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Thurso

Distrobution of Thurso Soil Association DERIVATION:

Sandstones and flagstones of Middle Old Red Sandstone age (Caithness Flagstones in Caithness, Rousay Flags and Stromness Flags in Orkney).

TYPES OF PARENT MATERIALS MAPPED:

  • Glacial drift
  • Moraine
  • Partially water-sorted material overlying till

COLOUR:

Greyish brown in subsoil, locally brown - ochreous mottling pronounced.

TEXTURE:

Topsoil usually a loam texture with sandy clay loam subsoil but subsoil textures can range from sandy loam to loam. Slightly to moderately stony in subsoil.

DOMINANT LAND USE:

Permanent pasture, arable.

LANDFORMS:

Gently undulating till plain with level and gentle slopes.

SOIL CHEMISTRY:

Percentage base saturation is high in the subsoil with pH values in the range 5.5 to 7.0.

Low to moderate total phosphorus and often high molybdenum.

SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Potential rooting depth is around 25-30cm due to compact, moderately-fine textured subsoil which also restricts water movement through the profile. Bedrock is generally present at depths of about 1m. Massive soil structure at depth.

SERIES NAME SOIL TYPE DRAINAGE PARENT MATERIAL
Bilbster Humus iron podzol and podzol Free and imperfect Drift
Camster Peaty podzol Free and imperfectbelow iron pan Drift
Hunster Noncalcareous gley (SW) Poor and very poor Drift
Knitchen Alpine podzol Free Drift
Mousland Saline gley Poor Drift and thin drift
Ness Noncalcareous gley Poor Thin drift
Olrig Peaty gley (SW) Poor and very poor Drift
Sibster Noncalcareous gley Poor Drift with partiallysorted upper layers
Thurso Noncalcareous gley (SW) Poor Drift
Thurskel Skeletal soil Variable Very shallow driftand residual

 

Learning & Resources


Printed from /learning/exploringscotland/soils/series/thurso on 19/03/24 11:34:16 AM

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