Soil Survey of
Dukes County Massachusetts
The following map unit description is from the published "Soil
Survey of Dukes County, Massachusetts"
NaB-Nantucket sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, gently sloping, and well drained. It is on the crests and sides of ridges and hills in the western part of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 40 acres. They make up nearly 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam about 13 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, Plymouth, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent or 8 to 15 percent. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Nantucket soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in abandoned pasture and shrubby vegetation. Some areas are in woodland, and a few are used as homesites.
This soil is well suited to cultivated crops and 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 helps maintain tilth and increase 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 fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Thinning crowded stands and removal or control of vegetation that competes with seedlings are the main management practices. The common trees on this soil are black oak, scarlet oak, and white oak.
This soil has essentially no limitations as a site for dwellings with or without basements. The moderately slow to slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation of the soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome this limitation.
This soil is in capability subclass IIs.
NaC-Nantucket 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 5 to 60 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam about 13 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, Plymouth, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 3 to 8 percent or 15 to 30 percent. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Nantucket soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in abandoned pasture and shrubby vegetation. Some areas are in woodland, and a few are used as homesites.
This soil is well suited to cultivated crops, orchards, and hay and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained in cultivated areas, but erosion is a hazard and the soil is droughty during periods of low rainfall, 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 helps maintain tilth and increase 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 fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Thinning crowded stands and removal or control of vegetation that competes with seedlings are the main management practices. The common trees on this soil are black oak, scarlet oak, and white 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 to use as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome the slow permeability. Installing distribution lines on the contour or in areas that were graded during construction will help to offset the slope.
This soil is in capability subclass IIIe.
NnB-Nantucket sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, very stony. This soil is very deep, gently sloping, and well drained. It is on the crests and sides of ridges and 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 40 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface is covered with a 2-inch-thick layer of undecomposed and decomposed 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 16 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, Plymouth, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent or 8 to 15 percent. In some areas stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Nantucket soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the 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 as homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this soil generally unsuitable for cultivated crops. The soil is suited to pasture, but the stones and boulders limit the use of equipment, making the soil poorly suited to hay. The use of proper stocking rates, restricted grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This soil is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Thinning crowded stands and removal or control of vegetation that competes with seedlings are the main management practices. The common trees on this soil are black oak, scarlet oak, and white oak.
This soil has essentially no limitations as a site for dwellings with or without basements. The moderately slow to slow permeability in the substratum is a limitation of the soil as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome this limitation.
This soil is in capability subclass VIs.
NnC-Nantucket 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 the soil are irregular in shape and range from 5 to 50 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface is covered with a 2-inch-thick layer of undecomposed and decomposed 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 16 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with his soil in mapping are areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, Plymouth, and Moshup soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 3 to 8 percent or 15 to 30 percent. In some areas stones cover 3 to 15 percent of the surface. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Nantucket soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the 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 are used as homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this soil generally unsuitable for cultivated crops. The soil is suited to pasture, but the stones and boulders limit the use of equipment, making the soil poorly suited to hay. The use of proper stocking rates, restricted grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This soil is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. Thinning crowded stands and removal or control of vegetation that competes with seedlings are the main management practices. The common trees on this soil are black oak, scarlet oak, and white 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 to use as a site for septic tank absorption fields. Enlarging the absorption field helps to overcome the slow permeability. Installing distribution lines on the contour or in areas that were graded during construction will help to offset the slope.
This soil is in capability subclass VIs.
NpC-Nantucket-Plymouth complex, rolling. This unit consists of undulating and rolling, very deep soils on the side slopes and crests of uplands in the southwestern section of Martha's Vineyard. The areas are irregular in shape and generally range from 10 to 100 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The unit is about 60 percent Nantucket soils, 20 percent Plymouth 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 Nantucket soils have a surface layer of dark brown sandy loam about 7 inches thick. The subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam about 13 inches thick. The substratum is light olive brown, mottled, firm sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Typically, the Plymouth soils have a surface layer of dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part 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.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, and Moshup soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 15 to 30 percent. Some areas have stones on the surface.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. The available water capacity is moderate in the Nantucket soils and very low in the Plymouth soils. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet in both soils.
Most areas of this unit are in abandoned pasture and scattered shrubby vegetation. Many areas have reverted to woodland, and a few areas are used as cropland or homesites.
This unit is suitable for cultivated crops and hay and pasture, but soil 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 grazing and rotational grazing help to maintain desirable pasture plant species.
This unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. The rate of seedling mortality on the Plymouth soils is high because of droughtiness. 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 the survival 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. Areas of this unit near the shore are subject to winds and salt spray that severely hinder tree growth.
Slope is a limitation of the unit as a building site in areas where the slope is more than 8 percent, and land grading commonly is needed. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible helps to prevent erosion at construction sites. The 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 seepage.
This unit is in capability subclass IIIe.
NsB-Nantucket-Plymouth complex, undulating, very stony. This unit consists of very deep soils on side slopes and crests of uplands in the southwestern section of Martha's Vineyard. Stones cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. The areas of the unit are irregular in shape and range from 10 to 150 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area. Slopes range from 3 to 8 percent. This unit is about 60 percent Nantucket soils, 20 percent Plymouth 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 of the Nantucket soils is covered with a 2-inch-thick layer of undecomposed and decomposed 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.
Typically, the Plymouth soils have a surface layer of dark brown coarse sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part 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.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, and Moshup soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 0 to 3 percent or 8 to 15 percent. Some areas do not have stones on the surface.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. The available water capacity is moderate in the Nantucket soils and very low in the Plymouth soils. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet in both soils.
Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are used as pasture, and a few areas are used as homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this unit generally unsuitable for crops. The soils are suited to pasture, but the stones and boulders limit the use of equipment, making the soils poorly suited to hay. Using proper stocking rates, restricted grazing during wet periods. and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. The rate of seedling mortality on the Plymouth soils is high because of droughtiness. 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 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. Areas of this unit near the shore are subject to winds and salt spray that severely hinder tree growth.
This unit has essentially no limitations as a site for dwellings with or without basements. The unit is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields, however, because in some areas the Nantucket soils do not readily accept effluent, causing a hazard of seepage, and the Plymouth soils do not adequately filter the effluent, causing a hazard of ground-water pollution.
This unit is in capability subclass VIs.
NsC-Nantucket-Plymouth complex, rolling, very stony. This unit consists of undulating and rolling, very deep soils on slopes and crests of uplands in the southwestern section of Martha's Vineyard and on the Elizabeth Islands. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 3 percent of the surface area. The areas are irregular in shape and range from 10 to 500 acres. They make up about 2 percent of the survey area. Slopes range from 3 to 15 percent. The unit is about 60 percent Nantucket soils, 20 percent Plymouth 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 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.
Typically, the Plymouth soils have a surface layer of dark brown coarse sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part 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.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, and Moshup soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 15 to 30 percent. Some areas do not have stones on the surface.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. The available water capacity is moderate in the Nantucket soils and very low in the Plymouth soils. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet in both soils.
Most areas of this unit are in woodland. Some areas are used as pasture, and a few areas are used as homesites.
The stones and boulders on the surface make this unit generally unsuitable for cultivated crops. The soils are suited to pasture, but the stones and boulders limit the use of equipment, making the soils poorly suited to hay. Using proper stocking rates, restricted grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain pasture plant densities and reduce surface compaction.
This unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity. The rate of seedling mortality on the Plymouth soils is high because of droughtiness. 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 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. Areas of this unit near the shore are subject to winds and salt spray that severely hinder tree growth.
Slope is a limitation of the unit as a building site in areas where the slope is more than 8 percent. and land grading commonly is needed. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible helps to prevent erosion at construction sites. The 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 seepage.
This unit is in capability subclass VIs.
NsD-Nantucket-Plymouth complex, hilly, very stony. This unit consists of hilly and steep, very deep soils on side slopes and ridges on uplands in the southwestern section of Martha's Vineyard and on the Elizabeth Islands. Stones and boulders cover 1 to 5 percent of the surface area. The areas are irregular in shape and generally range from 10 to 60 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area. Slopes range from 15 to 35 percent. The unit is about 40
percent Nantucket soils, 40 percent Plymouth 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 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.
Typically, the Plymouth soils have a surface layer of dark brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 19 inches thick. The upper part 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.
Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of Chilmark, Eastchop, and Whitman Variant soils. Also included are areas of soils with slopes of 8 to 15 percent or 35 to 40 percent. Some areas do not have stones on the surface.
The permeability of these Nantucket soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the subsoil and moderately slow or slow in the substratum. The permeability of these Plymouth soils is rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. The available water capacity is moderate in the Nantucket soils and very low in the Plymouth soils. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet in both soils.
These soils are generally unsuitable for cultivated crops and hay and pasture because of stones and boulders on the surface, slope, and limited available water capacity.
The unit is fairly well suited to woodland productivity, and most areas are wooded, but droughtiness in the Plymouth soils causes a high rate of seedling mortality. 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 the survival rate of seedlings. 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 erosion. 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. Areas of the unit near the shore are subject to winds and salt spray that severely hinder tree growth.
Slope is the main limitation of the unit as a building site, and extensive land shaping is generally needed. Establishing a plant cover as soon as possible helps to control a severe erosion hazard at construction sites. The 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 a further limitation of the unit as a site for septic tank absorption fields.
This unit is in capability subclass VIs.