LOCATION ADIRONDACK NY
Established Series
Rev. SCC-SWA-TDT
04/2013
ADIRONDACK SERIES
The Adirondack Series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, loamy soils overlying dense till. They are in shallow depressions, on footslopes, and along drainageways on till plains in uplands and mountainous areas. Estimated saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high in the mineral solum and moderately low to moderately high in the dense substratum. Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent. The mean annual temperature is 42 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 42 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, isotic, frigid Typic Endoaquods
TYPICAL PEDON: Adirondack fine sandy loam, on a 3 percent slope that is very bouldery on the surface and is wooded (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise indicated).
Oe -- 0 to 2 inches; black (5YR 2.5/1) moderately decomposed organic matter; unrubbed 75% fibers, rubbed 35% fibers;) weak fine and medium granular structure; very friable; many fine and few medium and coarse roots; extremely acid; clear smooth boundary.
Oa -- 2 to 4 inches; black (5YR 2.5/1) highly decomposed organic matter; (unrubbed 25% fibers; rubbed 3% fibers) moderate fine and medium granular structure; very friable; many fine, few medium and coarse roots; extremely acid; clear smooth boundary. (The combined thickness of the O horizons is 0 to 6 inches.)
E -- 4 to 6 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine, few medium and coarse roots; 5 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; few medium prominent dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick.)
Bh -- 6 to 8 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) fine sandy loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable with 25 percent firm masses; common fine roots; 5 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; common medium and coarse distinct dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 7 inches thick.)
Bhs -- 8 to 9 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) fine sandy loam; weak thin and medium platy structure; friable with 20 percent firm masses; few fine roots; 5 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; common medium faint reddish brown (5YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation; common medium faint dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) iron nodules; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick.)
Bs -- 9 to 18 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) and brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; weak thin and medium platy structure parting to weak very fine subangular blocky; friable, with 20 percent firm masses; few fine roots in the upper part; 5 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; many medium and coarse distinct yellowish red (5YR 4/6) and common fine faint light brown (7.5YR 6/4) masses of iron accumulation; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 18 inches thick.)
BC -- 18 to 26 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) to dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; 10 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; many medium and coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/6), common fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), few medium faint pale brown (10YR 6/3) masses of iron accumulation; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 13 inches thick.)
Cd1 -- 26 to 34 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loamy sand; massive with weak medium plate-like divisions; firm; 15 percent rock fragments, 1 percent greater than 3 inches; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary
Cd2 -- 34 to 43 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) to brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly loamy sand; massive; firm in place; 25 percent rock fragments; 3 percent greater than 3 inches; few fine and medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Cd3 -- 43 to 72 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) gravelly loamy sand; massive; firm in place, friable removed; 30 percent rock fragments, 5 percent greater than 3 inches; strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Hamilton County, New York; town of Morehouse, 100 feet south of a point on NYS Rt.8 where the trail starts to the Fort Noble fire tower. USGS Ohio, NY 15 minute topographic quadrangle; Latitude 43 degrees, 23 minutes, 36 seconds N. and Longitude 74 degrees, 49 minutes, 43 seconds W. NAD 1927.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mineral solum thickness ranges from 20 to 38 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Redoximorphic features consisting of iron depletions or concentrations occur in the spodic horizon within 20 inches of the mineral soil surface. Rock fragments, mainly stones, cobbles, and gravel, range from 5 to 35 percent, by volume, throughout the mineral soil.
The O horizon ranges from slightly decomposed to highly decomposed plant material. Reaction is extremely acid or very strongly acid.
Some pedons have an A horizon that is neutral or has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of 0 to 3. Some pedons have an Ap horizon that is hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 to 3. Texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction and includes mucky modifier in some pedons. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid. Thickness of the A or Ap horizon is 0 to 8 inches.
The E horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture is loamy fine sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid.
The Bh horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. Consistence is friable or very friable, but up to 25 percent firm areas may be present. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid.
The Bhs horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, with value and chroma of 3. Texture, consistence and reaction are similar to the Bh horizon.
The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. Consistence is friable or very friable. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to strongly acid.
The BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR to 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4. Texture is loamy fine sand to silt loam in the fine earth fraction. Consistence is friable or firm. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The Cd horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 3. Texture is loamy sand, loamy fine sand, coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam. It is massive or has plate-like divisions. Consistence is firm or very firm. Vertical desiccation cracks 20 inches or more apart are in some pedons. Reaction is strongly acid or moderately acid. Some pedons have a thin C horizon above the Cd horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: The
Ampersand and
Foxpaw series are in the same family. Ampersand soils have 6 percent or more organic carbon in the spodic horizon. Foxpaw soils have a friable till substratum.
Similar series include the
Brayton,
Cabot,
Lyme,
Peacham,
Suny, and
Westbury. Brayton, Cabot, Lyme, Peacham, and Suny soils do not have a spodic horizon. Westbury soils have a fragipan horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Adirondack soils are nearly level to strongly sloping soils in slightly concave areas and shallow drainage ways of glaciated uplands. Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent, and is dominantly 0 to 8 percent. The soils formed in Wisconsin age till derived mainly from igneous and meta-igneous rocks. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 50 inches; mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F; and the mean annual frost-free days ranges from 90 to 130 days. Elevation ranges from 600 to 2200 feet above sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Adirondack soils are commonly associated with the well drained
Potsdam,
Berkshire and
Becket soils and the moderately well drained
Crary,
Skerry and
Sunapee soils that are on higher topographic positions. Also associated are the very poorly drained
Tughill soils and the poorly drained
Lyme soils that have more friable substratums.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff is high to very high. Estimated saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high in the mineral solum and moderately low to moderately high in the dense substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Almost exclusively forested with red maple, yellow birch, balsam fir, eastern hemlock, black spruce, and red spruce.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Adirondack Mountains of New York. MLRA 143. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Amherst, Massachusetts
SERIES ESTABLISHED: St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1990.
REMARKS: Previous classification was in the Epiaquods great group. This was changed to Endoaquods based on new Taxonomy guidance regarding Cd horizons.
Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in the typical pedon are as follows:
1. Ochric epipedon - from 4 to 6 inches (E horizon).
2. Spodic horizon - from 6 to 18 inches (Bh, Bhs and Bs horizons).
3. Endoaquods great group - redoximorphic features in the albic or spodic horizons and within 20 inches of the mineral soil surface.
4. Redoximorphic Features - iron concentrations are evidence of aquic conditions (E, Bh, Bhs, and Bs horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Engineering test data, and characterization data are available for Oneida County, New York for pedon S84NY065-5 from the Cornell University Soil Survey Laboratory.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.