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Sourhope

Distribution of Sourhope Soil Association DERIVATION:

Lavas of andesitic composition associated with sediments of Lower Old Red Sandstone age (also associated with granitic masses at Cheviot and in Argyll).

TYPES OF PARENT MATERIALS MAPPED:

  • Glacial till
  • Glacial drift
  • Shallow drift onto rock
  • Morainic deposits
  • Shattered rock in situ

COLOUR:

Reddish brown in subsoil.

TEXTURE:

Sandy silt loam or silt loam in till deposits but coarser textures (sandy loam) characterise drift and morainic parent materials. Moderately to very stony depending on depth to rock.

DOMINANT LAND USE:

Arable, permanent grassland, forestry.


LANDFORMS:

Hills, often steeply sloping with frequent outcrops of rock in some areas.
Also associated with valley sides on long gentle slopes.

SOIL CHEMISTRY:

High phosphorus in topsoils.

SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Potential rooting depth approximately 40 to 60cm depending on presence of rock or induration.
Weak soil structure.

SERIES NAME SOIL TYPE DRAINAGE PARENT MATERIAL
Atton Noncalcareous gley (SW) Poor Drift and till
Balquhandy Humus iron podzol Free Till
Bellshill Brown forest soil with gleying Imperfect Drift and till
Cowie Peaty podzol Free below iron pan Drift, till and colluvium
Edgerston Peaty gley Poor Drift and till
Elsrickle Brown forest soil with gleying Imperfect Drift often stony
Fearnoch Peaty gley Poor and very poor Stony colluvium
Frandy Humus iron podzol Free Drift and till
Gellyknowe Brown forest soil with gleying Imperfect Till
Hungry Brae Humus iron podzol Free Stony drift
Lawsuit Peaty gley Very poor Drift and till
Sourhope Brown forest soil Free Drift, till and colluvium
Sourskel Skeletal soil Variable Very shallow drift and residual

* Occurs only as component in soil complexes

Learning & Resources


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The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.