Delaware state soil - Greenwich

The predominate soil order in Delaware is Ultisols. They are located in mostly humid, temperate, and tropical areas that are in older and more stable parts of the world. An accumulation of clay can be found on the top layer. They consist of weathered, acid forest soils, low in calcium, magnesium, and potassium. These elements are present in soil as ions forming cation exchange capacity that is often reduced due to leaching and take up 9.2 percent of the total United States land area. The state soil of Delaware is Greenwich, and it is the most significant and prevalent soil in the state. Greenwich is located on uplands of the coastal plain and consists of 123,000+ acres and takes up 9.4 percent of land in Delaware. The parent material is sandy alluvial sediments, transported by water, from the Atlantic Coastal Plain overlain with deposits high silt bothwind-blown, and water transported sediment. The warm humid climate in which Greenwich developed, causes leaching due to abundant rainfall. Leaves, twigs, roots, and other plant material on the surface of pine forests degrade into the soil. The soil horizon is described as having a topsoil of brown loam that is 10 inches thick brown loam. The upper subsoil is strong brown loam, and the lower subsoil is yellowish brown sandy loam. The substratum is yellowish brown coarse sand stratified with dark yellowish brown loamy sand. Greenwich is a productive soil used for crops such as vegetables and forest products. It is also often used for construction and recreational development.