Rowanhill

[1] DERIVATION:

Sandstones and shales with some limestones and coals, all rocks of Carboniferous age.

TYPES OF PARENT MATERIALS MAPPED:

• Glacial till
• Weathered rock in situ

COLOUR:

Greyish brown to grey in the subsoil.

TEXTURE:

May be relatively coarse textured (sandy silt loam, sandy clay loam) within topsoil but clay loam, clay or sandy clay loam at depth; slightly to moderately stony, often weathered.

DOMINANT LAND USE:

Permanent pasture, some arable and woodland.

LANDFORMS:

Undulating lowlands and upland areas with gentle slopes.

SOIL CHEMISTRY:

Near alkaline conditions and high base saturation within subsoil especially where limestone is present.
Inherently low total phosphorus.

SOIL PHYSICAL PROPERTIES:

Potential rooting depth around 30cm, deeper indry years where roots can penetrate deep cracks in subsoil. Compact subsoil restricts watermovement and rooting depth. Weak prismatic structure in subsoil becoming massive below.