Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

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Re—Ridgebury fine sandy loam.

This nearly level, poorly drained soil is in depressions and drainageways of glacial upland hills and drumlins. 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 75 acres.

Also included are small areas of soils that have stones on the surface. Included areas make up about 10 per cent of this map unit.

The permeability of this soil is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and slow or very slow 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 spring. The soil is very strongly acid through medium acid.

Most areas of this soil are wooded or are cleared and used for crops and pasture.

The slow or very slow permeability in the substratum and the seasonal high water table make this soil poorly suited to community development. Onsite septic systems require special design and installation, and areas need extensive filling. Subsurface drains are needed to help prevent wet basements. Quickly establishing plant cover and the use of siltation basins and temporary diversions help to control erosion during construction.

This soil is suited to trees. The main limitation for woodland is wetness; tree windthrow is common, and the use of equipment is limited during wet seasons.

This soil is suitable for farming, but 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. The soil is suited to most types of wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIIw; woodland group 4w.

Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

Click here for more information about Ridgebury Soils

Rf—Ridgebury, Whitman, and Leicester extremely stony fine sandy loams.

These nearly level, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils are along drainageways and in depressions in glacial till uplands.

Stones and boulders cover 10 to 35 percent of the surface of the unit. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent but are dominantly less than 2 percent. Areas are long and narrow and range mostly from 10 to 150 acres. The mapped acreage of this unit is about 30 percent Ridge- bury soils, 30 percent Whitman soils, 20 percent Leicester soils, and 20 percent other soils. The areas of this unit consist of Ridgebury soils, Whitman soils, or Leicester soils or of all three soils. The soils were mapped together because they have no major differences in use and management.

Typically the surface layer of the Ridgebury soils is black fine sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 16 inches thick. It is grayish brown fine sandy loam that is mottled in the lower pan. The substratum is yellowish brown, mottled gravelly fine sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Typically the surface layer of the Whitman soils is black fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The sub stratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is gray gravelly fine sandy loam that is mottled at a depth of more than 18 inches.

Typically the surface layer of the Leicester soils is very dark grayish brown fine sandy loam about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is light brownish gray and light yellowish brown, mottled fine sandy loam 18 inches thick. The substratum is gray, mottled gravelly sandy loam to a depth of 60 inches or more. -

Included with these soils in mapping are small areas of moderately welt drained Woodbridge and Sutton soils and very poorly drained Adrian soils. Also included are areas where stones cover less than 10 percent of the surface.

The permeability of the Ridgebury and Whitman soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and slow or very slow in the substratum. The permeability of the Leicester soils is moderate or moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and moderate to rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity in all three soils is moderate, and runoff is slow to medium. These soils are very strongly acid through medium acid.

The high water table and the slow or very slow permeability in the Ridgebury and Whitman soils make this unit poorly suited to community development. The use of onsite septic systems is not feasible without extensive filling.

These soils are poorly suited to trees. The main limitations for woodland are wetness and the stones and boulders on the surface, which hinder the use of equipment. Tree windthrow is common.

The stones and boulders on the surface make these soils unsuitable for cultivated crops and the use of farming equipment impractical.

These soils are suited to woodland wildlife habitat and wetland wildlife habitat. They are not suited to openland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass VIIs; Ridgebury and Leicester parts in woodland group 4x, Whitman part in woodland group 5x.

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