SOIL ASSOCIATIONS -
 ARKAIG

DERIVATION:

Schists, gneisses, granulites and quartzites, principally of the Moine Assemblage.

TYPES OF PARENT MATERIALS MAPPED:

Glacial drift
Glacial till
Shallow drift onto rock
Shattered rock in situ
Deeply weathered rock
Cryogenic deposits
Morainic deposits

COLOUR:

Yellowish brown with subsoil

TEXTURE:

Sandy loam to loamy sand in most cases, till deposits generally finer with sandy silt loam or sandy clay loam textures. Stone content variable, mostly in shallow
drift or morainic deposits.
 

DOMINANT LAND USE:

Arable, permanent pasture, forestry and recreation.

LANDFORMS:

Highly variable, from high summits with cryogenic deposits to lowland sites with glacial till and
morainic deposits generally confined to valley bottom sites, the latter within highland areas.
Shattered rock in situ or shallow drift are characteristic of hill crests, isolated hill tops and areas
with varying amounts of outcropping rock.

SOIL CHEMISTRY:

Inherently acidic with low (<20%) or medium (20 - 60%) base saturation. Medium to low phosphorus content.

SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

30 - 70cm of potential rooting depth, depending on presence of and depth to indurated horizon or rock.
Weak subsoil structure.