The following map unit description is from the published "Soil Survey of Dukes County, Massachusetts"
Soil Survey of
Dukes County Massachusetts
The following map unit description is from the published "Soil
Survey of Dukes County, Massachusetts"
ChB-Chilmark sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, gently sloping, and well drained. It is on small hills and knolls in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 3 to 50 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and strong brown sandy loam about 27 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It consists of multicolored, firm layers of silty clay, sandy clay loam, and silty clay loam.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Eastchop, Nantucket, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent and 8 to 15 percent. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Chilmark soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to a seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Many areas of this soil are used for hay, improved pasture, or cultivated crops. Some areas are in woodland, and a few have been developed for homesites.
This soil is well suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained in cultivated areas, but erosion is a hazard. Strip cropping, terracing, conservation tillage, and the use of cover crops and grasses and legumes in the cropping system help to reduce runoff and control erosion in cultivated areas. Mixing crop residue and manure into the surface layer improves tilth and increases the organic matter content of the soil. The use of proper stocking rates and deferred and rotational grazing help maintain desirable pasture plant species.
This soil is suited to woodland productivity. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves and designing regeneration cuts to optimize shade and reduce evapotranspiration will help to retain the soil moisture. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, and scarlet oak.
This soil has essentially no limitations as a site for dwellings with or without basements, but the slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation for use as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome this limitation.
This soil is in capability subclass IIe.
ChC-Chilmark sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, strongly sloping, and well drained. It is on small hills and ridges in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 3 to 50 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is very dark grayish brown sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown and strong brown sandy loam about 27 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It consists of multicolored, firm layers of silty clay, sandy clay loam, and silty clay loam.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Eastchop, Nantucket, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 3 to 8 percent and 15 to 30 percent. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Chilmark soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to a seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are used for hay or are in improved pasture. Some areas are used for cultivated crops or are in woodland.
This soil is suited to cultivated crops, hay, and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained in cultivated areas, but erosion is a hazard. Strip cropping, terracing, conservation tillage, and the use of cover crops and grasses and legumes in the cropping system help to reduce runoff and control erosion in cultivated areas. Mixing crop residue and manure into the surface layer improves tilth and increases the organic matter content of the soil. The use of proper stocking rates and deferred and rotational grazing help maintain desirable pasture plant species.
This soil is suited to woodland productivity. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves and designing regeneration cuts to optimize shade and reduce evapotranspiration will help to retain the soil moisture. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, and scarlet oak.
Slope is a limitation to use of this soil as a site for dwellings with or without basements. Land grading helps to overcome this limitation. The slow permeability in the substratum and slope are limitations of this soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome the permeability. Installing distribution lines on the contour or in areas that were graded during construction will help to overcome the slope.
This soil is in capability subclass IIIe.
CsB-Chilmark sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, very stony. This soil is very deep, gently sloping, and well drained. It is on broad areas and small hills in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 100 acres. They make up about 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface is covered with a 3-inch-thick layer comprised of 2 inches of loose, undecomposed organic material over 1 inch of matted, partly decomposed and well decomposed organic material. The surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is brown, yellowish brown, and strong brown sandy loam 33 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It consists of firm, multicolored layers of silty clay, sandy clay loam, and silty clay loam.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Eastchop, Nantucket, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent and 8 to 15 percent. In some areas stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Chilmark soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to a seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in woodland. Some areas are used as pasture, and a few areas are used for homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface limit the use of equipment and make this soil generally unsuitable for cultivated crops. The soil is suited to pasture, but the equipment limitation makes the soil poorly suited to hay. Using proper stocking rates and restricted grazing during wet periods will help to maintain pasture-plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This soil is suited to woodland productivity. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves and designing regeneration cuts to optimize shade and reduce evapotranspiration will help to retain the soil moisture. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, and scarlet oak.
This soil has essentially no limitations as a site for dwellings with or without basements, but the slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation of the soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field ~elps to overcome the permeability.
This soil is in capability subclass VIs.
CsC-Chilmark sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very stony. This soil is very deep, strongly sloping, and well drained. It is on small hills and ridges in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 75 acres. They make up slightly less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface is covered with a 3-inch-thick layer comprised of 2 inches of loose, undecomposed organic material over 1 inch of matted, partly decomposed and well decomposed organic material. The surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is brown, yellowish brown, and strong brown sandy loam 33 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It consists of firm, multicolored layers of silty clay, sandy clay loam, and silty clay loam.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Eastchop, Nantucket, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes less than 8 percent and more than 15 percent. In some areas stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Chi!mark soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to a seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in woodland. Some areas are used as pasture, and a few areas are used for homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface limit the use of equipment and make this soil generally unsuitable for cultivated crops. The soil is suited to pasture, but the equipment limitation makes the soil poorly suited to hay. Using proper stocking rates and restricted grazing during wet periods will help to maintain pasture-plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This soil is suited to woodland productivity. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves and designing regeneration cuts to optimize shade and reduce evapotranspiration will help to retain the soil moisture. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, and scarlet oak.
Slope is a limitation to use of this soil as a site for dwellings with or without basements. Land grading helps to overcome this limitation. The slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation of this soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome the permeability.
This soil is in capability subclass VIs.
CsD-Chilmark sandy loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes, very stony. This soil is very deep, moderately steep, and well drained. It is on hills and ridges in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 75 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface is covered with a 3-inch-thick layer comprised of 2 inches of loose, undecomposed organic material over 1 inch of matted, partly decomposed and well decomposed organic material. The surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 2 inches thick. The subsoil is brown, yellowish brown, and strong brown sandy loam 33 inches thick. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It consists of firm, multicolored layers of silty clay, sandy clay loam, and silty clay loam.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Eastchop, Nantucket, Ridgebury Variant, and Whitman Variant soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of less than 15 percent and more than 25 percent. In some areas stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface area. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Chilmark soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to a seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
The stones and boulders on the surface, slope, and an erosion hazard make this soil generally unsuitable for farming.
Most areas are wooded, and the soil is suited to woodland productivity. Minimizing soil disturbance to retain the mulch of leaves will help to retain the soil moisture. The hazard of erosion is a management concern, particularly in disturbed areas such as skid trails, landings, and access roads. Constructing access roads and trails with slopes of 2 to 10 percent and installing water bars will help to prevent soil erosion. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, and scarlet oak.
Slope is a limitation of this soil as a site for dwellings with or without basements. Land grading helps to overcome this limitation. The slow permeability in the substratum and slope are limitations of the soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome the permeability. Installing distribution lines on the contour or in areas that were graded during construction will help to overcome the slope.
This soil is in capability subclass VIs.
Back to Dukes County Soil Survey
