Esk

3 - Esk

Soil Properties

Parent material	Water deposit (alluvium) from sandstone and/or greywacke
Characteristic site and soil features	Flood plain or low terrace, with deposits of sand laid down since 1867, especially large deposits in 1937 floods Sands overlying permeable older deposits, often stones but maybe heavier textures. If the sands bury impermeable old topsoils they must be deep (>75cm) to be included in this mapping unit
Associated soils not shown within map unit at map scale but separated out in more detailed maps. - Sample Location	1, 4,   H, L
Natural drainage and depth to gley and hence to water table after wet periods	Good >60cm
Potential rooting depth, texture, and limiting layer	3,  >45cm sand on permeable sediments (maybe stones or heavier textures): >75cm  sand if on slowly permeable old buried  topsoil 3g,  30-45 sand on stones
Available water capacity (AWC)	3,  30-50mm 3g,  20-30mm
Infiltration rate	Rapid
Permeability rate	Rapid, but slow if old buried topsoil
Susceptibility to pugging and compaction when wet	Very low
Susceptibility to wind erosion when dry	Very high
Unfavourable soil characteristics	3,  sand topsoil susceptible to wind erosion    rapid infiltration     rapid permeability  3g,  <45cm to stones    low AWC

 

Soil Management

Artificial drainage	3, 3g,   none required
Cultivate when moist to avoid: wind erosion	3,  3g
Irrigation:- Recommended method Dripper spacing for continuous wetted strip Amount and frequency	3,  3g,  sprinkler to prevent water loss 3,  3g,  30cm if 3 l/hr drippers used 3,  little (15-25mm), often to prevent water loss 3g,  little (10-15mm), often to prevent water loss

 
Esk sand, sand on gravel (3, 3g) (photo E. Griffiths)