Carsten soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the series (Profundic Chromic Luvisols) in England. (Cranfield University 2021. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK.)
Soils classified and described by the World Reference Base for England and Wales:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/wrb_list.cfm
These freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils are inextensive in southern England where the Chalk is covered by silty aeolian drift over Clay-with-flints and Plateau Drift, and in Lincolnshire where it occurs on chalky till. The principal soils are deep and well drained, usually with reddish clayey subsoils. Carstens soils are fine-silty over clayey typical paleo-argillic brown earths that constitute more than half of the association.
These soils are most extensive on level surfaces in north and east Hampshire, particularly in a broad belt from Petersfield to Basingstoke and westwards to Andover, where the landscape becomes increasingly dissected. Carstens soils occur on the broader interfluves where the silty cover to the Clay-with-flints is consistently present.
Carsten soils have well structured clayey subsoil horizons which allow good drainage to the underlying chalk, so they are rarely waterlogged (Wetness Class I). Surface run-off is negligible and the presence of permeable soils on valley sides ensures good acceptance of winter rain.
Carsten soils are well suited to cultivation and are only slightly droughty for most arable crops. The weakly structured topsoils tend to slake and cap and then become cloddy on drying out in spring, so seed beds are difficult to prepare. There are good opportunities for autumn landwork but there are fewer days available for cultivations in spring especially in wet years. The soils are suited to direct drilling of winter cereals and, with good management, yields are similar to those achieved using conventional cultivations. Direct drilling of spring barley is less successful. Fertility is generally better than in the surrounding shallow chalk soils with larger amounts of phosphorus and potassium, but low levels of magnesium can lead to deficiencies in crops and livestock. Exposure on higher land can delay growth in spring. Winter wheat and winter barley are the main crops either grown continuously or with oilseed rape as a break. Other crops include sugar beet and potatoes with some vining peas.
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/mapunit.cfm?mu=58104
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
Carsten soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the series (Profundic Chromic Luvisols) in England. (Cranfield University 2021. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK.)
Soils classified and described by the World Reference Base for England and Wales:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/wrb_list.cfm
These freely draining, slightly acid, loamy soils are inextensive in southern England where the Chalk is covered by silty aeolian drift over Clay-with-flints and Plateau Drift, and in Lincolnshire where it occurs on chalky till. The principal soils are deep and well drained, usually with reddish clayey subsoils. Carstens soils are fine-silty over clayey typical paleo-argillic brown earths that constitute more than half of the association.
These soils are most extensive on level surfaces in north and east Hampshire, particularly in a broad belt from Petersfield to Basingstoke and westwards to Andover, where the landscape becomes increasingly dissected. Carstens soils occur on the broader interfluves where the silty cover to the Clay-with-flints is consistently present.
Carsten soils have well structured clayey subsoil horizons which allow good drainage to the underlying chalk, so they are rarely waterlogged (Wetness Class I). Surface run-off is negligible and the presence of permeable soils on valley sides ensures good acceptance of winter rain.
Carsten soils are well suited to cultivation and are only slightly droughty for most arable crops. The weakly structured topsoils tend to slake and cap and then become cloddy on drying out in spring, so seed beds are difficult to prepare. There are good opportunities for autumn landwork but there are fewer days available for cultivations in spring especially in wet years. The soils are suited to direct drilling of winter cereals and, with good management, yields are similar to those achieved using conventional cultivations. Direct drilling of spring barley is less successful. Fertility is generally better than in the surrounding shallow chalk soils with larger amounts of phosphorus and potassium, but low levels of magnesium can lead to deficiencies in crops and livestock. Exposure on higher land can delay growth in spring. Winter wheat and winter barley are the main crops either grown continuously or with oilseed rape as a break. Other crops include sugar beet and potatoes with some vining peas.
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/mapunit.cfm?mu=58104
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf