LOCATION SCHAFFER OHEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Aeric Fragiaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Schaffer silt loam, on a 1 percent slope in cropland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; very friable; common fine roots; common fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulations in the matrix; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. [18 to 28 cm (7 to 11 inches) thick]
BE--20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak thin platy; very friable; few fine roots; many fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation throughout; few fine brown (10YR 4/3) worm casts in the matrix; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 28 cm (11 inches) thick]
Bt--30 to 43 cm (12 to 17 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; many fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [13 to 38 cm (5 to 15 inches) thick]
Eg/Bt--43 to 53 cm (17 to 21 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), Eg part; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), Bt part; silty clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; common faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; many prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay depletions on vertical faces of peds; common prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay depletions on horizontal faces of peds; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of peds; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 25 cm (10 inches) thick]
Bt/Eg--53 to 74 cm (21 to 29 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), Bt part; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), Eg part; silty clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; common distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; common medium distinct pale brown (10YR 6/3) iron depletions in the matrix; many prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay depletions on vertical faces of peds; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of peds; 1 percent igneous rock fragments; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. [13 to 30 cm (5 to 12 inches) thick]
2Btx1--74 to 96 cm (29 to 38 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam; moderate very coarse and coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very firm; many prominent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of prisms; few distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on horizontal faces of prisms; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation throughout; common faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay depletions on vertical faces of prisms; common fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of prisms; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; 65 percent brittle; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
2Btx2--96 to 114 cm (38 to 45 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; very firm; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of prisms; many distinct gray (10YR 6/1) clay films on faces of prisms; common fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions throughout; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation throughout; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses on iron and manganese accumulation on faces of prisms; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; 40 percent brittle; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the 2Btx horizon is 25 to 76 cm (10 to 30 inches).]
2Bt1--114 to 140 cm (45 to 55 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; many distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of prisms; common distinct gray (10YR 6/1) clay films on faces of prisms; common medium distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions throughout; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation throughout; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of prisms; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; neutral; gradual smooth boundary.
2Bt2--140 to 180 cm (55 to 71 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate fine angular blocky; friable; common distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of prisms; many distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of prisms; common distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on horizontal faces of prisms; few medium distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions throughout; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation on faces of prisms; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of prisms; 6 percent igneous rock fragments; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
2Bt3--180 to 203 cm (71 to 80 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; common prominent gray (10YR 6/1) clay films on faces of prisms; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of prisms; common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of prisms; few medium prominent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions throughout; few fine black (10YR 2/1) masses of iron and manganese accumulation on faces of prisms; 8 percent igneous rock fragments; neutral. [Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 102 to 127 cm (40 to 50 inches).]
TYPE LOCATION: Brown County, Ohio: about 1.25 miles southeast of Fayetteville, in Perry Township; about 5,250 feet east northeast of the junction of US 50 and US 68 along US 50, then about 4,780 feet south; USGS Fayette topographic quadrangle; lat. 39 degrees 10 minutes 32 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 54 minutes 52 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to base of argillic horizon: more than 203 cm (80 inches)
Depth to carbonates: more than 203 cm (80 inches)
Depth to a paleosol formed in till: 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches)
Depth to the fragipan: 63 to 91 cm (25 to 36 inches)
Thickness of the loess: 46 to 102 cm (18 to 40 inches)
Rock fragments: dominantly igneous gravel
Ap and BE horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
Eg/Bt and Bt/Eg horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7 (Eg part); 4 or 5 (Bt part)
Chroma: 2 or 3 (Eg part); 4 to 6 (Bt part)
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to strongly acid
2Btx horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
2Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: clay loam or loam
Sand content: 20 to 45 percent
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to neutral
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bartle, Doles, Dubois, Patricksburg, Platea, Wadsworth, and Weinbach soils in the same family. Bartle, Platea, Wadsworth, and Weinbach soils have the base of the argillic horizon within a depth of 203 cm (80 inches). Doles soils average less than 20 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Dubois soils do not have igneous rock fragments within the series control section and have the lower part of the sola formed in lacustrine or alluvial sediments. Patricksburg soils have the base of the argillic horizon and a paralithic contact within a depth of 203 cm (80 inches).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Schaffer soils are on nearly level to gently sloping areas of loess-covered till plains of Illinoian age. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. The soils formed in a loess mantle 46 to 102 cm (18 to 40 inches) thick and the underlying clay loam or loam till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 889 to 1143 mm (35 to 45 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 11 to 14 degrees C (51 to 57 degrees F).
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Blanchester, Clermont, Jonesboro, Nicely, Rossmoyne, and Westboro soils. Blanchester and Clermont soils are poorly drained and are in depressions or on flats. Jonesboro and Rossmoyne soils are moderately well drained and are on swells or convex parts of the landscape. Nicely soils are moderately well drained and are on shoulder positions. Westboro soils do not have a fragipan are on similar landscape positions.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent perched high water table ranges from 15 to 46 cm (0.5 to 1.5 feet) between January and April in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is medium or high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately low or low above and below the fragipan and low in the fragipan. Permeability is slow and very slow above and below the fragipan and very slow in the fragipan.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are being cropped to soybeans and corn. A few areas are used for small grain, hay or pasture or are in woodland.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central and southwestern Ohio; MLRA 114A. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Brown County, Ohio, 1999.
REMARKS: These soils were formerly mapped as Avonburg series.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 30 cm (Ap, BE horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 30 to 203 cm (Bt, Eg/Bt, Bt/Eg, 2Bt, 2Btx, 2Bt horizons).
Fragipan: from a depth of 74 to 114 cm (2Btx horizon).
Glossic horizon: from a depth of 43 to 74 cm (Eg/Bt, Bt/Eg horizons).
Aquic conditions: redox features in all horizons below a depth of 20 cm.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data for this soil is available through The Ohio State University Soil Characterization Laboratory, BN-23.