Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

Pp—Podunk fine sandy loam.

This nearly level, moderately well drained soil is on flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent but are dominantly less than 2 percent. Areas are long and narrow and range mostly from 5 to 40 acres.

Typically the surface layer is black fine sandy loam about 1 inch thick. The subsoil is 37 inches thick. It is dark yellowish brown and yellowish brown fine sandy loam that is mottled in the lower part. The substratum is yellowish brown gravelly loamy coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of well drained soils and poorly drained Rumney soils. Also included are small areas of soils with a surface layer and subsoil of silt loam. Included areas make up about 15 percent of this map unit.

The permeability of this soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer, moderately rapid in the sub soil, and moderately rapid to rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and runoff is slow. This soil has a seasonal high water table at a depth of about 20 inches from late fall through midspring and is subject to flooding. The soil is very strongly acid through slightly acid.

The soil is suited to trees, and most areas are wooded or used for pasture and hay.

The hazard of flooding when the water table is high makes this soil poorly suited to community development. Roads and streets need careful design to prevent frost heaving and flooding. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable.

This soil is suited to farming. It dries out and warms up slowly in the spring, limiting early planting and machinery operation. The use of artificial drainage and cover crops and the return of crop residue to the soil are suitable farming management practices.

This soil is suited to woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is poorly suited to wetland wildlife habitat because it lacks adequate moisture in the summer. Capability subclass I woodland group 3o.

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