LOCATION NORCHIP NY

Established Series
SS-WEH-SEA
05/2015

NORCHIP SERIES

The Norchip series consists of very deep, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils formed in till derived from sandstone, siltstone, and shale. These soils are in upland depressions and have a dense fragipan from 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 in). Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high above the fragipan in the mineral soil and low or moderately low in the fragipan and substratum. Slope ranges from 0 to 8 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 7 degrees C (45 degrees F) and mean annual precipitation is about 1120 mm (44 in).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, frigid Aeric Fragiaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Norchip silt loam, on a 4 percent slope in a reverting pasture. (Colors are for moist soil unless indicated otherwise.)

Ap--0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 in); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2), dry; moderate fine and medium granular structure; friable; many very fine and fine roots and many medium roots and few coarse roots; 5 percent medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6)masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent channers, including 2 percent greater than 75 mm (3 in) in diameter; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (13 to 25 cm [5 to 10 in] thick)

Eg--15 to 41 cm (6 to 16 in); 60 percent grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) and 10 percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) channery silt loam; 20 percent clay; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots and few medium roots; 30 percent medium and coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6)masses of oxidized iron; 20 percent channers, including 5 percent greater than 75 mm (3 in) in diameter; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (13 to 41 cm [5 to 16 in] thick)

Bx1--41 to 61 cm (16 to 24 in); 70 percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) channery silt loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parts to weak medium subangular blocky structure; very firm; brittle; few very fine and fine roots between peds; 10 percent distinct clay films on surfaces along pores; 1 percent medium prominent black (10YR 2/1) manganese masses and 10 percent medium prominent gray (5Y 5/1)iron depletions and 20 percent medium and coarse distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6)masses of oxidized iron; 25 percent channers, including 10 percent greater than 75 mm (3 in) in diameter; slightly acid; streak interiors are 5Y 6/1 with 10YR 4/6 rinds. Streaks are 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch thick; gradual wavy boundary.

Bx2--61 to 163 cm (24 to 64 in); 40 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) channery silt loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parts to weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; brittle; 35 percent distinct clay films on surfaces along pores; 1 percent fine distinct black (10YR 2/1)manganese masses and 25 percent medium and coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron and 35 percent medium and coarse prominent light olive gray (5Y 6/2) iron depletions; 30 percent channers, includes 10 percent greater than 75 mm (3 in) in diameter; neutral; streak interiors are 5Y 6/1 with 10YR 4/6 rinds. Streaks are 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch thick. (Combined thickness of the Bx horizons is (38 to 140 cm [15 to 55 in]).)

TYPE LOCATION: Yates County, New York, Town of Italy, High Tor State Land, approximately 2,500 ft west of Brink Hill road, and approximately 600 ft south of Conklin gully. USGS Prattsburg, NY topographic quadrangle; Latitude 42 degrees, 37 minutes, 17.616 seconds N. and Longitude 77 degrees, 20 minutes, 15.684 seconds W. NAD 1983.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum ranges from 81 to 183 cm (32 to 72 in). Depth to the fragipan ranges from 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 in). Depth to bedrock is more than 152 cm (60 in). Rock fragment content ranges from 0 to 20 percent by volume in the horizons above the fragipan and from 15 to 50 percent in the Bx and C horizons.

Some pedons may have an O horizon up to 7.5 cm (3 in) thick.

The Ap horizon has hue of 7.5YR and 10YR, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture of the fine-earth fraction is loam or silt loam. Some pedons have a mucky modifier. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to neutral. Some pedons have an A horizon up to 15 cm (6 in) thick.

The E horizon has hue of 7.5YR to 5Y, value or 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture of the fine-earth fraction is loam or silt loam. Structure is weak or moderate angular blocky, subangular blocky, platy, or granular. Consistence is friable or firm. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to neutral.

Some pedons have a Bg or Bw horizon in place of or in addition to the E horizon.

The Bx or 2Bx horizon has hue of 5YR to 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 4. Texture of the fine-earth fraction ranges from fine sandy loam to silt loam. Structure is prismatic, blocky, or platy. Consistence is firm or very firm. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.

The BC horizon, where present, has weak subangular blocky or platy structure. Color and texture is similar to the Bx horizon.

The Cd or 2Cd horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 to 4. Texture of the fine-earth fraction ranges from fine sandy loam to silt loam. It has plate-like divisions or is massive. Consistence is firm or very firm. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral. Some pedons contain a C horizon with similar colors and textures to the Cd.

COMPETING SERIES: The Camroden and Ontusia series are in the same family. Camroden soils are somewhat poorly drained and dominated by shale rock fragments and are in areas that dominantly have higher precipitation. Ontusia soils are somewhat poorly drained and are more acid in the Bx and C horizons.

The Dannemora, Marcy, and Trussel series are soils in related families. Dannemora soils are coarse-loamy. Marcy soils have chroma of 2 or less dominant throughout the profile. Trussel soils formed in colluvium derived from residual soil material, have more angular rock fragments, and a lower bulk density in the fragipan.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Norchip soils occupy nearly level areas or depressions on glaciated uplands. Slope ranges from 0 to 8 percent. The parent material is usually a firm till derived mainly from sandstone, siltstone, and some shale. Surficial deposits of alluvium or colluvium up to 51 cm (20 in) thick are present in some pedons. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 4 to 9 degrees C (39 to 48 degrees F). Mean annual precipitation ranges from 825 to 1790 mm (32 to 70 in) and the frost free days range from 110 to 155 days. Elevation ranges from 425 to 1100 m (1394 to 3608 ft) above sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The Lewbeach, Willowemoc, and Onteora soils are better drained associates. Lewbath, Willdin, and Ontusia soils are also common associates where the parent material is browner in color.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Poorly to very poorly drained. The potential for runoff is very high to negligible. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high above the fragipan in the mineral soil and low or moderately low in the fragipan and substratum.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are forested or have a cover of brush or other native wetness tolerant vegetation. Some areas are cleared and used for pasture.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Higher elevations of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains. MLRA 140. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Amherst, Massachusetts

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Otsego County, New York, 1993.

REMARKS: The fine-loamy family classification of Norchip needs confirmation. More lab data is needed to confirm particle size family. The Aeric subgroup differs from that of the Chippewa, the mesic analog and should be investigated.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the typical pedon include:
1. Ochric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 41 cm (0 to 16 in). (A, and Eg horizons).
2. Fragipan - the zone from 41 to 163 cm (16 to 64 in). (Bx1 and Bx2 horizons).

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.