Soil Survey of
Dukes County Massachusetts
The following map unit description is from the published "Soil
Survey of Dukes County, Massachusetts"
PnC-Plymouth-Canton-Nantucket complex, rolling, very bouldery. This unit consists of undulating and rolling, very deep soils on side slopes and crests of uplands on the Elizabeth Islands. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The areas of the unit are irregular in shape and generally range from 10 to 150 acres. They make up nearly 1 percent of the survey area. The unit is about 30 percent Plymouth soils, 30 percent Canton soils, 20 percent Nantucket soils, and 20 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled or so small that it was not practical to map them separately.
Typically, the surface layer of the Plymouth soils is dark brown coarse sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown loamy coarse sand, and the lower part is yellowish brown coarse sand. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. The upper part of the substratum is brownish yellow gravelly coarse sand. The lower part is light yellowish brown sand.
Typically, the surface layer of the Canton soils is very dark gray sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is 23 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown sandy loam. The lower part is light olive brown loamy sand. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is olive loamy sand in the upper part and pale olive gravelly sand in the lower part.
Typically, the surface of the Nantucket soils is covered with a 2-inch-thick rayer of decomposd and undecomposed leaves and twigs. The surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown sandy loam about 16 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Eastchop and Montauk soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent or 15 to 30 percent. Some areas do not have stones and boulders on the surface.
The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is very low, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The permeability of these Canton soils is moderately rapid in the subsoil and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this unit are in native pasture and patches of shrubby vegetation. Some areas on Cuttyhunk Island are used as homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this unit generally unsuitable for crops and poorly suited to hay. The soils are suited to pasture. Using proper stocking rates and restricted and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface layer compaction.
This unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Seedling mortality is a limitation in areas of the Plymouth soils. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves will help to retain the limited soil moisture. Removal or control of competing vegetation will increase the survival rate of seedlings. The common trees on this unit are black oak and white oak; pitch pine and scrub oak are common in areas of the Plymouth soils. Strong winds and salt spray severely hinder tree growth in areas of this unit near the shore.
Slope is a limitation of the unit as a building site in areas where the slope is more than 8 percent, and land grading is needed in such areas. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible will help to control erosion at construction sites. The unit is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields because in some areas the Plymouth and Canton soils do not adequately filter the effluent, causing a hazard of ground-water pollution, and the Nantucket soils do not readily accept effluent, causing a hazard of seepage.
This unit is in capability subclass VIs.
PtC-Plymouth-Montauk complex, rolling, extremely bouldery. This unit consists of undulating and rolling, very deep soils on side slopes and crests of uplands on the Elizabeth Islands. Stones and boulders cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The areas are irregular in shape and generally range from 20 to 200 acres. They make up about 1 percent of the survey area. The unit is about 70 percent Plymouth soils, 15 percent Montauk soils, and 15 percent other soils (fig. 12). The soils are so intermingled or so small that it was not practical to map them separately.
Typically, the surface layer of the Plymouth soils is dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown loamy coarse sand, and the lower part is yellowish brown coarse sand. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. The upper part of the substratum is brownish yellow gravelly coarse sand. The lower part is light yellowish brown sand.
Typically, the surface layer of the Montauk soils is very dark gray sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown sandy loam 17 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is light olive brown sandy loam in the upper part and olive, firm gravelly sandy loam in the lower part.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Canton and Nantucket soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent or 15 to 30 percent. Some areas do not have stones and boulders on the surface. In some areas up to 20 percent of the unit consists of Eastchop soils.
The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is very low, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The permeability of these Montauk soils is moderate to moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow to moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are in native pasture. There are patches of shrubby vegetation.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this unit generally unsuitable for crops and poorly suited to hay. The soils are suited to pasture. Using proper stocking rates and restricted and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface-layer compaction.
This unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Seedling mortality is a limitation in areas of the Plymouth soils. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves will help to retain the limited soil moisture. Removal or control of competing vegetation will increase the survival rate of seedlings. The common trees on this unit are black oak and white oak; pitch pine and scrub oak are common in areas of the Plymouth soils. Strong winds and salt spray severely hinder tree growth in areas of this unit near the shore.
Where it is more than 8 percent, slope is a limitation to use of the soils as a building site. Land grading is needed in such areas. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible helps to control erosion at construction sites. This unit is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields because in some areas the Plymouth soils do not adequately filter the effluent, causing a hazard of ground-water pollution, and the Montauk soils do not readily accept effluent, causing a hazard of seepage.
This unit is in capability subclass VIIs.
PtD-Plymouth-Montauk complex, hilly, extremely bouldery. This unit consists of hilly and steep, very deep soils on side slopes and ridges of uplands on the Elizabeth Islands. Stones and boulders cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. The areas are irregular in shape and generally range from 20 to 600 acres. They make up about 3 percent of the survey area. The unit is about 70 percent Plymouth soils, 15 percent Montauk soils, and 15 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled or so small that it was not practical to map them separately.
Typically, the surface layer of the Plymouth soils is dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown loamy coarse sand, and the lower part is yellowish brown coarse sand. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. The upper part of the substratum is brownish yellow gravelly coarse sand. The lower part is light yellowish brown sand.
Typically, the surface layer of the Montauk soils is very dark gray sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown sandy loam 17 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is light olive brown sandy loam in the upper part and olive, firm gravelly sandy loam in the lower part.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Canton and Nantucket soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 8 to 15 percent and areas that are very gravelly in the substratum. Some areas do not have stones and boulders on the surface. Up to 15 percent of some areas of this unit consists of Eastchop soils.
The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is very low, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The permeability of these Montauk soils is moderate to moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow to moderately slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are in native pasture and shrubby vegetation.
The stones and boulders on the surface, slope, and the available water capacity in the Plymouth soils make this unit generally unsuitable for farming. The unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Seedling mortality is a limitation in areas of the Plymouth soils. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves will help to retain the limited soil moisture. Removal or control of competing vegetation will help increase the survival rate of seedlings. In some areas the stones and boulders and the slope restrict equipment use to prepared trails or make hand planting necessary .The hazard of erosion is a management concern, particularly in disturbed areas. The common trees on this unit are black oak and white oak; pitch pine and scrub oak are common in areas of the Plymouth soils. Strong winds and salt spray severely hinder tree growth in areas of this unit that are near the shore.
Slope is the main limitation to use of the soils as a building site; extensive land shaping is generally needed. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible at construction sites helps to control a severe hazard of erosion. This unit is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields because in some areas the Plymouth soils do not adequately filter the effluent, causing a hazard of ground-water pollution, and the Montauk soils do not readily accept effluent, causing a hazard of side- slope seepage. Slope is also a limitation for septic tank absorption fields.
This unit is in capability subclass VIIs.
PwD-Plymouth-Nantucket complex, hilly, extremely bouldery. This unit consists of hilly and steep, very deep soils on upland side slopes and ridges on the Elizabeth Islands. Boulders and stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. The areas are irregular in shape and generally range from 20 to 300 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area. The unit is about 70 percent Plymouth soils, 15 percent Nantucket soils, and 15 percent other soils. The soils are so intermingled or so small that it was not practical to map them separately.
Typically, the surface layer of the Plymouth soils is dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part of the subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown loamy coarse sand, and the lower part is yellowish brown coarse sand. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. The upper part of the substratum is brownish yellow gravelly coarse sand. The lower part is light yellowish brown sand.
Typically, the surface of the Nantucket soils is covered with a 2-inch-thick layer of decomposed and undecomposed leaves and twigs. The surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is dark brown and yellowish brown sandy loam about 16 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Canton and Montauk soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 8 to 15 percent and areas that are very gravelly in the substratum. Some areas do not have stones and boulders on the surface. Up to 15 percent of some areas of this unit consists of Eastchop soils.
The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is very low, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and the depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this complex are in woodland. Some areas are in native pasture. There are patches of shrubby vegetation.
The stones and boulders on the surface, slope, and the available water capacity in the Plymouth soils make this unit generally unsuitable for farming. The unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Seedling mortality is a limitation in areas of the Plymouth soils. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves will help to retain the limited soil moisture. Removal or control of competing vegetation will help increase the survival rate of seedlings. In some areas the stones and boulders and the slope restrict equipment use to prepared trails or make hand planting necessary .The hazard of erosion is a management concern, particularly in disturbed areas. The common trees on this unit are black oak and white oak; pitch pine and scrub oak are common in areas of the Plymouth soils. Strong winds and salt spray severely hinder tree growth in areas of this unit that are near the shore.
Slope is the main limitation to use of the soils as a building site; extensive land shaping is generally needed. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible will help to control erosion at construction sites. This unit is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields because in some areas the Plymouth soils do not adequately filter the effluent, causing a hazard of ground-water pollution, and the Nantucket soils do not readily accept effluent, causing a hazard of side-slope seepage. Slope is also a limitation of this unit for septic tank absorption fields.
This unit is in capability subclass VIIs.