Lsg Light gravelly sand

soil map units where Lsg Light gravelly sand is dominant

Soil properties

Property Value
Geographic distribution Tuvalu
Landscape position Typically found around the periphery of most islands and are developed on the younger, recently accumulated sands and gravel deposits
Soil parent material Coralline sand and gravel
Slope Flat (0-3°)
Surface outcrops No surface outcrops
Brief soil profile description Shallow, often less than 10cm thick, friable with poor differentiation of horizons. Soil colour is typically grey brown (7.5YR 5/3) or brownish grey (7.5YR 4/2). The degree of staining varies with age, stability of surface, declining with depth beneath the surface along with organic matter content.
Soil profile texture A shallow organic layer over unaltered corraline gravels and sand.
Minimum effective rooting depth >75 cm
Soil pH (acidity) pH ranges over 7.8-8.5 (moderately alkaline)
Salinity Low
Soil fertility under natural conditions Most soil properties are related to the organic matter content of the topsoil. Organic Carbon, Nitrogen, Cation Exchange Capacity all increase with the age of the soil, but Potassium is always low. Extractable phosphorus (Olsen P) values are generally low for topsoils and very low for subsoils.
Soil moisture regime Ustic
Susceptibility to drought Susceptibly to drought during dry periods but these are relatively rare, particularly in the southern islands.
Soil drainage Excessively drained
Susceptibility to waterlogging Not susceptible
Susceptibility to flooding Not susceptible

Partners and funders