LOCATION BEECH WV+KYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Beech loam - on a 20 percent southeast-facing slope in a mixed hardwood and shortleaf pine wooded area at 660 feet elevation. (Colors are for moist soil.)
Oi--1 to 0 inches; partially decomposed leaf litter, twigs and pine needles.
A--0 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) loam; moderate fine and medium granular structure; very friable; many fine and medium roots; 10 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary (3 to 9 inches thick).
BA--6 to 9 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) channery loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine and medium roots; 15 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary (0 to 6 inches thick).
Bt1--9 to 21 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) channery loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine and medium roots; common discontinuous clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--21 to 35 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) channery clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium roots; common fine and medium light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; common to many discontinuous clay films on faces of ped; common fine and medium iron and manganese concretions; 20 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--35 to 44 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) very channery loam; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few medium roots; common fine and medium light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; common discontinuous clay films on faces of peds; common fine and medium iron and manganese concretions; 35 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 20 to 50 inches.)
BC--44 to 51 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) very channery loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few medium roots; many medium light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) redox depletions; few discontinuous clay films on faces of peds; common fine and medium iron and manganese concretions; 40 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary (0 to 14 inches thick).
C--51 to 65 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and light gray (10YR 7/1) very channery loam; massive; friable; common manganese and iron concretions; 60 percent rock fragments; strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Wayne County, West Virginia; approximately 500 yards east of the junction of Long Branch Road and Butler Branch and about 1000 yards southeast of the Cabell County line.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to the top of the argillic horizon ranges from 3 to 15 inches. The thickness of the argilic horizon ranges from 20 to 50 inches. Thickness of the solum ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Drainage mottles with chroma of 2 or less are below the upper 10 inches of the argillic horizon, and within 36 inches of the soil surface. Rock fragments of sandstone and siltstone range from 10 to 30 percent in the A and BA horizons and 15 to 60 percent in the Bt, BC and C horizons, but average 15 to 35 percent in the control section. Unlimed soils are very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 4. Average clay content ranges from 7 to 27 percent and 25 to 52 percent sand. Texture is silt loam or loam.
The BA horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 2 to 4. Texture is silt loam or loam.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 2 to 8. Average clay content ranges from 7 to 40 percent and sand content ranges from 20 to 52 percent. Texture is loam, or clay loam.
The BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10 YR, or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7 and chroma of 2 to 8. Texture is loam, or clay loam.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10 YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 2 to 8. Texture is loam, silt loam, or clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Adamstown, Blakeslee, Cazenovia, El Dara, Funkstown, Hilton, Kidami, Lima, Miami, Pevely, Rainsville, Rawson, Royerton, Shawtown, Vaughnsville series. The Adamstown and Funkstown formed in colluvium derived from limestone. Blakeslee, Cazenovia, Hilton, Kidami, Lima, Miami, Rainsville, Royerton, Shawtown, and Vaughnville are all in glaicially influenced settings. El Dara and Pevely are missing rock fragments throughout profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Beech soils are on gently sloping to steep footslopes and colluvial fans. Slope ranges from 3 to 35 percent, but are typically 8 to 35 percent. The soil formed in colluvium from sandstone, shale, and siltstone. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 38 to 46 inches. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 53 to 59 degrees F. Annual frost free days range between 165 and 185.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cotaco, Dekalb, Gilpin, Latham, Sensabaugh, Upshur, and the competing Dormont soils. The Dekalb, Gilpin and Latham soils have bedrock at a depth of 20 to 40 inches and are found on upland hillsides and ridgetops. Upshur soils are clayey and formed in residuum. Dormont soils do not allow loam and clay loam textures in the Bt horizon, have less rock fragments and are found on upland benches. The Sensabaugh soils are on adjacent narrow floodplains. The Cotaco soils are on stream terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; medium to very rapid runoff; moderate to moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are mainly used for woodland, pasture, and hayland. Mixed hardwood, mainly oaks, and yellow-poplar are usually dominant with scattered areas of shortleaf pine also present.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern West Virginia, possibly Ohio and Kentucky. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wayne County, West Virginia, 1993.
REMARKS: (1) Beech soils have previously been included in the Vandalia and Shelocta series. It has also been included in a Loamy substratum phase of the Dormont series. (2) The soil pH is not a good indicator for base saturation for this series.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
a. Ochric epipedon--the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of about 9 inches (A and BA horizons).
b. Argillic horizon--the zone from 9 inches to 44 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, horizons).
c. Updated Aug 2005 for assigning an activity class and competing series. Sampling of series is planned.
(3). Prior updates by CPC-ART-WFH 10/94
(4). Updated to 9th Edition Keys to Soil Taxonomy and competing series.
ADDITIONAL DATA:
NOTE:Competing series are expected to change as similar series are evaluated.
SIR = WV0127.