LOCATION GEFF IL

Established Series
Rev. JCD-SEW-AAC
03/2011

GEFF SERIES

The Geff series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in 24 to 40 inches (61 to 102 cm) of loess or other silty material and the underlying stratified loamy outwash on low stream terraces and flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 54 degrees F. (12 degrees C.), and mean annual precipitation is about 42 inches (1067 mm).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Geff silt loam - on broad, nearly level summit on low terrace; in a cultivated field at an elevation of about 385 feet (117 meters) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 10 inches (0 to 25 cm); brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak very fine granular structure; friable; common very fine roots; few fine spherical iron-manganese concretions throughout; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. [5 to 10 inches (13 to 25 cm) thick]

E--10 to 15 inches (25 to 38 cm); brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam; weak thick platy structure parting to weak fine and medium subangular blocky; friable; common very fine roots; common distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) organic coatings on faces of peds; common faint light gray (10YR 7/2) clay depletions on faces of peds; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron and common fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; few fine spherical iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [2 to 10 inches (5 to 25 cm) thick]

Bt1--15 to 21 inches (38 to 53 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine roots; many distinct brown (10YR 5/3) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) (dry) clay depletions on faces of peds; many fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; few fine spherical iron-manganese concretions throughout; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--21 to 35 inches (53 to 89 cm); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; friable; common very fine roots; many distinct brown (10YR 5/3) clay films and common distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) (dry) clay depletions on faces of peds; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common fine spherical iron-manganese concretions throughout; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 15 to 25 inches (38 to 64 cm).]

2Bt3--35 to 49 inches (89 to 124 cm); variegated yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) and (10YR 5/8) and light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) silt loam; moderate medium prismatic structure; friable; very few fine roots; common distinct brown (10YR 5/3) clay films on faces of peds; common fine spherical iron-manganese concretions throughout; 15 to 30 percent sand increasing with depth; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

2Bt4--49 to 60 inches (124 to 152 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) stratified loam and sandy loam; weak coarse prismatic structure; friable; few very fine roots; few distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions and few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizons is 15 to 30 inches.)

3E and Bt--60 to 80 inches (152 to 203 cm); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) loamy sand (E part); brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam lamellae (Bt part); single grain and loose (E part); massive and very friable (Bt part); few distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay bridges between sand grains (Bt part); moderately acid. (0 to 50 inches thick)

TYPE LOCATION: Wayne County, Illinois; about 2 miles north and 1/2 mile west of Golden Gate; 1,900 feet east and 60 feet north of the southwest corner of section 33, T.1 S., R.9 E.; USGS Albion, IL. NW topographic quadrangle; lat. 38 degrees 23 minutes 11.4 seconds North and long. 88 degrees 12 minutes 57 seconds West; UTM Zone 16S, Easting 0393876 Northing 4249399, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth of solum: 50 to more than 80 inches (127 to 203 cm)
Depth to the loamy outwash sediments: 24 to 40 inches (61 to 102 cm)
Particle size control section: 27 to 35 percent clay and ranges from 0 to 10 percent rock fragments

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 (5 to 7 dry)
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
Other features: Some pedons have an A horizon less than 7 inches in thickness that has color value of 2 or 3 (4 or 5 dry).

E and/or BE horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value:f 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 or 3; redox features have chroma of 2 to 8
Texture: silt loam; averages 18 to 30 percent clay, 0 to 10 percent sand, and 60 to 80 percent silt
Redox features have chroma of 2 to 8.
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Redox features: have hue of 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 8
Texture: silty clay loam and averages 27 to 35 percent clay, 0 to 10 percent sand, and 60 to 70 percent silt. Individual subhorizons range from 22 to 38 percent clay.
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid

2Bt and/or 2BC horizon:
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR, or 7.5YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 to 8
Texture: stratified silt loam, loam, clay loam and sandy loam and averages 18 to 30 percent clay and 15 to 50 percent sand. Individual subhorizons range from 10 to 35 percent clay and 15 to 70 percent sand.
Rock fragment content: 0 to 10 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid

3E and Bt horizon:
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly alkaline
Texture: sand to sandy loam; the eluvial part averages 1 to 10 percent clay and 70 to 98 percent sand and the illuvial part averages 4 to 15 percent clay and 65 to 95 percent sand.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Appleriver, Blair, Bunkum, Fishhook, Freeburg, Glenford, Keene, Muren Reesville, Sugarvalley, Torox and Xenia series. Appleriver soils have lithic or paralithic contact within 60 inches of the soil surface and contain residuum below the loess. Blair and Freeburg soils average more than 10 percent sand in the upper part of the series control section. Fishhook soils average more than 35 percent clay in the
lower part of the series control section. Bunkum and Glenford soils average less than 15 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Keene soils have weathered bedrock at depths of 40 to 84 inches. Reesville, Sugarvalley and Torox soils have carbonates above a depth of 60 inches. Xenia soils average more than 5 percent coarse and very coarse sand in the lower part of the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Geff soils are on stream terraces and flood plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in 24 to 40 inches (61 to 102 cm) of loess or other silty material and in loamy and sandy outwash. Mean annual air temperature varies from 54 to 57 degrees F. (12 to 14 degrees C.), mean annual precipitation ranges from 40 to 48 inches (1016 to 1219 mm), frost free days range from 160 to 200 days, and elevation ranges from 360 to 500 feet (110 to 152 meters) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Ava, Racoon, Ridgway, and Sexton soils. Ava soils are moderately well drained and are on uplands. Racoon soils are poorly drained, have less sand in the lower part of the particle size control section, and are in slightly lower positions. Ridgway soils are well drained and are in the hydro-sequence with Geff soils. Sexton soils are poorly drained and are on lower positions of outwash plains and terraces.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff is low or medium. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is 4.23 to 14.11 micrometers per second in the upper 40 inches (102 cm) and ranges to 42.34 to 141.14 micrometers per second in the underlying strata. Permeability is moderate in the upper 40 inches (102 cm) and ranges to rapid in the underlying strata. The seasonal high water
table is 1 to 2 feet below the surface in spring.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans, and small grain are the principal crops. Some areas are wooded. Native vegetation is deciduous hardwood forest.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central and Southern Illinois in MLRAs 113, 114B and 115B. The extent is small.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wayne County, Illinois, 1990.

REMARKS: The series name is taken from the town name in Wayne County.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
1) ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 15 inches or 38 cm (Ap and E horizons);
2) argillic horizon - the zone from about 15 inches to 80 inches or 38 to 203 cm (Bt1, Bt2, 2Bt3, and 2Bt4 horizons, and the Bt part of the 3E and Bt horizon);
3) aquic conditions - redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less in the upper 10 inches or 25 cm of the argillic horizon;
4) discontinuities- loess (from a depth of 0 to 35 inches or 0 to 89 cm); loamy outwash (from a depth of 35 to 60 inches or 89 to 152 cm); sandy outwash (from a depth of 60 to 80 inches or 152 to 203 cm);
5) udic moisture regime; mesic temperature regime.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.