LOCATION HORNSBORO NC
Established Series
Rev. DGS:WES:DTA
12/2025
HORNSBORO SERIES
MLRA(s): 136 (thermic part)
Soil Survey Regional Office (SSRO) Responsible: Southeast
Depth Class: Very deep
Agricultural Drainage Class: Somewhat poorly drained
Index Surface Runoff: Medium
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Class: Moderately low
Shrink-Swell Potential: High
Landscape: Triassic Basin in the Piedmont
Landform: stream terraces
Parent Material: Clayey alluvium
Slope: 0 to 3 percent
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 16 degrees C (61 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation: 1118 millimeters (44 inches)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Natraqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Hornsboro silt loam--cultivated. (Colors are for moist soil.)
Ap--0 to 15 centimeters (0 to 6 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silt loam; weak medium granular structure; friable; common very fine and few medium roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 25 centimeters (3 to 10 inches) thick)
E--15 to 25 centimeters (6 to 10 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; few fine distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 13 centimeters (0 to 5 inches) thick)
Btg--25 to 61 centimeters (10 to 24 inches); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay; weak medium prismatic parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; sticky, plastic; common fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (25 to 142 centimeters (10 to 56 inches) thick)
Bt1--61 to 94 centimeters (24 to 37 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4), yellowish brown (10YR 5/6), and gray (N 6/0) clay; weak medium prismatic parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; sticky, plastic; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; the areas with gray colors are iron depletions and the areas with brown colors are iron accumulations; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.
Bt2--94 to 132 centimeters (37 to 52 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay; moderate medium prismatic parting to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; sticky, very plastic; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine rounded manganese concretions; few calcium carbonate concretions 6 to 25 millimeters (0.25 to 1 inch) in diameter; common medium distinct gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions and common medium faint brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of iron accumulation; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 10 to 127 centimeters (4 to 50 inches)
B'tg--132 to 157 centimeters (52 to 62 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; sticky, very plastic; few fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few calcium carbonate concretions 6 to 25 millimeters (0.25 to 1 inch) in diameter; few rounded quartz gravel; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 76 centimeters (0 to 30 inches) thick)
BC--157 to 178 centimeters (62 to 70 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 5 percent by volume rounded quartz gravel; the areas with gray colors are iron depletions and the areas with brown colors are iron accumulations; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 66 centimeters (0 to 26 inches) thick)
2C--178 to 203 centimeters (70 to 80 inches); light gray (10YR 7/1), yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), and brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; the areas with gray colors are iron depletions and the areas with brown colors are iron accumulations; neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Anson County, North Carolina; Approximately 5.45 miles south on US Highway 52 from intersection with Secondary Road 1418 in Ansonville; 1.52 miles west on Secondary Road 1652; 0.34 south on Secondary Road 1641 to Secondary Road 1642; 0.6 mile southwest on Secondary Road 1642 to farm path; 1000 feet east on farm road; 500 feet southeast of corner of woods; and 2000 feet west of Gould's Fork Creek. USGS Ansonville, North Carolina topographic quadrangle.
Latitude--35.013
Longitude-- -80.113
Datum--WGS84
Elevation is 245 feet.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Solum Thickness: 102 to more than 152 centimeters (40 to more than 60 inches)
Depth to Bedrock: Greater than 152 centimeters (60 inches)
Depth to Seasonal High Water Table: 30 to 46 centimeters (12 to 18 inches), December to April
Rock Fragment Content: 0 to 5 percent by volume in the A, BE, BA, Btg, Bt, and B'tg horizons and from 0 to 35 percent in the BC, BCg, C, Cg or 2C horizons. A few calcium carbonate concretions are in the Btb, Bt, B'tg, BC, BCg, Cg, or C horizons in some pedons. Soluble salts are present in the Btg, Bt, B'tg, and BC horizons. Highest exchangeable sodium levels are found in the Btg and Bt horizons and decreases with depth
Soil Reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately alkaline in the A and E horizons, very strongly acid to moderately alkaline in the Btg, Bt, and B'tg horizons and slightly acid to moderately alkaline throughout the rest of the profile.
RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS:
A or Ap horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or is neutral, value of 2 to 5, chroma of 1 to 4
Texture--loam, silt loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam
E horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 or 4
Texture--loam, silt loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions with chroma of 2 or less may be present
Eg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture--loam, silt loam, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--Iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red may be present
BE or BA horizon (if it occurs);
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8
Texture--sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, loam, or silt loam
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red and iron depletions in shades of gray or yellow may be present
BEg or BAg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture--sandy clay loam, silty clay loam, loam, or silt loam
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red may be present
Btg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y or is neutral, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 1 or 2
Iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red are present in most pedons.
Texture--clay, clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red are present in most pedons
Bt horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8 or is mottled in shades of gray, yellow, brown, or red.
Texture--clay, clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red and iron depletions in shades of gray or yellow are present in most pedons
B'tg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y or is neutral, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2.
Texture--clay, clay loam, sandy clay, silty clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red are present in most pedons.
BC horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 3 to 6, or is mottled in shades of gray, yellow, brown, or red
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--sandy clay, silty clay loam, silty clay, loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, or fine sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red and iron depletions in shades of gray or yellow are present in most pedons
BCg or 2BCg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y or is neutral, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--sandy clay, silty clay loam, silty clay, loam, clay loam, sandy clay loam, or fine sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red are present in most pedons.
C or 2C horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8
Texture--variable
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red and iron depletions in shades of gray or yellow are present in most pedons
Cg or 2Cg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y or is neutral, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture--variable
Redoximorphic features--iron concentrations in shades of yellow, brown, or red are present in most pedons.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landscape: Triassic Basin of the Southern Piedmont
Landform: Stream terraces
Elevation: 55 to 259 meters (180 to 850 feet) above mean sea level Parent Material: Alluvium
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 14 to 16 degrees C (57 to 61 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation: 1082 to 1245 millimeters (43 to 49 inches)
Frost Free Period: 152 to 218 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Altavista soils--are moderately well drained and have a loamy subsoil
Augusta soils--have a loamy subsoil
Chewacla soils--have a loamy subsoil and are found on floodplains
Roanoke soils--are poorly drained
Tetotum soils--are moderately well drained and have a loamy subsoil
Wahee soils--do not have soluble salts in the subsoil
Wickham soils--are well drained and have a loamy subsoil
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Agricultural Drainage Class: Somewhat poorly drained
Index Surface Runoff: Medium
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately low
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Woodland, and minimally, cropland, and pasture
Dominant Vegetation: Where wooded-- loblolly pine, sweetgum, willow oak, southern red oak, white oak, water oak, black gum, red maple, and yellow-poplar. Understory species include greenbrier, flowering dogwood, switch cane, honeysuckle, and American holly.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: North Carolina and possibly Virginia
Extent: Small. Known areas of this series are on stream terraces adjacent to streams that dissect Triassic Basins in North Carolina.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Stokes County, North Carolina; 1992.
REMARKS: Hornsboro soils were formerly included with the Wahee series. Wahee soils do not have more than 35 percent base saturation at 50 inches below the upper boundary of the Bt horizon and also lack the presence of soluble salts. The December 2025 revision clarified the directions to the type location. Type location was not moved. The format was also updated. No data was changed.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon--the zone from 0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches) (Ap and E horizons)
Argillic horizon--the zone from 25 to 157 centimeters (10 to 62 inches) below the surface (Btg, Bt1, Bt2, and B'tg horizons)
Natric horizon--the zone from 25 to 157 centimeters (10 to 62 inches) below the surface (Btg, Bt1, Bt2, and B'tg horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA:
TABULAR SERIES DATA:
SOI-5 Soil Name Slope Airtemp FrFr/Seas Precip Elevation
NC0250 HORNSBORO 0-3 57- 61 152-218 43-49 180-850
SOI-5 FloodL FloodH Watertable Kind Months Bedrock Hardness
NC0250 NONE RARE 1.0-1.5 APPARENT NOV-MAY >60
SOI-5 Depth Texture 3-Inch No-10 Clay% -CEC-
NC0250 0-10 SL FSL 0-0 93-100 8-20 5-20
NC0250 0-10 L SIL VFSL 0-0 93-100 8-20 5-20
NC0250 10-62 C SIC SICL 0-0 93-100 35-60 15-40
NC0250 62-70 SCL CL GR-SCL 0-0 57-100 22-40 10-25
NC0250 70-80 VAR - - - -
SOI-5 Depth -pH- O.M. Salin Permeab Shnk-Swll
NC0250 0-10 4.5-7.8 1.-4. 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
NC0250 0-10 4.5-7.8 1.-4. 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
NC0250 10-62 4.5-8.4 .5-1. 0-0 0.06-0.2 HIGH
NC0250 62-70 6.1-8.4 0.-.5 0-0 0.2-0.6 MODERATE
NC0250 70-80 - - - -
________________________________________
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.