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Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page i Soil Survey Bulletin No. 44 ISBN-10 1-84170-580-2 SOILS of Co. WATERFORD by J. Diamond and P. Sills National Soil Survey of Ireland Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page ii Published by Teagasc, Oak Park, Carlow, Co. Carlow © Teagasc, 2011 Origination by Keystrokes Digital, Dublin Printed by Grehan Printers, Dublin ii Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page iii PREFACE This publication, Soil Survey Bulletin No. 44, presents the findings of the Soil Survey of County Waterford. It is the thirteenth in a series of county soil survey bulletins to be published by Teagasc; these surveys now cover about half the area of the State. Although the scope and methodology of the survey of Co. Waterford conform broadly to that of previous counties, some changes and additions were introduced. As in the other counties, field mapping was carried out at a scale of 1:10,560 with a view to publication at 1:126,720; the publication scale, however, was increased to 1:100,000 to improve legibility. Map accuracy and quality were assessed in a sample area. Moisture retention characteristics of representative profiles were determined in the laboratory, and the hydraulic conductivities of lowland Gley soils were measured in the field. Mr J. Diamond (Project Leader), Mr P. Feeney (Moorepark), Mr J. Hartigan, Mr P. Sills and Mr K. Sills performed the field mapping. Mr N. Kijp (Wageningen) and Mr S. Ormonde assisted in the fieldwork relating to the assessment of map accuracy. The laboratory staff of the Soil Survey Department, under the direction of Mr T. Shanley, provided the particle size and chemical analyses data. Mr E. McDonald and Mr P. Sills made the soil moisture retention, particle density, and bulk density determinations. The field measurement of hydraulic conductivity was performed by Mr J. Hartigan and Mr G. Ryan. Mr V. Staples reduced the field sheets to 1:126,720 scale and calculated the areas of the map units. Mr E. McDonald prepared the digital version of the soil and soil suitability maps that accompany this bulletin; he also prepared the various figures that are in the bulletin. Ms M. Foley was responsible for word processing. Assistance also came from some outside sources. In the assessment of soil suitability, especially that of hill land, Mr D. Ryan and Mr W. McCarthy of the Agricultural Advisory Service in Co. Waterford gave valuable assistance. Climatic data were abstracted from Met Éireann records. The Ordnance survey provided the topographic maps that were used in field mapping; it also prepared the modified digital topographic map that forms the base of the soil and soil suitability maps. The section on bedrock was based mainly on the Bedrock Geology 1:100,000 series compiled by the Geological Survey (Sleeman and McConnell, 1995; Tietzsch-Tyler and Sleeman, 1994). The description of Quaternary Geology in the county mainly follows that presented by Quinn and Warren (1989). Permission to traverse the land of the county was freely given by farmers and landowners; their generous cooperation is gratefully acknowledged. Grateful acknowledgement is made to all those contributors mentioned here and to others who helped in various ways. Dr. Noel Culleton, Head of Programme for Crops, Environment & Land Use, Teagasc. 2011 iii Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page iv Soils of Co. Waterford iv Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page v CONTENTS PREFACE ....................................................................................................................................iii CHAPTER 1 ..................................................................................................................................1 General Description of the Area ..............................................................................................1 Location and extent ................................................................................................................1 Topography..............................................................................................................................1 Rivers ......................................................................................................................................6 Climate ....................................................................................................................................8 Bedrock ................................................................................................................................21 Quaternary ............................................................................................................................32 CHAPTER 2 ................................................................................................................................41 Soil Description Classification and Mapping........................................................................41 The soil unit ..........................................................................................................................41 Factors of soil formation ......................................................................................................45 Soil classification ..................................................................................................................47 Soil mapping ........................................................................................................................51 CHAPTER 3 ................................................................................................................................57 Soils ..........................................................................................................................................57 Soil Groups............................................................................................................................57 Map units ..............................................................................................................................60 Ahaun Series ....................................................................................................................64 Ardmore Series..................................................................................................................71 Aughty Series....................................................................................................................76 Ballycondon Series............................................................................................................81 Ballymacart Series ............................................................................................................85 Ballynabola Series ............................................................................................................91 Ballyscanlan Series ..........................................................................................................97 Broomhill Series..............................................................................................................100 Callaghane Series............................................................................................................103 Clashmore Series ............................................................................................................107 Clohernagh Series ..........................................................................................................117 Clonroche Series ............................................................................................................120 Coolfinn Series................................................................................................................126 Curragh Series ................................................................................................................130 Dodard Series..................................................................................................................134 Drumslig Series ..............................................................................................................139 Dungarvan Series ............................................................................................................143 Fen Peat ..........................................................................................................................150 Finisk ..............................................................................................................................151 v Soils of Co Waterford 13/10/2011 14:25 Page vi Soils of Co. Waterford Glenary............................................................................................................................153 Kilbarry Series ................................................................................................................161 Kill Series........................................................................................................................164 Killadangan Series ..........................................................................................................172 Kilmeadan Series ............................................................................................................176 Knockalisheen Series ......................................................................................................185 Knockboy Series ............................................................................................................190 Knockmealdown Series ..................................................................................................199