Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

Rc—Raypol silt loam.

This nearly level, poorly drained soil is in depressions or low areas of terraces and outwash plains. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent but are dominantly less than 2 percent. Areas are irregular in shape and range mostly from 2 to 50 acres.

Typically the surface layer is very dark grayish brown silt loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is light olive brown, mottled silt loam 18 inches thick. The substratum is grayish brown and yellowish brown, mottled gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of moderately well drained Scio soils, poorly drained Walpole soils, and very poorly drained Scarboro soils. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map 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, and runoff is slow to medium. This soil has a seasonal high water table at or near the surface from late fall through midspring. The soil is very strongly acid or strongly acid above a depth of 40 inches and strongly acid through slightly acid below a depth of 40 inches.

The seasonal high water table makes this soil poorly suited to community development. Onsite septic systems require special design and installation to prevent pollution of the ground water, and areas require extensive filling.

Most areas of the soil are wooded, but the soil is poorly suited to trees. The main limitation is wetness.

Tree windthrow is common, and the use of equipment is limited during wet seasons.

This soil is suitable for farming, but the soil dries out and warms up slowly and artificial drainage is needed. The use of cover crops and the return of crop residue to the soil help to maintain tilth and organic matter content.

This soil is suited to most types of wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIIw woodland group 4w.

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