8 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 385 



Interrelationships Between Certain Land Characteristics 



Slope and Erosion. — More striking than the relation between erosion and 

 land use is that shown between the degree of erosion and slope of land. 

 Table 5 shows that there was definite and continuous increase in the 

 severity of erosion with the increase in steepness of slope, excepting the 

 first two classes of erosion on B slopes. On A slopes 99.8 percent of the 

 total land, and on B slopes 96.9 percent had no erosion or slight erosion. 

 C slopes were about evenly divided between no or slight erosion on the 

 one hand and moderate or severe erosion on the other. On D slopes 84.5 

 percent of the land had moderate or severe erosion. 



Soil Type and Erosion. — The data of the survey were not sufficient to permit 

 a study of the soil type as a factor in erosion. The next unit of classifica- 

 tion above the type is the series. Table 6 shows the distribution of erosion 

 in certain soil series. It is to be noted that, with the exception of the 

 Hinckley series, the erosion mapped was almost wholly slight or moderate 

 with little difference among series. With the small acreages represented 

 in all series except Gloucester, the figures should be considered indicative 

 rather than conclusive. The comparatively high percentages of moderate 

 and severe erosion of the Hinckley soils is in accordance with general 

 field observations. This series is characterized by rather siiarp slopes 

 and soil poorly adapted to grasses. 



Table 6. Distribution of Erosion Classes in Certain Soil Series. 

 (Acres and percentage given.) 



Additional Factors Affecting Land Use 



Other natural factors important in determining land use are those affect- 

 ing soil moisture, and, to a less extent, the cheinical characteristics of the 

 soils. These factors are more or less definitely associated with soil type, 

 but there are also significant variations within the soil types. Factors 



