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Arkaig

Distribution of the Arkaig Soil Association 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.

SERIES NAME SOIL TYPE DRAINAGE PARENT MATERIAL
Aberscross Brown forest soil Free Drift
Arkaig Peaty ranker Poor Shallow drift and organic
Armine Alpine podzol Free Drift
Badanloch Peaty gley (SW) Poor and very poor Drift
Bantrach* Peaty podzol Imperfect Till
Birichin Humus iron podzol and iron podzol Imperfect Drift
Derraid* Humus iron podzol and iron podzol Free Shallow drift
Gordonbush Humus iron podzol and iron podzol Free Drift
Johnstripe* Humic gley Poor and very poor Till
Kichanroy* Subalpine podzol Free Shallow drift
Kildonan Peaty podzol Free below iron pan Drift
Leathain* Subalpine podzol Free Weathered rock
Quilichan* Peaty podzol Free below iron pan Shallow drift
Scottarie Noncalcareous gley Poor Drift
Tombain* Peaty gley Poor and very poor Shallow drift

*Series originally mapped as Strichen Association

Learning & Resources


Printed from /learning/exploringscotland/soils/series/arkaig on 19/03/24 08:40:18 AM

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