Soil Survey of
Dukes County Massachusetts
The following map unit description is from the published "Soil
Survey of Dukes County, Massachusetts"
RvA-Riverhead sandy loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, nearly level, and well drained. It is in large, broad areas on outwash plains in the central and southern parts of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 4 to 20 acres. They make up about 8 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is yellowish brown loamy sand. The substratum is brownish yellow coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Carver, Haven, Klej, and Tisbury soils. Also included are small areas of soils with slopes of 3 to 8 percent. Included areas make up about 20 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Riverhead soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in woodland. Many areas are in grassland, and some areas are in cropland. A few areas are used as homesites.
This soil is well suited to cultivated crops and to hay and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained in cultivated areas, but the soil is droughty during periods of low rainfall. Incorporating crop residue into the soil and adding manure to the surface layer increase the organic matter content of the soil. The use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain the desirable pasture plant species.
This soil is well suited to woodland productivity. Removal or control of competing vegetation will help the survival rate of seedlings. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, scarlet oak, black oak, and red pine.
This soil is generally suitable as a site for buildings with or without basements. The soil in some areas does not adequately filter the effluent from septic tank absorption fields, causing a hazard of pollution to ground water. Low density housing reduces the volume of effluent, thus lessening the pollution hazard.
This soil is in capability subclass IIs.
RvB-Riverhead sandy loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, gently sloping, and well drained. It is on broad, undulating areas and small hills on outwash plains in the central and southern parts of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 4 to 100 acres. They make up about 2 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is yellowish brown loamy sand. The substratum is brownish yellow coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Carver, Haven, Klej, and Tisbury soils. Also included are a few areas of soils with slopes of less than 3 percent or 8 to 15 percent. Included areas make up about 20 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Riverhead soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in woodland. Many areas are in grassland, and some areas are used for cropland. A few areas are used as homesites.
This soil is well suited to cultivated crops and to hay and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained, but erosion is a hazard and the soil is droughty during periods of low rainfall. Incorporating crop residue into the soil and adding manure to the surface layer increase the organic matter content of the soil. The use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain the desirable pasture plant species.
This soil is well suited to woodland productivity. Removal or control of competing vegetation will help the survival rate of seedlings. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, scarlet oak, black oak, and red pine.
This soil is generally suitable as a site for buildings with or without basements. The soil in some areas does not adequately filter the effluent from septic tank absorption fields, causing a hazard of pollution to ground water. Low density housing reduces the volume of effluent, thus lessening the pollution hazard.
This soil is in capability subclass IIs.
RvC-Riverhead sandy loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes. This soil is very deep, moderately sloping, and well drained. It is on small hills and ridges in the central and western parts of Martha's Vineyard. The areas of this soil are irregular in shape and range from 4 to 50 acres. They make up less than 1 percent of the survey area.
Typically, the surface layer is dark grayish brown sandy loam about 4 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. The upper 12 inches of the subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam, and the lower 8 inches is yellowish brown loamy sand. The substratum is brownish yellow coarse sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.
Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of Carver, Eastchop, Haven, Klej, and Tisbury soils. Also included are a few areas of soils with slopes of 3 to 8 percent or 15 to 30 percent. Included areas make up about 25 percent of this unit.
The permeability of this Riverhead soil is moderately rapid in the subsoil and very rapid in the substratum. Available water capacity is moderate. The depth to the seasonal high water table is more than 6 feet.
Most areas of this soil are in woodland. Some areas are in grassland, and some areas are in cropland. A few areas are used as homesites.
This soil is suited to cultivated crops and to hay and pasture. Good tilth is easily maintained, but erosion is a hazard and the soil is droughty during periods of low rainfall. Incorporating crop residue into the soil and adding manure to the surface layer increase the organic matter content of the soil. The use of proper stocking rates, deferred grazing during wet periods, and rotational grazing help to maintain the desirable pasture plant species.
This soil is well suited to woodland productivity. Removal or control of competing vegetation will help the survival rate of seedlings. The common trees on this soil are white oak, eastern white pine, scarlet oak, black oak, and red pine.
Slope is a limitation of this soil as a site for buildings, and land shaping is generally needed. Establishing plant cover as soon as possible helps to control erosion on slopes at construction sites. This soil is limited as a site for septic tank absorption fields because of the slope and because in some areas the soil does not adequately filter the effluent, making pollution of ground water a hazard. Low density housing reduces the volume of effluent, thus lessening the pollution hazard. Installing septic tank distribution lines on the contour or in areas that were graded during construction will help to overcome the slope.
This soil is in capability subclass IIIe.