LOCATION SECREST NC
Established Series
Rev. RBS:MKC:RJL:STE/Rev. DTA
02/2026
SECREST SERIES
MLRA(s): 136 (thermic part)
Soil Survey Regional Office (SSRO) Responsible: Southeast
Depth Class: Deep
Agricultural Drainage Class: Somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Class: Moderately high to moderately low
Shrink-swell Potential: Low
Landscape: Piedmont uplands
Landform: Flats, depressions, sloughs, and drainageways
Parent Material: Residuum weathered from Carolina slate; dominantly argillite formed in sediments derived from fine-grained volcanic and metavolcanic rocks
Slope: 0 to 15 percent
Elevation (type location): 171 meters (561 feet)
Frost Free Period (type location): 182 days
Mean Annual Air Temperature (type location): 15 degrees C (59 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation (type location): 1270 millimeters (50 inches)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, siliceous, subactive, thermic Aeric Epiaquults
TYPICAL PEDON: Secrest silt loam (in an area of Mandale-Biscoe-Secrest complex, 0 to 6 percent slopes), on a flat 1 percent slope in a recent clear-cut (Colors are for moist soil, unless otherwise indicated.)
A--0 to 5 centimeters (0 to 2 inches); 90 percent dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) and 10 percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) silt loam; moderate very thick platy, parting to weak fine angular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; strongly acid, pH 5.5, Hellige-Truog; abrupt smooth boundary. (2 to 15 centimeters (1 to 8 inches) thick)
BE--5 to 15 centimeters (about 2 to 6 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3) silt loam; weak fine angular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; many fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; few fine and medium tubular pores; 10 percent medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; positive reaction to alpha,alpha-dipyridyl; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 28 centimeters (0 to 11 inches) thick)
Bt1--15 to 41 centimeters (6 to 16 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silt loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; common fine and medium and few coarse roots throughout; few fine and medium tubular pores; 15 percent coarse distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent coarse distinct light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt2--41 to 63 centimeters (16 to 25 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common fine medium and few coarse roots throughout; 20 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 15 percent coarse distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions;; 10 percent patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--63 to 89 centimeters (25 to 35 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 25 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 20 percent coarse distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions; 20 percent discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent fine subrounded 2- to 75-millimeter quartz fragments; very strongly acid, pH 5.0, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt4--89 to 104 centimeters (35 to 41 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) silty clay; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 30 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 30 percent coarse distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions; 20 percent discontinuous faint clay films on faces of peds; very strongly acid, pH 4.5, Hellige-Truog; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 56 to 147 centimeters (22 to 58 inches) thick.)
BC--104 to 124 centimeters (41 to 49 inches); pale yellow (2.5Y 7/3) loam; weak coarse angular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few fine roots throughout; 30 percent coarse prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; 10 percent coarse faint light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) masses of oxidized iron; 30 percent coarse faint light gray (2.5Y 7/2) iron depletions; very strongly acid, pH 4.5, Hellige-Truog; abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 48 centimeters (0 to 19 inches) thick)
Cr--124 to 155 centimeters (49 to 61 inches); soft argillite bedrock; fractured at intervals of 10 to less than 45 centimeters (about 4 to less than 18 inches); weakly cemented; high excavation difficulty; abrupt smooth boundary. (13 to 51 centimeters (5 to 20 inches) thick)
R--155 centimeters (61 inches); hard argillite bedrock; fractured at intervals of 99 to 201 centimeters (39 to 79 inches); strongly cemented; very high excavation difficulty.
TYPE LOCATION: Alamance County, North Carolina; about 7.0 miles south of Saxapahaw; 0.6 mile east from the intersection of Secondary Roads 2345 and 2346 on Secondary Road 2345; 50 meters north of road in cut-over. USGS Silk Hope, North Carolina topographic quadrangle.
Latitude--35.8514
Longitude-- -79.3197
Datum--WGS84
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to top of argillic horizon: 10 to 51 centimeters (4 to 20 inches)
Depth to base of argillic horizon: 51 to 150 centimeters (20 to 59 inches)
Depth to soft bedrock: 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches)
Depth to hard bedrock: more than 152 centimeters (60 inches)
Depth to seasonal high water table: less than 51 centimeters (20 inches) (perched); November to March
Soil reaction: Extremely acid (4.0) to moderately acid (6.0) throughout, unless limed.
Rock Fragment Content: 0 to 25 percent, by volume throughout; mostly quartz gravel and argillite gravel or channers; 0 to 30 percent argillite parachanners in the C horizon
RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS:
A horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 2 to 5 (value of 6 if cultivated), chroma of 1 to 5
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
E horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 or 4 (value of 8 and chroma of 1 or 2 if lithochromic)
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
Mottles (if they occur)--non-redoximorphic mottles in shades black, gray, or brown; commonly mixed pieces of surface soil material
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
Eg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt, silt loam, or loam
Mottles (if they occur)--non-redoximorphic mottles in shades black, gray, or brown; commonly mixed material from surface layers
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
BE horizon or EB, AB, or BA horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 6
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
BEg, EBg, ABg, or BAg horizon (if they occur):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
Bt horizon (upper part):
Color--hue of 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8. Hue of 10YR is allowed if a positive reaction with alpha,alpha-dipyridyl occurs within 50 centimeters (20 inches) of the mineral soil surface.
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
Bt horizon (lower part):
Color--hue of 2.5Y value of 5 to 7, chroma of 3 to 8. Hue of 10YR is allowed if a positive reaction with alpha,alpha-dipyridyl occurs within 50 centimeters (20 inches) of the mineral soil surface.
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, clay, clay loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
Btg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, clay, clay loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
BCtg, BCg, or Btg/C horizon (if they occur):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 6 or 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
BC horizon or BCt horizon, Bt/C horizon, or B/C horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 8, chroma of 3 to 6
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
C horizon, CB horizon, C/B horizon, or C/Bt horizon (If they occur):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 5 to 8, chroma of 3 or 4
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
CBg horizon or Cg horizon (if they occur):
Color--hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 6 or 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Redoximorphic features--masses of oxidized iron in shades of red, yellow, brown and iron depletions in shades of brown or gray
COMPETING SERIES:
Biscoe soils--have paralithic contact at a depth of 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches)
Mandale soils--are very deep to bedrock
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Elevation Range: 90 to 245 meters (295 to 804 feet)
Frost Free Period: 175 to 225 days
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C. (57 to 63 degrees F.)
Mean Annual Precipitation: 1016 to 1397 millimeters (40 to 55 inches)
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Alamance soils--are well drained and very deep; on higher landforms
Badin soils--are well drained and clayey; on higher landforms
Biscoe soils--are moderately deep, 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches), to soft bedrock; on similar landforms
Callison soils--are moderately well drained and moderately deep, 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches), to soft bedrock; on slightly higher landforms
Cid soils--are moderately well drained, clayey, and moderately deep, 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches), to hard bedrock; on higher landforms
Georgeville soils--well drained and clayey; on higher landforms
Goldston soils--well to excessively drained, shallow, <51 centimeters (less than 20 inches), to soft bedrock, and loamy-skeletal; on higher landforms
Gundy soils--well drained, clayey, and have higher base saturation; on higher landforms
Herndon soils--well drained and clayey; on higher landforms
Kirksey soils--moderately well drained and deep, 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches), to hard bedrock; on higher landforms
Lignum soils--somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained and clayey: on higher landforms
Mandale soils--very deep to bedrock; on slightly higher landforms
Misenheimer soils--somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained loamy and shallow, less than 51 centimeters (less than 20 inches), to soft bedrock; on higher landforms
Montonia soils--well drained, moderately deep, 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches), to soft bedrock, loamy soils; on higher landforms
Nanford soils--well drained, clayey, and deep, 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches), to soft bedrock; on higher landforms
Pageland soils--moderately well drained, moderately deep, 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches), to soft bedrock, and have higher base saturation; on higher landforms
Tarrus soils--well drained, clayey, and deep, 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches), to soft bedrock; on higher landforms
Tirzah soils--well drained, clayey, and very deep to bedrock; on higher landforms
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Agricultural Drainage Class: Somewhat poorly drained to moderately well drained
Index Surface Runoff: Medium
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately high to moderately low
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Woodland, pasture, and cropland
Dominant Vegetation: Mixed hardwoods and pine
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Distribution: North Carolina and possibly South Carolina
Extent: Moderate
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Union County, North Carolina; 1991.
REMARKS:
Secrest soils were formerly included with the Kirksey or Lignum soils. Lignum soils are clayey. Kirksey soils have a depth to hard bedrock of 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches). The type location was relocated to Alamance County, NC in 2007. The February 2026 revision updated the format. No data was changed.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon--the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 15 centimeters, (6 inches) (A and BE horizons)
Argillic horizon--the zone from 15 to 104 centimeters, (6 to 41 inches) (Bt horizon)
Aquic conditions--periodic saturation and reduction in a zone from 8 to 124 centimeters, (3 to 49 inches) with one or more unsaturated layers within 203 centimeters (80 inches) of the surface, occurring below the periodically saturated zone (episaturation)
Redox concentrations--the zone from 5 to 124 centimeters, (2 to 49 inches) (BE, Bt, and BC horizons)
Redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less--the zone from 15 to 124 centimeters, (6 to 49 inches) (Bt and BC horizons)
Paralithic contact--bedrock contact at a depth of 124 centimeters, (49 inches) (upper boundary of the Cr layer)
Paralithic materials--the zone from 124 to 155 centimeters, (49 to 61 inches) (Cr horizon)
Hard bedrock--bedrock contact at a depth of 155 centimeters, (61 inches) (R horizon)
Series control section--the zone from 0 to 150 centimeters, about 0 to 59 inches
ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data are not available at this time.
Database Information:
Data Mapunit ID--To be completed
User Pedon ID--To be completed
TABULAR SERIES DATA:
SOI-5 Soil Name Slope Airtemp FrFr/Seas Precip Elevation
NC0255 SECREST 0-15 57-63 175-225 40-55 150-650
SOI-5 FloodL FloodH Watertable Kind Months Bedrock Hardness
NC0255 NONE RARE 1.0-2.5 PERCHED DEC-MAR 40-60 SOFT
SOI-5 Depth Texture 3-Inch No-10 Clay% -CEC-
NC0255 0-2 SIL L VFSL 0-5 90-100 7-27 3- 9
NC0255 0-2 CN-SIL CN-L CN-VFSL 0-20 50-75 7-27 3-10
NC0255 2-16 SIL SICL CL 0-10 80-100 12-35 3-10
NC0255 16-41 SICL SIC C 0-10 80-100 27-60 7-15
NC0255 41-49 SIL SICL CL 0-10 80-100 12-35 3-10
NC0255 49-61 WB - - - -
NC0255 61 UWB - - - -
SOI-5 Depth -pH- O.M. Salin Permeab Shnk-Swll
NC0255 0-2 5.1-7.3 .5-2. 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
NC0255 0-2 5.1-7.3 .5-2. 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
NC0255 2-16 3.5-6.0 0.-.5 0-0 0.2-0.6 LOW
NC0255 16-41 3.5-6.0 0.-.5 0-0 0.06-0.2 LOW
NC0255 41-49 3.5-6.0 0.-.5 0-0 0.2-0.6 LOW
NC0255 49-61 - - - -
NC0255 61 - - - -
________________________________________
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.