LOCATION RAINS SC+AL FL GA NC VA
Established Series
DJD-CMO/Rev. JAK/ Rev. DTA
12/2025
RAINS SERIES
MLRA(s): 133A, 153A, 137
Soil Survey Regional Office (SSRO) Responsible: Southeast
Depth Class: Very deep
Agricultural Drainage Class: Poorly drained
Index Surface Runoff: Low
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Class: Moderately high
Shrink-Swell Potential: Low
Landscape: Middle and upper coastal plain
Landform: Flats, depressions, Carolina bays
Parent Material: Marine deposits, fluviomarine deposits
Slope: 0 to 2 percent
Mean Annual Air Temperature (type location): 17 degrees C (62 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation (type location): 114 centimeters (45 inches)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, thermic Typic Paleaquults
TYPICAL PEDON: Rains loamy sand--forested. (Colors are for moist soil, unless otherwise indicated.)
A--0 to 18 centimeters (0 to 7 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine and medium roots; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (10 to 25 centimeters (4 to 10 inches) thick)
Eg--18 to 30 centimeters (7 to 12 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine and few medium roots; many fine pores; few fingers of A horizon in upper part; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 28 centimeters (0 to 11 inches) thick)
Btg1--30 to 51 centimeters (12 to 20 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine and medium roots; many fine pores; many clay bridging between sand grains; few medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in lower half; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Btg2--51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine and medium roots; many fine pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few coarse pockets of gray sandy loam; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; few fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Btg3--102 to 132 centimeters (40 to 52 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine pores; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few fine and medium prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Btg4--132 to 157 centimeters (52 to 62 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Btg horizon is more than 102 centimeters (40 inches.)
BCg--157 to 201 centimeters (62 to 79 inches); gray (10YR 6/1) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 51 centimeters (0 to 20 inches) thick)
2Cg--201 to 216 centimeters (79 to 85 inches); light gray (10YR 7/1) sand; single grain; loose; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Florence County, South Carolina; about 2.0 miles northeast of Timmonsville; 1.1 miles south of intersection of State Highway 45 and U.S. Highway 76; 150 feet west of State Highway 45; USGS Timmonsville, South Carolina topographic quadrangle.
Latitude--34.13
Longitude-- -79.904
Datum--WGS84
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the surface and subsurface layers: 10 to 48 centimeters (4 to 19 inches)
Depth to top of the argillic horizon: 10 to 48 centimeters ((4 to 19 inches)
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 152 to more than 201 centimeters (60 to more than 80 inches)
Depth to bedrock: Greater than 203 centimeters (80 inches)
Depth to seasonal high water table: 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches), December to April
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent throughout
Soil reaction: Extremely acid to strongly throughout, unless limed
Depth to lithologic discontinuity (abrupt textural change): Greater than 102 centimeters (40 inches)
Other soil features--The upper 51 centimeters (20 inches) of the argillic horizon has less than 30 percent silt.
RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS:
A horizon or Ap horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 2 to 5, chroma of 1 to 2, or is neutral with value of 2 to 5
Texture--sand, loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, loamy fine sand, coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam
Eg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 0 to 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 7
Texture--sand, loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, loamy fine sand, coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features (where present)--iron depletions in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or gray and masses of oxidized iron or iron-manganese masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
Btg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 1 to 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 7
Texture--sandy clay loam or clay loam and includes sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam in the upper part and sandy clay in the lower part.
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or gray and masses of oxidized iron or iron-manganese masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
BCg horizon or BCtg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 1 to 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 7
Texture--sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy clay
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or gray and masses of oxidized iron or iron-manganese masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
Cg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 7
Texture--coarse sandy loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam, and may be stratified with finer or coarser-textured materials
Redoximorphic features--iron depletions in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or gray and masses of oxidized iron or iron-manganese masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
2Cg horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2, or is neutral with value of 4 to 7
Texture--coarse sand, sand, fine sand, loamy coarse sand, or loamy sand and may be stratified with finer-textured material
COMPETING SERIES: None
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landscape: Middle and upper coastal plain
Landform: Flats, depressions, Carolina bays
Parent Material: Marine deposits, fluviomarine deposits
Elevation: 12 to 137 meters (40 to 450 feet)
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 14 to 21 degrees C (57 to 70 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation: 889 to 1397 millimeters (35 to 55 inches)
Frost Free Period: 190 to 245 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Chipley soils--do not have an argillic horizon
Coxville soils---are clayey
Dunbar soils--are somewhat poorly drained and are clayey
Goldsboro soils--are moderately well drained
Lynchburg soils--are somewhat poorly drained
Noboco soils--are better drained and have a seasonal high water table at 76 to 102 centimeters (30 to 40 inches) below the soil surface
Norfolk soils--are better drained and have a seasonal high water table at more than 102 centimeters (40 inches) below the soil surface
Ocilla soils--have sandy A and E horizons more than 51 centimeters (20 inches) thick
Pantego soils--have an umbric epipedon
Paxville soils--have an umbric epipedon
Pelham soils--have sandy A and E horizons more than 51 centimeters (20 inches) thick
Scranton soils--do not have an argillic horizon
Stallings soils--have less than 18 percent clay in the top 51 centimeters (20 inches) of the Bt horizon
Woodington soils--have less than 18 percent clay in the top 51 centimeters (20 inches) of the Bt horizon
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Agricultural Drainage Class: Poorly drained
Index Surface Runoff: Low
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately high
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Woodland and cropland
Dominant Vegetation: Where wooded--pond pine, loblolly pine, and hardwoods. Where cultivated--corn, soybeans, and small grains.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia
Extent: Large
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Berkeley County, South Carolina, 1948
REMARKS: The central concept for the Rains series does not include a flooding hazard. However, the series has been correlated in flood plain positions. Additional research is needed to determine if areas of Rains soils that are subject to flooding have haplic or pale clay distribution. The 12/2025 revision updated the format.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon--the zone from 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches) (A, E horizons)
Argillic horizon--the zone from 30 to 157 centimeters (12 to 62 inches) (Btg1, Btg2, Btg3, and Btg4 horizons)
Aquults feature--dominant chroma of 1 in the matrix of the argillic horizon, with masses of oxidized iron
Aquic conditions--periodic saturation and reduction in a zone from 0 to 203 centimeters (0 to 80 inches) of the soil surface at some time during the year (endosaturation)
Lithologic discontinuity--abrupt textural change starting at a depth of 201 centimeters (79 inches) (2Cg horizon)
ADDITIONAL DATA:
TABULAR SERIES DATA:
SOI-5 Soil Name Slope Airtemp FrFr/Seas Precip Elevation
FL0129 RAINS 0-2 - - - -
SC0020 RAINS 0-2 57-70 190-245 38-52 40-450
SC0102 RAINS 0-2 57-70 190-225 38-52 300-450
SC0116 RAINS 0-2 57-70 190-245 38-52 40-450
SOI-5 FloodL FloodH Watertable Kind Months Bedrock Hardness
FL0129 NONE 0-1.0 APPARENT JUN-JAN >80 -
SC0020 NONE 0-1.0 APPARENT NOV-APR >80 -
SC0102 NONE 0-1.0 APPARENT NOV-MAR >80 -
SC0116 COMMON 0-1.0 APPARENT NOV-APR >80 -
SOI-5 Depth Texture 3-Inch No-10 Clay% -CEC-
FL0129 0-12 S FS 0-0 98-100 2-5 -
FL0129 12-62 SCL 0-0 98-100 18-35 -
FL0129 62-85 LS LFS SL 0-0 95-100 2-15 -
SC0020 0-12 LS LFS S 0-0 95-100 2-10 1-4
SC0020 0-12 SL FSL VFSL 0-0 95-100 5-20 1-5
SC0020 0-12 L 0-0 95-100 7-27 2-6
SC0020 12-40 FSL SCL SL 0-0 95-100 18-35 2-5
SC0020 40-62 SCL CL SC 0-0 98-100 18-40 2-7
SC0020 62-79 SL SCL SC 0-0 95-100 15-45 1-6
SC0102 0-14 SL 0-2 95-100 5-20 1-5
SC0102 14-36 SCL SL 0-2 90-100 18-35 2-5
SC0102 36-46 CEM - - - -
SC0116 0-12 SL FSL 0-0 92-100 5-20 1-5
SC0116 0-12 VFSL L 0-0 92-100 7-24 1-6
SC0116 12-40 SCL CL 0-0 95-100 18-35 2-5
SC0116 40-62 SCL CL SC 0-0 95-100 18-40 2-7
SC0116 62-79 SL SCL SC 0-0 95-100 15-45 1-6
SOI-5 Depth -pH- O.M. Salin Permeab Shnk-Swll
FL0129 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
FL0129 12-62 3.5-5.5 - 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
FL0129 62-85 3.5-5.5 - 0-0 0.6-6.0 LOW
SC0020 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 6.0-20 LOW
SC0020 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
SC0020 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0020 12-40 3.5-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0020 40-62 3.5-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0020 62-79 3.6-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0102 0-14 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
SC0102 14-36 3.5-5.5 - 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0102 36-46 - - - - -
SC0116 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
SC0116 0-12 3.5-5.5 1.0-6.0 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
SC0116 12-40 3.5-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0116 40-62 3.5-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
SC0116 62-79 3.5-5.5 0.5-1.0 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
________________________________________
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.