LOCATION HEROD GA+FLEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, superactive, nonacid, thermic Typic Fluvaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Herod loam--on a level slope in forest. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A1--0 to 4 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) loam; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and medium roots; common thin (0.1 inch thick) sandy strata; many partially decayed bits of forest litter; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
A2--4 to 12 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) loam; many fine and medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; weak medium granular structure; friable; common fine and medium roots; common thin (0.1 to 0.2 inch thick) strata of sand; few bits of partially decomposed forest litter; few worm holes; medium acid; clear smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
Cg1--12 to 38 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay loam; common fine and medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; massive; friable; few fine and medium roots; common thin (0.1 to 0.3 inch thick) strata of loamy sand and clay; few bits of partially decayed forest litter; few worm holes; medium acid; clear smooth boundary. (20 to 40 inches thick)
Cg2--38 to 50 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) clay loam; few medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; massive; firm; few fine roots; common thin (0.1 to 0.3 inch thick) strata of loamy sand and sandy clay; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
Cg3--50 to 62 inches; mottled dark gray (5Y 4/1) and very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam; massive; friable; few fine roots; common thin (0.2 to 0.4 inch thick) strata and pockets of light gray (10YR 7/1) and pale brown (10YR 6/3); sand and clay; slightly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Terrell County, Georgia; 6.0 miles southeast of Dawson, Georgia, to the paved County road that crosses Chickasawhatchee Creek, 75 yards west of Chickasawhatchee Creek and 100 yards south of paved road.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The A horizon is strongly acid or moderately acid and the C horizon is medium acid to neutral. The clay content of the 10 to 40 inch control section is l8 to 35 percent.
The A1 horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3, 4 or 5 and chroma of 2, or hue of 10YR, value of 3, 4 or 5 and chroma of 3. The A2 horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 2, or hue of 10YR or 5Y, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 1. Common to many fine brownish mottles commonly are in the A horizon. Few or common thin strata from 0.1 to 1.0 inch in thickness and of contrasting textures are allowed. The A horizon is loam or sandy loam.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR or 5Y, value of 4 through 7 and chroma of 1 or 2, or hue of 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 2. The Cg1 and Cg2 horizons are clay loam, loam, sandy clay loam or sandy loam. The Cg3 horizon is sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Within the Cg horizon, there are few to many brownish mottles and few to common strata of loamy sand, sandy loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam or clay 0.1 to 1.0 inch in thickness.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Pluck series of the same family and the Angelina, Bibb, Briscot, Enoree, Kinston, Mantachie, Muckalee, Osier and Wehadkee series of similar families. Pluck soils have a summer moisture deficit of 2 inches or more. Angelina, Kinston and Mantachie soils are in acid families. Bibb and Muckalee soils are coarse-loamy. Briscot, Enoree and Wehadkee have mixed mineralogy. Osier soils are sandy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Herod soils occur on flood plains of streams in the Coastal Plain. The soil formed in sandy and clayey alluvium. Stream channels are generally shallow and meandering. The soils flood frequently for brief periods. Slopes are less than 2 percent. The mean annual temperature is about 62 to 70 degrees F. and the mean annual precipitation is 40 to 55 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Bibb, Kinston, Muckalee and Osier series and the Coxville, Grady and Meggett series. Coxville, Grady and Meggett soils are in a clayey family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; very slow runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Dominantly native woodland of bay, sweetgum, blackgum, loblolly pine, water oak, red maple and willow. A few areas have been cleared, drained and used for pasture.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Coastal Plain of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina and South Carolina. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lee County, Georgia; l974.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of approximately 12 inches (A1 and A2 horizons).
Nonacid feature - the medium acid to slightly acid reaction in the 10 to 40 inch control section.