Soil Map Unit Description from the Soil Survey of Rhode Island

Click here for more information about Sudbury Soils

Ss—Sudbury sandy loam.

This nearly level, moderately well drained soil is in depressions in terraces and outwash plains. Areas are irregular in shape and range mostly from 3 to 50 acres. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown sandy loam about 6 inches thick. The subsoil is 22 inches thick. The upper 9 inches is dark yellowish brown sandy loam; the middle 6 inches is yellowish brown, mottled sandy loam; and the lower 7 inches is yellowish brown, mottled loamy sand. The substratum is yellowish brown, mottled gravelly sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of excessively drained Hinckley and Windsor soils, some what excessively drained Merrimac soils, well drained Agawam soils, moderately well drained Ninigret and Deerfield soils, and poorly drained Walpole soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of more than 3 percent. Included areas make up about 10 per cent of this map unit.

The permeability of this soil is moderately rapid in the surface layer and subsoil and rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate, and runoff is slow. This soil has a high water table at a depth of about 20 inches from late fall through midspring. The soil is extremely acid through medium acid.

This soil is suitable for community development. The main limitation for this use is the seasonal high water table. Onsite sewage disposal systems need special design and installation to prevent pollution of ground water. If suitable outlets are available, subsurface drains can be used to help prevent wet basements. Slopes of excavated areas are commonly unstable.

This soil is suited to trees, but most areas are cleared and used for cultivated crops and pasture.

The soil is suited to cultivated crops. It dries out and warms up slowly in the spring, limiting early planting and machinery operation, 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 woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is not suited to wetland wild life habitat because it is too dry in the summer. Capability subclass IIw; woodland group 4o.

Back to Rhode Island Soil Survey
Back to Nesoil.com