LOCATION SCHAFFER OH

Established Series
Rev. TEL-SJH-MHD-MWV
11/2021

SCHAFFER SERIES

The Schaffer series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that are moderately deep to a fragipan. These soils formed in loess and the underlying till. They are on till plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1016 mm (40 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 12 degrees C (54 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Fraglossudalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Schaffer silt loam, on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 292 meters (958 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 28 cm (0 to 11 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak medium granular; friable; common fine roots; common fine distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron throughout; common fine faint black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [18 to 28 cm (7 to 11 inches) thick]

Bt--28 to 43 cm (11 to 17 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; few faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay films on faces of peds; few prominent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay depletions on faces of peds; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; few fine distinct black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 28 cm (11 inches) thick]

E/Bt--43 to 61 cm (17 to 24 inches); 60 percent light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silt loam (E part) and 40 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam (Bt part); moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay depletions on faces of peds; common fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; common fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; E material completely surrounds Bt part; tongues of E material 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) wide extend through the horizon; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [5 to 25 cm (2 to 10 inches) thick]

Btgx--61 to 74 cm (24 to 29 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very firm; few fine roots; common faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay depletions on faces of peds; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; common medium distinct black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; 1 percent igneous rock fragments; 35 percent of volume is brittle; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 13 cm (5 inches) thick]

2Btx--74 to 94 cm (29 to 37 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; very firm; few fine roots; common faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay depletions on faces of peds; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on ped faces; many medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; common medium distinct black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; 1 percent igneous rock fragments; 70 percent of volume is brittle; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. [20 to 76 cm (8 to 30 inches) thick]

2Bt1--94 to 114 cm (37 to 45 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) and few faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay films on faces of peds; common fine prominent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; many medium faint strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; common medium prominent black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

2Bt2--114 to 145 cm (45 to 57 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) and common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; many fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; common coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; many fine distinct black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

2Bt3--145 to 165 cm (57 to 65 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) and common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions on faces of peds; common coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron on faces of peds; common fine distinct black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide throughout; 5 percent igneous rock fragments; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

2Bt4--165 to 203 cm (65 to 80 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; common prominent gray (10YR 6/1) clay films on faces of prisms; common prominent gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of prisms; common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of prisms; few medium prominent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions throughout; few fine prominent black (10YR 2/1) masses of manganese oxide on faces of prisms; 8 percent igneous rock fragments; neutral. [Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 102 to 127 cm (40 to 50 inches).]

TYPE LOCATION: Brown County, Ohio: about 1.25 miles southeast of Fayetteville, in Perry Township; about 1600 meters (5,250 feet) east northeast of the junction of US 50 and US 68 along US 50, then about 1680 meters (5,514 feet) south; USGS Fayette topographic quadrangle; lat. 39 degrees 10 minutes 25.50 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 54 minutes 57.57 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to base of argillic horizon: more than 203 cm (80 inches)
Depth to carbonates: more than 203 cm (80 inches)
Depth to the fragipan: 61 to 91 cm (24 to 36 inches)
Thickness of the loess: 46 to 102 cm (18 to 40 inches)
Rock fragments: dominantly igneous gravel

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

BE horizon (where present):
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid

E/Bt or Bt/E horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y (E part); 10YR (Bt part)
Value: 6 or 7 (E part); 4 or 5 (Bt part)
Chroma: 2 or 3 (E part); 4 to 6 (Bt part)
Texture: silt loam (E part); silty clay loam or silt loam (Bt part)
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to strongly acid

Btgx , Btx, 2Btgx or 2Btx horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid

2Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: clay loam or loam
Sand content: 20 to 45 percent
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to neutral

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. Soils in a closely related family include the Westboro series. Westboro soils have horizons with fragic soil properties that do not meet all of the criteria for a fragipan and classify as Fragiaquic Glossudalfs.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Schaffer soils are on loess-covered till plains of Illinoian age. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. The soils formed in 46 to 102 cm (18 to 40 inches) of loess and the underlying till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 940 to 1170 mm (37 to 46 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 9 to 14 degrees C (48 to 57 degrees F). Frost-free period is 155 to 225 days. Elevation is 271 to 311 meters (890 to 1020 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Blanchester, Clermont, Jonesboro, Nicely, Rossmoyne, and Westboro soils. Blanchester and Clermont soils are poorly drained and are in depressions or on flats. Jonesboro and Rossmoyne soils are moderately well drained and are on swells or convex parts of the landscape. Nicely soils are moderately well drained and are on shoulder positions. Westboro soils do not have a fragipan and are on similar landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent perched high water table ranges from 15 to 46 cm (0.5 to 1.5 feet) between January and May in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is medium or high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately low or low above and below the fragipan and low in the fragipan. Permeability is slow and very slow above and below the fragipan and very slow in the fragipan.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are being cropped to soybeans and corn. A few areas are used for small grain, hay or pasture or are in woodland.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Ohio; MLRA 114A. The series is of small extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Brown County, Ohio, 1999.

REMARKS: These soils were formerly mapped as Avonburg series in Ohio.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 28 cm (11 inches) (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 28 to 203 cm (11 to 80 inches) (Bt, Bt part of E/Bt, Btgx, Btx, 2Bt horizons).
Glossic horizon: from a depth of 43 to 61 cm (17 to 24 inches) (E/Bt horizon).
Fragipan: from a depth of 74 to 94 cm (29 to 37 inches) (Btx horizon).
Aquic conditions: redox features immediately below the Ap horizon to a depth of over 203 cm (80 inches).

ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data for the typical pedon, Pedon ID S07OH015-002, is available from the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE. Additional data is available for pedon BN-23 from The Ohio State University Soil Characterization Laboratory.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.