Soil Survey of Bristol County, Massachusetts

SOUTHERN PART

This soil is gently sloping, deep, and well drained. It is on the upper slopes of ridges and hills. Areas of this soil are typically rectangular and range from about 10 to 150 acres. Most are about 20 acres.

Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown loam about 9 inches thick. The subsoil is olive loam 19 inches thick. The substratum is olive gray, very firm gravelly loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas with slopes of 0 to 3 percent, areas with slopes of 8 to 15 percent slopes, and areas of Pittstown and Ridgebury soils in depressions and drainageways. Also included are areas where stones cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 20 percent of the unit.

The permeability of this Newport soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and slow or very slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The surface layer of this soil is very friable and is easily tilled under proper moisture conditions. After prolonged rains, a water table between the depths of 22 and 28 inches is perched above the substratum. Root development is restricted to a depth of 28 inches by the very firm substratum.

Many areas of this soil are used for homesites and other types of community development. A few areas are farmed. A few areas are in woodland, and the soil is well suited to trees.

This soil is well suited to row crops, but erosion is a hazard. Practices that reduce runoff and control erosion include minimum tillage, use of cover crops, and incorporating crop residue and manure into the surface layer.

The soil is suited to hay and pasture. The main management concern is the prevention of overgrazing and grazing when the soil is too wet, which reduce the hardiness and density of plants and compact the surface layer. Using proper stocking rates and restricted grazing when the soil is wet help to reduce compaction and maintain plant densities.

The seasonal perched water table is the main limitation of this soil as a building site or as a site for sanitary landfills. The slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation for septic tank absorption fields.

Capability subclass: IIe.

NfC-Newport very stony loam, 3 to 15 percent slopes.

This soil is gently sloping to moderately sloping, deep, and well drained. It is on ridges -and hills. Stones and boulders cover from less than 1 percent to 3 percent of the surface. Areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 25 acres. Most are about 15 acres.

Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown loam about 9 inches thick. The subsoil is olive loam 19 inches thick. The substratum is olive gray, very firm gravelly loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Piftstown and Ridgebury soils in depressions and along drainageways. Also included are nearly level areas and areas where stones and boulders cover more than 3 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 20 percent of this unit.

The permeability of this Newport soil is moderate to moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and slow or very slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. After prolonged rains, a water table between the depths of 22 and 28 inches is perched above the substratum. Root growth is restricted to a depth of 28 inches by the very firm substratum.

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

The stones and boulders on the surface limit the use of equipment and make this soil poorly suited to row crops. The soil is suited to hay and pasture, but the limitations to the use of equipment make it difficult to seed and fertilize. Other management concerns are the prevention of overgrazing and grazing when the soil is wet, which reduce the hardiness and density of plants and compact the surface layer. Using proper stocking rates and restricted grazing when the soil is wet reduce compaction and help to maintain plant hardiness and density.

This soil is well suited to trees. The use of timber harvesting equipment is limited by the stones and boulders on the surface.

Slope and the seasonal perched water table limit this soil as a building site or as a site for sanitary landfills. The slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation for septic tank absorption fields.

Capability subclass: VIs.

More Information on Newport Soils | Newport Official Series Description

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