Soil Map Unit Description from the RI Soil Survey Report

Nt—Ninigret fine sandy loam.

Link to Official Soil Series Description for Ninigret Soils

This nearly level, moderately well drained soil is in slight depressions 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 mostly range from 2 to 20 acres.

Typically the surface layer is dark brown fine sandy loam about 10 inches thick. The subsoil is 20 inches thick. It is brownish yellow, yellowish brown, and pale brown fine sandy loam that is mottled in the lower part. The substratum extends to a depth of 60 inches or more. It is yellowish brown loamy sand to a depth of 42 inches and light yellowish brown gravelly loamy sand at a depth of more than 42 inches.

Included with this soil in mapping are small areas of somewhat excessively drained Merrimac soils; well drained Agawam soils; moderately well drained Sudbury, Deerfield, and Tisbury soils; and poorly drained Walpole and Raypol soils. Included areas make up about 10 percent 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 seasonal high water table at a depth of about 20 inches from late fall through midspring. The soil is very strongly acid through medium acid.

This soil is suitable for community development but is limited by the seasonal high water table. Onsite septic 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 farming, and most areas are used for that purpose. The soil dries out and warms up slowly in the spring, limiting early planting and machinery operation. Use of artificial drainage and cover crops and the return of crop residue to the soil are suitable farming management practices.

This soil is suited to trees, woodland wildlife habitat, and openland wildlife habitat. It is too dry to provide wetland wildlife habitat. Capability subclass Iw; wood land group 3o.

 

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