Description

MLRA 142 is in New York (75 percent) and Vermont (25 percent). It makes up about 7,067 square miles (18,305 square kilometers). The MLRA is made up of two broad valleys, the St. Lawrence and Champlain, that coalesce to form a broad contiguous lowland underlain by relatively thick Wisconsin till, outwash, lacustrine, and marine deposits. It adjoins Lake Champlain at the New York-Vermont border. MLRA 142 is roughly U-shaped, with the open end to the south. A distinct southern boundary occurs in New York with the physiographically dissimilar Adirondack Mountains part of MLRA 143. The eastern boundary is distinct where it contacts the physiographically dissimilar Green Mountains part of MLRA 143 in Vermont. The southwestern boundary, in New York, is distinct with the physiographically dissimilar Tug Hill Plateau (MLRA 141) but is more diffuse with small parts of MLRA 101. The southeastern part of MLRA 142 forms a relatively diffuse boundary with MLRAs 144A and 144B in New York and Vermont. The northern boundary of the MLRA is he Canadian border and the St. Lawrence River. Lake Ontario is along the western boundary. The dominant soil orders are Alfisols, Inceptisols, Spodosols, and Entisols. The soils in the area have a frigid or mesic temperature regime, an aquic or udic moisture regime, and mixed or isotic mineralogy. They are shallow to very deep, excessively drained to very poorly drained, and sandy to clayey. Most of this area is in forests or farms. The forests consist of northern hardwoods and conifers. Sawlogs and pulpwood are the main forest products. Christmas trees and maple syrup also are produced throughout the area. Dairy operations and some beef operations are common. Hay for dairy cattle is the principal crop, but small grain and corn are grown for silage in some areas. Corn for grain, soybeans, and small grains also make up a significant acreage. Potatoes are an important cash crop in some areas, and a few apple orchards are on the slopes along Lake Champlain, but the total acreage of these crops is small. Some areas are used for urban development. The major soil resource concerns on cropland are sheet, rill, and gully erosion; the content of organic matter and productivity of the soils; and surface compaction (resulting primarily from the harvest of crops under wet conditions). Some erosion results from logging practices. Conservation practices on cropland generally include conservation tillage, contour stripcropping, crop rotations, crop residue management (primarily mulch-till), cover crops, diversions, and grassed waterways. Conservation practices on forestland generally include forest stand improvement and proper construction, use, and maintenance of skid trails, water bars, access roads, and log landings.

Geographic subunits

Land Resource Unit 1. The Frigid Soil Temperature Regime LRU is located primarily in the St. Lawrence Valley and Upper Champlain Valley portions of New York and Vermont. These soils will have a mean annual temperature is between 0 and 8°C and the difference between mean summer (June, July, August) and mean winter (December, January, February) soil temperatures is 6°C or more either at a depth of 50cm below the soil surface or at root restriction, whichever is shallower (USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 13th Edition). The total area of this LRU is approximately 2,300,000 acres. This LRU will have a shorter growing season than the Mesic LRU. Species more tolerant of harsher year round temperatures will be more evident in this LRU, portraying lower species diversity.

Land Resource Unit 2. The Mesic Soil Temperature Regime LRU is located primarily in the Eastern Ontario Plain and Lower Champlain Valley portions of New York and Vermont. These soils will have a mean annual soil temperature 8°C or higher but lower than 15°C and the difference between mean summer (June, July, August) and mean winter (December, January, February) soil temperatures is 6°C or more either at a depth of 50cm below the soil surface or at root restriction, whichever is shallower (USDA Keys to Soil Taxonomy, 13th Edition). The total area of this LRU is approximately 1,900,000 acres. This LRU will have a longer growing season than the Frigid LRU. Species more tolerant of milder year round temperatures will be more evident in this LRU, portraying higher species diversity.