LOCATION RED BAY AL+FL GA SC
Established Series
Rev. DMH:PGM
10/2018
RED BAY SERIES
The Red Bay series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils that formed in thick beds of unconsolidated, loamy marine sediments on uplands of the Coastal Plain. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Near the type location, the average annual air temperature is about 65 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation is about 53 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, kaolinitic, thermic Rhodic Kandiudults
TYPICAL PEDON: Red Bay sandy loam--in pasture. (Colors are for moist soil.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine roots; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--6 to 20 inches; dark red (2.5YR 3/6) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine roots; sand grains coated and bridged with clay; moderately acid; gradual smooth boundary.
Bt2--20 to 52 inches; dark red (10R 3/6) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds; sand grains coated and bridged with clay; strongly acid; diffuse smooth boundary.
Bt3--52 to 72 inches; dark red (2.5YR 3/6) sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few faint clay films on faces of peds; sand grains coated and bridged with clay; strongly acid. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 60 or more inches.)
TYPE LOCATION: Houston County, Alabama; about 6 miles west of Dothan; 1/4 mile north of Dothan-Wicksburg Road on east side of unpaved road that parallels west side of Beaver Creek in the NW1/4, NW1/4, SW1/4 of Sec. 24, T. 3 N., R. 25 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness exceeds 60 inches. Reaction ranges from very strongly acid to moderately acid in the upper part of the solum and is very strongly acid or strongly acid in the lower part.
The A or Ap horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is loamy sand, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or sandy clay loam.
The BA or BE horizon, present in some pedons, is less than 10 inches thick and has hue of 10R to 5YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 4 to 6. Texture is sandy loam or sandy clay loam.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10R or 2.5YR, value of 3, and chroma of 4 to 6. Texture is sandy loam or sandy clay loam. Silt content is less than 20 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series in the same family. Competing series in closely related families include the
Americus,
Davidson,
Greenville,
Lucedale, and
Pine Flat series. The Americus soil has a sandy particle-size control section; the Lucedale soil has more than 20 percent silt in its' particle-size control section; and the Pine Flat soil is coarse-loamy. The Davidson and Greenville soils have a clayey particle-size control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Red Bay soils are on broad ridgetops and on side slopes on uplands of the Coastal Plain. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. They developed in thick beds of unconsolidated, loamy marine sediments. The climate is warm and humid. The average annual air temperature ranges from 63 to 68 degrees F., and the average annual precipitation ranges from 48 to 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: In addition to the competing
Americus,
Greenville, and
Pine Flat series, these are the
Lucy,
Orangeburg, and
Troup series. The Americus and Pine Flat series are on similar positions as the Red Bay soils or are on side slopes. Greenville soils are on slightly lower positions on the landscape. The Lucy and Troup soils are on adjacent side slopes and have thick sandy epipedons. Orangeburg soils are on slightly higher positions and have kandic horizons with moist color value of 4 or more.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas have been cleared and are used for the production of cotton, corn, small grains, truck crops, fruit, shade grown tobacco, annual legumes, and pasture. Common trees in wooded areas include longleaf pine, loblolly pine, Southern red oak, white oak, yellow poplar, sweetgum, and hickory.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Coastal Plain of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The series is extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Franklin County, Alabama; 1927.
REMARKS: The 6/89 revision changed the classification from Rhodic Paleudults to Rhodic Kandiudults in recognition of the low activity clay amendment to Soil Taxonomy.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of about 6 inches (Ap horizon).
Kandic horizon - the zone from approximately 6 to 72 inches (Bt1, Bt2, and Bt3 horizons).
Rhodic features - moist color value of less than 4 in the kandic horizon (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3 horizons).
SIR = AL0025
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.