Soil Survey of Bristol County, Massachusetts

SOUTHERN PART

PtB-Pittstown loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is nearly level and gently sloping, deep, and moderately well drained. It is on the tops of hills and at the base of long slopes. Areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 30 acres. Most are about 10 acres.

Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is olive loam 19 inches thick and is mottled in the lower part. The substratum is olive, very firm, mottled loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are areas where the soil is fine sandy loam throughout. Also included are slightly convex areas of Newport soils and areas of Ridgebury soils along drainageways and in depressions. In a few places stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 20 percent of the unit.

The permeability of this Pittstown soil is moderate 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 friable and is easily tilled under proper moisture conditions. After prolonged rains, a water table between the depths of 23 and 29 inches is perched above the substratum. Root growth is restricted to a depth of about 29 inches by the very firm substratum.

Most areas of this soil are in woodland, and the soil is well suited to trees. Some areas are used for homesites.

This soil is suited to row crops. The main limitation is a seasonal high water table in winter and spring. The main management practices include using drainage, using cover crops, and incorporating crop residue and manure into the surface layer.

The soil is suited to hay and pasture. Use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, pasture rotation, and keeping livestock and equipment off the pasture when the soil is wet help to maintain the hardiness and density of plants and prevent surface compaction.

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

PvB-Pittstown very stony loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is nearly level and gently sloping, deep, and moderately well drained. It is on the tops of hills and at the lower end of long slopes. Stones and boulders cover from less than 1 percent to 3 percent of the surface. Areas of this soil are irregularly shaped and range from 5 to 25 acres. Most are about 15 acres.

Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is olive loam 19 inches thick and is mottled in the lower part. The substratum is olive, very firm, mottled loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are areas where thb soil is fine sandy loam throughout. Also included are slightly convex areas of Newport soils and areas of Ridgebury soils in depressions and along drainageways. In a few places stones and boulders cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 20 percent of the unit.

The permeability of this Pittstown soil is moderate 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 friable and is easily tilled under proper moisture conditions. After prolonged rains, a water table between the depths of 23 and 29 inches is perched above the very firm substratum. Root growth is restricted to a depth of about 29 inches by the very firm substratum.

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

The stones and boulders on the surface restrict the use of equipment and make the soil poorly suited to row crops. A seasonal high water table in winter and spring also limits the soil for crops.

The soil is suited to pasture, but the limitation to the use of equipment makes the soil poorly suited to hay. Use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing, pasture rotation, and keeping livestock and equipment off the pasture when the soil is wet help to maintain the hardiness and density of pasture plants and prevent surface compaction.

The seasonal perched water table is the main limitation of this soil for community development, especially as a building site or as a site for septic tanks or sanitary landfills. The slow permeability in the substratum is an additional limitation for septic tanks.

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