• Massachusetts is home to a wide range of soil types.dirt image by jackie from Fotolia.com
  
  In Massachusetts, a range of soil types can be found; however, soils are not generally divided into "types." Rather, in the U.S., scientists classify soils with a tiered taxonomic system, first dividing all soils into 12 orders, then dividing the orders into suborders, the suborders into great groups and so on until reaching individual series, the smallest grouping of soils. While Massachusetts has literally hundreds of soils, you can begin by familiarizing yourself with a few common series.
  
  

Paxton Series

• The "official soil of Massachusetts," the Paxton series of soil, has a coarse to loamy texture. It tends to be fairly well drained and usually extends downwards all the way to bedrock. Often, Paxton series soils can be found along plains and hills. As with any series of soil, Paxton soils change texture at different depths. From the surface down to depths of 8 inches, they are fine, sandy loam and range in color from pale to dark brown. From depths of 8 to 15 inches, the soil becomes more yellowish in color and strongly acidic. From 15 to 26 inches, the soil is olive brown in color with a greater amount of gravel. Below 26 inches, the soil is purely olive colored and around 25 percent gravel.
  
  

Woodbridge Series

• The Woodbridge series of soils has a coarse, loamy texture. Its particle size is mixed, combining large and small grains. Generally the series can be found on plains and hills. The soil comes from rocks such as schist, gneiss and granite. Woodbridge soils are fairly well drained, with a moderate to high degree of runoff from the surface. The soil can support a number of crops, woods or grazing lands. In addition to much of Massachusetts, the soil can be found in parts of Connecticut, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island.
  
  

Ridgebury Series

• The Ridgebury series of soils is notable for its poor drainage capacity. The soil comes from rocks such as granite, gneiss and schist. Generally, the soil is sandy loam or loamy and fairly acidic. It can be found at elevations around 1,100 feet, frequently around wooded areas. The series displays relatively little runoff. It frequently supports woods, including birch, maple, hemlock, spruce and fir, as well as pasture lands. The series can be found, extensively, throughout the originally glaciated parts of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. The Ridgebury series is very black in color and has a fine, sandy loam texture for the topmost 5 inches. From depths of 5 to 9 inches, it is a brown, sandy loam. From 9 to 18 inches, it's dark gray and gravelly. From 18 to 65 inches deep, the soil has a large iron content.