The following map unit description is from the published "Soil Survey of Nantucket County, Massachusetts"
Soil Survey of
Nantucket County Massachusetts
The following map unit description is from the
published "Soil Survey of Nantucket County, Massachusetts"
Ta-Tisbury very fine sandy loam. This nearly level, moderately well drained soil is in oval or irregularly shaped, convex areas. The areas range from 5 to 10 acres.
Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown very fine sandy loam about 5 inches thick. The subsoil is firm very fine sandy loam about 15 inches thick. The upper 5 inches of the subsoil is dark brown, the next 6 inches is yellowish brown, and the lower 4 inches is light yellowish brown and is mottled. The substratum consists of bands of yellow and strong brown gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are areas of soils that do not have mottles in the subsoil. These soils make up 10 to 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this soil is moderate in the surface layer and subsoil and rapid or very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The soil has a seasonal high water table at a depth of 1.5 to 3.5 feet in winter and spring. The seasonal high water table restricts root growth in spring.
Most areas of this soil are covered with woody vegetation. The soil is suitable for openland wildlife habitat and woodland wildlife habitat. It is poorly suited to most other nonfarm uses.
The soil is well suited to crops, hay, and pasture. Wetness is the main limitation of the soil for these uses. Surface drainage, diversions, or both help remove water from the soil. The main management concern for pasture is the prevention of overgrazing, which causes surface compaction and reduces the hardiness and density of plants.
The seasonal high water table limits the use of this Tisbury soil as sites for buildings or septic tank absorption fields. Areas used for dwellings need to be drained. The sides of excavations in this soil are unstable, and the steeper sides generally cave in. The use of this soil for roads and streets is limited by a high frost action potential. Replacing the upper layer of the soil with a suitable base material helps prevent damage caused by frost action.
Capability subclass IIw.
More Information on Tisbury Soils
