Soil Survey of Bristol County, Massachusetts

SOUTHERN PART

The following Map Unit Description is from the 1981 Soil Survey of Bristol County, Southern Part. Please note: map unit symbols are DIFFERENT for Bristol South and Bristol North reports, do NOT use these descriptions for Bristol North.

The soils in this unit are deep and somewhat excessively drained and excessively drained. They are on small hills. Areas of the unit are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 15 acres. Most are about 10 acres. The unit is about 35 percent Gloucester soils, 25 percent Hinckley soils, and 40 percent other soils. The Gloucester and Hinckley soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically, the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of dark brown fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is strong brown and yellowish brown and is 15 inches thick. The upper 3 inches of the subsoil is gravelly fine sandy loam, the next 7 inches is gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 5 inches is very gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is olive very gravelly loamy coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically, the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly fine sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 14 inches thick. The upper 3 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown gravelly fine sandy loam, and the lower 11 inches is light olive brown gravelly loamy coarse sand. The substratum is light olive brown very gravelly coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are small, nearly level areas and a few moderately sloping areas. Also included are areas of Charlton, Merrimac, and Paxton soils. In some areas the upper part of the substratum is a firm layer 6 to 24 inches thick and is typically underlain by loose sand and gravel.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. Permeability of the Hinckley soils is rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is low in the Gloucester soils and very low in the Hinckley soils. Root growth in both soils is inhibited by the gravelly and sandy substratum. These soils are droughty in late summer.

Most areas of this unit are farmed. Some areas are used for homesites and other types of community development.

The soils of this unit are suited to row crops, but droughtiness makes irrigation necessary in most years and erosion is a hazard. Incorporating crop residue and manure into the surface layer helps to maintain the organic matter content and good tilth. The use of winter cover crops reduces runoff and helps to reduce erosion.

These soils are suited to hay and pasture, especially to drought-resistant plants. The main pasture management practices include use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, and pasture rotation.

The soils of this unit are suited to trees, but droughtiness causes a high rate of seedling mortality, especially on the Hinckley soils. Reducing plant competition and planting drought-resistant tree species help to reduce seedling mortality.

The rapid permeability of these soils is the main limitation for community development, especially for septic tank absorption fields and sanitary landfills. The permeability causes a hazard of ground-water pollution in areas used as a site for septic tanks or landfills. Stones and boulders on some areas of the Gloucester soils are a limitation for building sites.

Capability subclass: IIs.

GhB-Gloucester-Hinckley complex, very stony, undulating. The soils in this unit are deep and somewhat excessively drained and excessively drained. They are on small hills. Stones and boulders cover from less than 1 percent to 3 percent of the surface and are typically on the Gloucester part of the unit. Areas of this unit are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 300 acres. Most are about 1 00 acres. The unit is about 35 percent Gloucester soils, 25 percent Hinckley soils, and 40 percent other soils. The Gloucester and Hinckley soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically, the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of black fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is strong brown and yellowish brown and is 21 inches thick. The upper 9 inches of the subsoil is gravelly fine sandy loam, the next 7 inches is gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 5 inches is very gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is olive very gravelly loamy coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically, the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is 18 inches thick. The upper 7 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown gravelly fine sandy loam, and the lower 11 inches is light olive brown gravelly loamy coarse sand. The substratum is light olive brown very gravelly coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent; areas of Chariton, Merrimac, and Paxton soils; and areas of soils where the upper part of the substratum is a firm layer 6 to 24 inches thick and is typically underlain by sand and gravel. Also included are areas where stones and boulders cover more than 3 percent of the surface and small areas of Woodbridge and Ridgebury soils.

The permeability of these Gloucester soils is rapid.

The permeability of the Hinckley soils is rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is low in Gloucester soils and very low in the Hinckley soils. Root growth is inhibited by the gravelly and sandy substratum of both soils. These soils are droughty in late summer.

Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are used for homesites and other types of community development.

The soils of this unit are poorly suited to row crops. Droughtiness makes irrigation necessary in most years, and the stones and boulders on the surface limit the use of equipment.

The soils are suited to pasture, but the limitations to the use of equipment make the soils poorly suited to hay.

These soils are suited to trees, but droughtiness causes a high rate of seedling mortality. Reducing plant competition and planting drought-resistant tree species help to reduce seedling mortality.

The rapid permeability of these soils is the main limitation for community development, especially for septic tank absorption fields and sanitary landfills. The permeability causes a hazard of ground-water pollution in areas used as a site for septic tanks or landfills. The stones and boulders on the Gloucester soils are a limitation for building sites.

Capability subclass: VIs.

GhC-Gloucester-Hinckley complex, very stony, rolling. The soils in this unit are deep and somewhat excessively drained and excessively drained. They are on small hills. Stones and boulders cover from less than 1 percent to 3 percent of the surface and are typically on the Gloucester part of the unit. Areas of this unit are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 300 acres. Most are about 75 acres. The unit is about 35 percent Gloucester soils, 25 percent Hinckley soils, and 40 percent other soils. The Gloucester and Hinckley soils are so intermingled that it was not practical to map them separately.

Typically, the Gloucester soils have a surface layer of black fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is strong brown and yellowish brown and is 21 inches thick. The upper 9 inches of the subsoil is gravelly fine sandy loam, the next 7 inches is gravelly sandy loam, and the lower 5 inches is very gravelly loamy sand. The substratum is olive very gravelly loamy coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically, the Hinckley soils have a surface layer of dark brown gravelly fine sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is about 18 inches thick. The upper 7 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown gravelly fine sandy loam, and the lower 11 inches is light olive brown gravelly loamy coarse sand. The substratum is light olive brown very gravelly coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with these soils in mapping are small hilly areas; areas of Chariton, Merrimac, and Paxton soils; and areas where the upper part of the subsoil is a firm layer 6 to 24 inches thick and is typically underlain by sand and gravel. Also included are areas where stones and boulders cover more than 3 percent of the surface and small areas of Woodbridge and Ridgebury soils.

The permeability of the Gloucester soils is rapid. The permeability of the Hinckley soils is rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is low in the Gloucester soils and very low in the Hinckley soils. Root growth is inhibited by the gravelly and sandy substratum of both soils. These soils are droughty in late summer.

Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are used for homesites and other types of community development.

These soils are poorly suited to row crops.

Droughtiness makes irrigation necessary in most years, and the stones and boulders on the surface limit the use of equipment.

The soils are suited to pasture, but the limitations to the use of equipment make the soils poorly suited to hay.

These soils are suited to trees, but droughtiness causes a high rate of seedling mortality. Reducing plant competition and planting drought-resistant tree species help to reduce seedling mortality.

The rapid permeability of these soils is the main limitation for community development, especially for septic tank absorption fields and sanitary landfills. The permeability causes a hazard of ground-water pollution in areas used as a site for septic tanks or landfills. Slope and the stones and boulders on the Gloucester soils are limitations for building sites.

Capability subclass: VIs.

More Information on Gloucester Soils | Gloucester Official Series Description

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