table is a concern in spring. Conservation management includes artificial drainage if needed, and improving tilth and increasing organic-matter content by mixing crop residue and animal manure into the plow layer. The hazard of erosion is moderate if this soil is cultivated. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that maintain desirable pasture plants.
The soil is well suited to trees. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine and northern red oak.
The soil has limitations for urban use because of the seasonal high water table and high potential frost action. It has limitations for most sanitary waste disposal facilities because of moderately slow or slow permeability and a high water table. Capability subclass IIw.
WsB-Woodbridge very stony fine sandy loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level and gently sloping, and moderately well drained. It is in irregularly shaped areas on hills and is on broad flats at lower elevation. Slopes are generally smooth and slightly concave and are generally 100 to 500 feet long. The mapped areas range from 5 to 50 acres in size. Stones are scattered over the surface 20 to 50 feet apart.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, dark brown fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable sandy loam about 22 inches thick. The upper 8 inches of the subsoil is dark yellowish brown, and the lower 14 inches is yellowish brown and has dark brown and brownish yellow mottles. The substratum to a depth of 62 inches is very firm, light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam that has yellowish red, brownish yellow, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Ridgebury soil that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included are areas of strongly sloping soils, areas of soils that have stones on the surface less than 20 feet apart, and areas of soils that have a loamy sand substratum. The included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil, and slow or moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The root zone extends to a depth of about 30 inches, below which root growth is restricted by the very firm substratum. Reaction ranges from medium acid to very strongly acid. A high water table is within a depth of 3 feet in winter and spring.
This soil has poor potential for farming. It is mainly in unimproved pasture. It has poor potential for urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. The soil has good potential for trees and fair potential for woodland wildlife habitat. Most acreage is in woodland.
The soil is unsuited to cultivated crops because of stones on the surface. Proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation are management practices that help to maintain desirable pasture plants.
The soil is well suited to trees. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine and northern red oak.
The soil has limitations for urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. Moderately slow or slow permeability, the high water table, and high potential frost action are limitations. Capability subclass VIs.
WtB-Woodbridge extremely stony fine sandy loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is deep, nearly level and gently sloping, and moderately well drained. It is in oval or irregularly shaped areas on the tops of drumloids or is on broad flats at lower elevation. Slopes are generally smooth and slightly concave and are generally 100 to 600 feet long. The mapped areas range from 5 to 50 acres in size. Stones are scattered over the surface 5 to 20 feet apart.
Typically, the surface layer is very friable, dark brown, fine sandy loam about 3 inches thick. The subsoil is very friable sandy loam about 27 inches thick. The upper 13 inches of the subsoil is dark yellowish brown, and the lower 14 inches is yellowish brown and has dark brown and brownish yellow mottles. The substratum to a depth of 62 inches is very firm, light brownish gray gravelly sandy loam that has yellowish red, brownish yellow, and light olive gray mottles.
Included with these soils in mapping are areas of Ridgebury soil that are generally less than 4 acres in size. Also included are areas of strongly sloping soils, areas of soils that have stones on the surface 20 to 50 feet apart, and areas of soils that have a loamy sand substratum. The included soils make up about 20 percent of the map unit.
Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow or moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. Reaction ranges from medium acid to very strongly acid. The root zone extends to a depth of about 30 inches, below which root growth is restricted by the very firm substratum. A high water table is within a depth of 3 feet in winter and spring.
This soil has poor potential for farming, urban use and sanitary waste disposal facilities. It has good potential for trees and fair potential for woodland wildlife habitat. Most acreage is in woodland.
The soil is unsuited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture because of stones on the surface.
The soil is well suited to trees. Productivity is moderate. Important tree species are eastern white pine and northern red oak.
The soil has limitations for most urban use and for sanitary waste disposal facilities. Moderately slow or slow permeability, a high water table, high potential frost action, and stones on the surface are limitations. Capability subclass VIIs.
