Wickham soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the Wickham series (Eutric Luvic Planosols) 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
Mapped areas of Wickham soils is confined to Kent, Surrey and Sussex, is the most extensive in the Low Weald where intermittent thin drift rests on Atherfield and Weald Clays. It also occurs in the High Weald over Wadhurst and Grinstead Clays. These soils are season ally waterlogged and grey and ochreous mottled. Wickham series includes soils previously described as Titchfield and Hildenborough series.
Most of the Wickham soils have fine-silty topsoils, probably remnants of aeolian silty drift, although they are thin on moderate or strong slopes. These upper horizons are variably stony, more so in the west of the Weald on ridge crests. They formed in drift over Cretaceous clay or mudstone.
Wickham soils have slowly permeable subsoils and are waterlogged for long periods in winter (Wetness Class IV) when undrained. Appropriate field drainage measures achieve some improvement, though it is often difficult to reduce waterlogging substantially and the soils continue to be wet in winter (Wetness Class III or IV). The soils present some difficulties for landwork even after drainage treatment. There is a moderate risk of poaching, the greatest being on soils, in higher rainfall areas or where the soils are undrained. Summer growth of grass is restricted by drought and the grazing value of some undrained permanent grass fields is reduced by rush infestation. The soils are naturally acid and require regular liming. Amounts of potassium are usually adequate but regular dressings of phosphorus fertilizer are needed.
There is much woodland on these soils, particularly in the High Weald. For new plantingsthe slowly permeable clayey subsoils restrict the choice to species tolerant of seasonally waterlogged ground including Corsican pine, Norway spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar. Shallow rooting often leads to poor growth and windthrow where exposed. Weed competition is severe on all soils and tine ploughing is needed before planting to suppress weeds and assist surface drainage.. Because the soils are saturated there is rapid run-off in winter and erosion can occur on moderate slopes. The soils have good reserves of available water and are slightly droughty for cereals but grass suffers seriously from drought in most years.
There is much woodland on these soils, particularly in the High Weald. For new plantingsthe slowly permeable clayey subsoils restrict the choice to species tolerant of seasonally waterlogged ground including Corsican pine, Norway spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar. Shallow rooting often leads to poor growth and windthrow where exposed. Weed competition is severe on all soils and tine ploughing is needed before planting to suppress weeds and assist surface drainage.
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/series.cfm?serno=22...
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
Wickham soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the Wickham series (Eutric Luvic Planosols) 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
Mapped areas of Wickham soils is confined to Kent, Surrey and Sussex, is the most extensive in the Low Weald where intermittent thin drift rests on Atherfield and Weald Clays. It also occurs in the High Weald over Wadhurst and Grinstead Clays. These soils are season ally waterlogged and grey and ochreous mottled. Wickham series includes soils previously described as Titchfield and Hildenborough series.
Most of the Wickham soils have fine-silty topsoils, probably remnants of aeolian silty drift, although they are thin on moderate or strong slopes. These upper horizons are variably stony, more so in the west of the Weald on ridge crests. They formed in drift over Cretaceous clay or mudstone.
Wickham soils have slowly permeable subsoils and are waterlogged for long periods in winter (Wetness Class IV) when undrained. Appropriate field drainage measures achieve some improvement, though it is often difficult to reduce waterlogging substantially and the soils continue to be wet in winter (Wetness Class III or IV). The soils present some difficulties for landwork even after drainage treatment. There is a moderate risk of poaching, the greatest being on soils, in higher rainfall areas or where the soils are undrained. Summer growth of grass is restricted by drought and the grazing value of some undrained permanent grass fields is reduced by rush infestation. The soils are naturally acid and require regular liming. Amounts of potassium are usually adequate but regular dressings of phosphorus fertilizer are needed.
There is much woodland on these soils, particularly in the High Weald. For new plantingsthe slowly permeable clayey subsoils restrict the choice to species tolerant of seasonally waterlogged ground including Corsican pine, Norway spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar. Shallow rooting often leads to poor growth and windthrow where exposed. Weed competition is severe on all soils and tine ploughing is needed before planting to suppress weeds and assist surface drainage.. Because the soils are saturated there is rapid run-off in winter and erosion can occur on moderate slopes. The soils have good reserves of available water and are slightly droughty for cereals but grass suffers seriously from drought in most years.
There is much woodland on these soils, particularly in the High Weald. For new plantingsthe slowly permeable clayey subsoils restrict the choice to species tolerant of seasonally waterlogged ground including Corsican pine, Norway spruce, western hemlock and western red cedar. Shallow rooting often leads to poor growth and windthrow where exposed. Weed competition is severe on all soils and tine ploughing is needed before planting to suppress weeds and assist surface drainage.
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/series.cfm?serno=22...
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf