Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia - Soil Data Mart - US ...

Soil Survey of Lincoln County, West Virginia
manure, returning crop residue to the soil, and growing sod crops, cover crops, and
green manure crops.
Tilth is an important factor affecting the germination of seeds and the infiltration of
water into the soil. Soils that have good tilth have a surface layer that is granular and
porous and have a moderate or high organic matter content. Soils that have poor tilth
have structure that is weak and generally have low organic matter content. In areas
with poor soil tilth, a surface crust generally forms during periods of heavy rainfall.
Since the crust is hard when dry and nearly impervious to water, it reduces the rate of
water infiltration and increases the rate of runoff and the hazard of erosion. Tillage
tends to break down soil structure, especially during periods of wetness. As a result, it
should be kept to the minimum necessary to prepare a seedbed and help control
weeds. Continuously cropping the same field for a long period of time lowers the
organic matter content and reduces tilth, the rate of permeability, and, ultimately,
yields. Maintaining the content of organic matter in the plow layer helps to maintain
soil structure. Including grasses and legumes in the cropping sequence and adding
manure or other organic material to the soil help to maintain the organic matter
content.
Many small areas in Lincoln County are used for home gardens. The soils that are
best suited to garden crops are nearly level or gently sloping, loamy, moderately
permeable, and well drained; have a high available water capacity; and have less than
15 percent rock fragments in the surface layer. Examples are the Kanawha,
Moshannon, and Chagrin soils. The soil pH, or the degree of acidity or alkalinity as
determined by means of a glass, quinhydrone, or other suitable electrode or indicator
at a specified moisture content or soil-water ratio, should be between 6.0 and 7.0 for
most garden plants.
The suitability of the soils in the county to produce grasses and legumes varies
widely because of differences in the depth to bedrock or other root-limiting layers,
drainage, the ability to supply moisture, and many other properties. The selection of
forage species is important, and the species that are selected should be those that
are suited to the different kinds of soils. Nearly level and gently sloping, well drained
soils should be used for the most productive crops, such as corn silage, alfalfa, and a
mixture of alfalfa and orchardgrass or alfalfa and timothy. Alfalfa should be grown with
cool-season grasses in areas where the soil is at least 2 feet deep over bedrock and
is well drained. The more poorly drained soils, the soils that are less 40 inches deep
over a seasonal high water table, and the soils that are less than 2 feet deep over
bedrock are suited to clover-grass mixtures or to pure stands of clover or grasses. In
pastured areas with steeper slopes, sod-forming grasses, such as tall fescue and
bluegrass, minimize erosion. For critical areas, or areas that are bare and undergoing
severe erosion, a grass-legume mixture, such as tall fescue and crownvetch, helps to
control erosion if the ground cover is properly established.
Yields per Acre
The average yields per acre that can be expected of the principal crops under a
high level of management are shown in table 5. In any given year, yields may be
higher or lower than those indicated in the table because of variations in rainfall and
other climatic factors. The land capability classification of map units in the survey area
also is shown in the table.
The yields are based mainly on the experience and records of farmers,
conservationists, and extension agents. Available yield data from nearby counties and
results of field trials and demonstrations also are considered.
The management needed to obtain the indicated yields of the various crops
depends on the kind of soil and the crop. Management can include drainage, erosion
control, and protection from flooding; the proper planting and seeding rates; suitable
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