Soil Map Unit Description from the RI Soil Survey Report

Dc—Deerfield loamy fine sand.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Deerfield Soils

This nearly level, moderately well drained soil is in low-lying areas of outwash plains and terraces. Areas are irregular in shape and mostly range from 5 to 50 acres. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.

Typically the surface layer is black loamy fine sand about 8 inches thick. The subsoil is 26 inches thick. The upper 10 inches is dark yellowish brown loamy sand. The next 6 inches is yellowish brown, mottled loamy sand. The lower 10 inches is light olive brown, mottled fine sand. The substratum is olive, mottled fine sand to a depth of 60 inches or more.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of moderately well drained Sudbury soils and poorly drained Walpole soils. Included areas make up about 10 percent of this map unit.

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

Most areas of this soil are cleared and used for farming or openland wildlife habitat.

This soil is suitable for community development. The seasonal high water table is a main limitation, but lawn grasses, shallow-rooted trees, and shrubs require watering in summer. Onsite sewage disposal systems need special design and installation to prevent pollution of the 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. Droughtiness in the summer is the main limitation for seedlings.

This soil is suited to cultivated crops. The soil dries out and warms up slowly in the spring, delaying early planting and machinery operation. Artificial drainage, irrigation in dry seasons, use of cover crops, and the return of crop residue to the soil are suitable management practices for farming.

This soil is suitable for woodland wildlife habitat and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry in summer to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass IIw; woodland group 4s.

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