Pluff Mud

From CharlestonWiki

Pluff mud is a lowcountry term to describe the dark soft soil in the marshes. Pluff mud typically has a distinct odor that is the result of some combination of bacteria, water content and climate.

Pluff mud's role in Charleston agriculture history

This prime, quality soil, abundant for hundreds of square miles around Charleston, was one of the reasons that in the 1700's and 1800's rice production became by far the city's most important industry. The quality of the crop was unsurpassed, and several well-known varieties came from the area, such as one known as Carolina Gold.

The soft soil couldn't support the types of farming machinery available at the time. But in Charleston, where slave labor was used to work the fields, this was not a major problem. Rice had been being cultivated in Africa for hundreds of years so most of the slaves arriving in Charleston already had the knowledge they needed to be efficient workers.

After the Civil War rice produced in Charleston could no longer compete on the open market due to the expensive cost of labor to work the fields. Louisiana, however, had soil very similar to Charlestons' but not quite as soft. Machinery could be used there and Louisiana still produces a large cash crop of rice each year.

Middleton Place Plantation in Charleston still has a preserved section of rice field which is kept up somewhat but not on a scale large enough to be profitable. It is mainly used for education and tourism purposes.