Fladbury soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the series (Clayic Fluvic Eutric Gleysols) 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
Fladbury soils are deep clayey alluvial soils. They are widespread on flat valley floors in the Midlands and South West England and occur to a limited extent in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and South Glamorgan. They often flank rivers draining catchments of Jurassic rocks and hence occur mainly on or near the broad Jurassic outcrop from east Nottinghamshire to south Somerset.
Fladbury soils, pelo-alluvial gley soils, are clayey throughout and prominently mottled directly below the topsoil. The mapped areas cover just over 180 km² in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire alongside the Devon, Soar, Welland, Avon and their tributaries. Extensive tracts are Fladbury series with Wyre or Thames series only locally significant, as in the lower reaches of the Avon. Small areas of Stixwould soils are present where the alluvium thins over loamy and sandy glaciofluvial deposits, particularly towards the margins of the floodplains and in certain valleys such as that of the Wreake. Midelney soils are encountered occasionally where peat underlies alluvium at shallow depth.
Fladbury subsoils are usually slowly permeable. However, the primary source of waterlogging is groundwater which fluctuates seasonally with changes in the river level. The duration of waterlogging is often related to elevation. In winter months, a water-table is at shallow depth for long periods in many Thames and Fladbury soils (Wetness Class IV) and locally they suffer prolonged waterlogging (Wetness Class V). Thin peaty topsoils occur in some low-lying areas. On raised areas of the floodplain, where the waterlogging is less frequent,
These soils are predominantly under permanent grassland or long leys and rushes infest the wettest sites. Because of a large retained water capacity, there is a serious risk of poaching and the risk of flooding further curtails winter grazing. Nevertheless, the soils support good summer fattening pasture and mowing grass, growth being maintained during all but the driest periods by the large amount of available water (170 mm) and perhaps some additional moisture in spring from the groundwater-table. All three soils contain good reserves of potassium but are inherently poor in phosphorus, its level depending on recent fertilizer use. Manganese deficiencies are common in grass herbage and cereals.
In a few places, for example, on Ot Moor, the water-table is controlled by pump drainage and the land is used for winter cereals. The soils are difficult to manage, however, and as there are few opportunities in spring for landwork, timely autumn cultivation is essential. Arable cropping is also possible where Wyre and Usher soils are extensively associated..
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/mapunit.cfm?mu=81302
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf
Fladbury soil series GB
A representative soil profile of the series (Clayic Fluvic Eutric Gleysols) 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
Fladbury soils are deep clayey alluvial soils. They are widespread on flat valley floors in the Midlands and South West England and occur to a limited extent in Cambridgeshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and South Glamorgan. They often flank rivers draining catchments of Jurassic rocks and hence occur mainly on or near the broad Jurassic outcrop from east Nottinghamshire to south Somerset.
Fladbury soils, pelo-alluvial gley soils, are clayey throughout and prominently mottled directly below the topsoil. The mapped areas cover just over 180 km² in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire alongside the Devon, Soar, Welland, Avon and their tributaries. Extensive tracts are Fladbury series with Wyre or Thames series only locally significant, as in the lower reaches of the Avon. Small areas of Stixwould soils are present where the alluvium thins over loamy and sandy glaciofluvial deposits, particularly towards the margins of the floodplains and in certain valleys such as that of the Wreake. Midelney soils are encountered occasionally where peat underlies alluvium at shallow depth.
Fladbury subsoils are usually slowly permeable. However, the primary source of waterlogging is groundwater which fluctuates seasonally with changes in the river level. The duration of waterlogging is often related to elevation. In winter months, a water-table is at shallow depth for long periods in many Thames and Fladbury soils (Wetness Class IV) and locally they suffer prolonged waterlogging (Wetness Class V). Thin peaty topsoils occur in some low-lying areas. On raised areas of the floodplain, where the waterlogging is less frequent,
These soils are predominantly under permanent grassland or long leys and rushes infest the wettest sites. Because of a large retained water capacity, there is a serious risk of poaching and the risk of flooding further curtails winter grazing. Nevertheless, the soils support good summer fattening pasture and mowing grass, growth being maintained during all but the driest periods by the large amount of available water (170 mm) and perhaps some additional moisture in spring from the groundwater-table. All three soils contain good reserves of potassium but are inherently poor in phosphorus, its level depending on recent fertilizer use. Manganese deficiencies are common in grass herbage and cereals.
In a few places, for example, on Ot Moor, the water-table is controlled by pump drainage and the land is used for winter cereals. The soils are difficult to manage, however, and as there are few opportunities in spring for landwork, timely autumn cultivation is essential. Arable cropping is also possible where Wyre and Usher soils are extensively associated..
For additional information about the soil association, visit:
www.landis.org.uk/services/soilsguide/mapunit.cfm?mu=81302
For more information on the World Reference Base soil classification system, visit:
www.fao.org/3/i3794en/I3794en.pdf