Soil Associations

0543 ARROW

Soil and site characteristics

Deep permeable coarse loamy soils affected by groundwater.

Geology

Glaciofluvial drift

Cropping and Land Use

Cereals, some field vegetables and potatoes.

Component soil series

Subgroup	Series name	Percentage	WRB 2006 link
5.43	ARROW	60%	Eutric Endogleyic Cambisols
8.31	QUORNDON	20%	Eutric Gleysols

Covers 421 km² in England and Wales

Soilscapes Classification

22	Loamy soils with naturally high groundwater

0543 ARROW

Detailed Description

Developed in glaciofluvial and river terrace deposits, this association is composed predominantly of coarse loamy soils of which Arrow series, gleyic brown earths, and Quorndon series, cambic gley soils, cover more than half the land. Because of the variable nature of the underlying drift and differences in soil water regime, coarse loamy Wick, Hall and Rockland soils (Allen and Sturdy 1980) occur locally and sandy Newport, Ollerton and Blackwood soils are also found. There are fine loamy Salwick, Hopsford and Wigton Moor soils in places, and some of the larger river terraces are crossed by thin strips of alluvial soils. The association covers about 230 km² mainly on terraces of the main rivers. Along the rivers Avon and Anker, fine loamy Salwick and Wigton Moor soils occur as well as coarse loamy profiles of the Wick, Hall and Rockland series.

In the Trent valley, small but significant inclusions of sandy Newport, Ollerton and Blackwood soils are found. Fladbury and Trent soils are included locally where the alluvial tracts are too narrow to be included with the nearby alluvial soil associations. The association occurs at about 40 m O.D. between Market Bosworth and Leicester. Near Rugby there is a discrete area where Dunsmore series is included. The association covers only 23 km² in Eastern England on flat or gently sloping land and is best represented around Donington on Bain where the soils were mapped in detail by Heaven (1978).

The association covers only a small area around Apperley in north Gloucestershire, where the soils on the river terraces along the Severn were mapped in detail by Cope (1973). Here the association is composed mainly of Arrow soils with Wick and Whimple soils as the principal inclusions.

The association covers only 33km² in several small patches throughout Northern England and is best represented in the Aire valley near Knottingley, near Laceby in Humberside and Aspatria in Cumbria.

Soil Water Regime

The soils are permeable but are seasonally waterlogged on undrained land (Wetness Class II and III). Most of the soils respond well to drainage measures after which they are usually well drained (Wetness Class I). Locally Quorndon soils can be difficult to drain effectively if there is no suitable outfall. The ability of the soils to absorb excess winter rainfall depends on whether or not they have been drained. Where they have, excess rainfall is absorbed but where a high groundwater-table persists run-off occurs. Profile available water is generally sufficient to sustain arable crops in most seasons but grass may suffer from drought.

Cropping and Land Use

Arrow and Quorndon soils have ample machinery work day periods. Both are capable of growing a wide range of crops when drained. They are easily cultivated and there is usually adequate opportunity for landwork in spring except in wet years. Organic matter contents are small, leading to weak structure in the upper horizons and a susceptibility to compaction and slaking. The soils are acid in reaction and are naturally low in most nutrients, requiring regular dressings of lime and fertilizer.

0543 ARROW

Distribution Map

Note that the yellow shading represents a buffer to highlight the location of very small areas of the association.

Keys to component soil series

Midlands

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Citation: To use information from this web resource in your work, please cite this as follows:
Cranfield University 2025. The Soils Guide. Available: www.landis.org.uk. Cranfield University, UK. Last accessed 14/01/2025