LOCATION ONTEORA NY

Established Series
Rev. WAB-STS-SEA
01/2016

ONTEORA SERIES

The Onteora series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in till derived from sandstone, siltstone and shale. They are nearly level to strongly sloping soils on till plains and the lower parts of hillsides in the uplands at high elevations. Slope ranges from 0 to 25 percent. A fragipan occurs at a depth of 25 to 64 cm (10 to 25 in). Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high above the fragipan and low or moderately low in the fragipan and C horizon. Mean annual temperature is about 7 degrees C (45 degrees F) and mean annual precipitation is about 1120 mm (44 in).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, frigid Aquic Fragiudepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Onteora channery silt loam, 0 to 3 percent slopes, in a meadow (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 in); dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) channery silt loam, pinkish gray (7.5YR 6/2), dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure parts to weak medium granular structure; very friable; many very fine and fine roots and common medium roots; 15 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (15 to 30 cm [6 to 12 in] thick)

Bw--15 to 33 cm (6 to 13 in); yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and reddish brown (5YR 5/4) channery silt loam; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; many fine and very fine roots and few medium roots; few medium distinct brown (7.5YR 5/4) and few medium prominent light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) iron concentrations; 30 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (8 to 25 cm [3 to 10 in] thick)

Bx--33 to 84 cm (13 to 33 in); reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) gravelly loam; weak very coarse prismatic structure parts to moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm and slightly brittle; few very fine roots; common fine vesicular and common fine tubular and common medium tubular pores; few medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6)iron concentrations and many coarse distinct brown (7.5YR 5/2)iron depletions; 20 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bx horizons is 36 to 175 cm [14 to 69 in] or more thick.)

BC--84 to 117 cm (33 to 46 in); reddish brown (2.5YR 4/4) gravelly loam; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; firm; many medium tubular and many medium vesicular pores; few coarse distinct reddish brown (5YR 5/4) iron concentrations; 30 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 33 cm [0 to 13 in] thick)

C--117 to 183 cm (46 to 72 in); reddish brown (5YR 4/3) gravelly loam; massive; firm; 30 percent rock fragments; moderately acid.

TYPE LOCATION: Delaware County, New York, Town of Meredith, 0.9 miles south of intersection of Palmer Hill and Houghtaling Hollow Roads, elevation 2,070 ft, West Davenport, NY 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle, Latitude 42 degrees, 23 minutes, 0.3 seconds N and Longitude 74 degrees, 57 minutes, 56.6 seconds W, NAD 1983.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Thickness of the solum ranges from 102 to 165 cm (40 to 65 in) or more. Depth to bedrock is greater than 152 cm (60 in). Depth to the fragipan ranges from 25 to 64 cm (10 to 25 in). Rock fragment content ranges from 5 to 40 percent by volume in the A and upper part of the B horizon and from 15 to 50 percent in the fragipan and C horizon. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid in the Ap horizon and in the A and E horizons, if present and from very strongly acid to moderately acid below.

The A or Ap horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 2 to 4 and chroma of 2 or 3. Dry color value is 6 or more. It is silt loam to fine sandy loam in the fine earth fraction. Structure is weak or moderate granular or subangular blocky. Consistence is friable or very friable.

The E horizon, where present, has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 2 or 3. It is silt loam, loam, or sandy loam in the fine earth fraction.

The Bw horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 3 to 6. It has distinct or prominent gray, brown, or reddish redoximorphic features. It is silt loam, loam, or sandy loam in the fine earth fraction.

The Bx horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 3 to 6 and chroma of 2 to 4. Redoximorphic features of gray, brown, or yellowish red are in some pedons. It is silt loam, loam, or sandy loam in the fine earth fraction. Prism interiors have platy or blocky structure or they are massive. Consistence is firm or very firm.

Some pedons may have a BC horizon up to 33 cm (13 in) thick below the Bx.

The C horizon has colors and textures similar to those of the Bx horizon but lacks very coarse prismatic structure and is not brittle.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other soils in the same family. Mosherville soils are in a similar family. They are mesic and have hue of 10YR or yellower.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Onteora soils are nearly level to moderately steep soils on concave landforms and depressions on summits and the lower parts of hillsides in the uplands. Due to frigid soil temperatures, these soils occur on landscapes and landforms at higher elevations in the MLRA. Slope commonly is from 0 to 15 percent but the range includes up to 25 percent. The soils developed in firm, acid till derived from reddish sandstone, siltstone and shale. The climate is humid and is cool in summer and cold in winter. 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: These are the very deep, well drained Lewbeach, moderately well drained Willowemoc and the poorly drained Norchip and Suny soils that are associated in a drainage sequence. Moderately deep, somewhat poorly drained Gretor, well drained Mongaup, and somewhat excessively drained Vly soils are on nearby bedrock-controlled areas. Shallow, somewhat poorly drained Tor soils, and shallow Halcott and Hawksnest soils are also on nearby bedrock- controlled areas.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff is low to medium. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high above the fragipan and low or moderately low in the fragipan and C horizon.

USE AND VEGETATION: Many areas are forested or idle; a few small areas are used for hay or pasture. Native trees include hemlock, red maple, birch, beech, and spruce.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Higher elevations of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau and Catskill Mountains in MLRA 140 in New York. The series is moderately extensive.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sullivan County, New York, 1984.

REMARKS: Onteora soils were proposed as the frigid equivalent of the Morris series, but lack a horizon dominated by colors with a chroma of 2 or less. Areas of frigid Aeric Fragiaquepts are considered as unnamed inclusions. Future MLRA maintenance work needs to be conducted to confirm the classification of the Onteora series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

1. Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 15 cm (6 in) (Ap horizon).
2. Cambic horizon- the zone from 15 to 33 cm (6 to 13 in) (Bw horizon).
3. Fragipan - the zone from 33 to 84 cm (13 to 33 in) (Bx horizon).
4. Aquic subgroup - the occurrence of distinct redoximorphic features within a depth of 30 cm (12 in) below the surface.
5. Udic soil moisture regime (a humid temperate climate).

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.