LOCATION STERRETT ALEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, siliceous, active, thermic Aeric Endoaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Sterrett silt loam--pasture.
(Colors are for moist soil.)
Ap--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam; weak
fine granular structure; very friable; many medium and fine roots; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
A2--4 to 8 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) silt loam; few fine faint yellowish brown mottles; moderate medium granular structure; very friable; common medium and fine roots; common fine vesicular pores; few fine dark brown concretions; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
B21t--8 to 14 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam
with light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) coatings on ped exteriors; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few medium and fine roots; few fine vesicular pores; few patchy distinct clay films on faces of peds; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
B22tg--14 to 40 inches; mottled light brownish gray (10YR
6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) clay loam; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR5/6) mottles; moderate medium subangular
blocky sructure; friable; few fine roots; few fine vesicular
pores; few patchy distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine
dark brown and black concretions; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
B23tg--40 to 58 inches; light gray (10YR 6/1) clay loam; many medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) mottles; moderate
medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; few patchy faint clay films on faces of peds; strongly acid; gradual
wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the B2t horizon is 26 to 60 inches thick.)
B3--58 to 74 inches; mottled light gray (10YR 6/1), yellowish brown (10YR5/6) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) stratified sandy
clay loam and sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine dark brown and black concretions; medium
acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Shelby County, Alabama; 2 miles east of
Alabaster, 100 feet east and 300 feet north of the SW corner of section 30, T. 20 S, R. 2 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 40 to more than 60 inches. Content of concretions less than 1/4 inch in diameter ranges from 0 to 15 percent by volume throughout.
The Ap or A1 horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. The A2 horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR
or 2.5Y, value of 6 or 7, and chroma of 3 or 4. Some pedons have mottles in shades of yellow or brown. The A horizon is silt loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. Reaction ranges from very
strongly acid to medium acid.
Some pedons have a B1 horizon as much as 6 inches thick. It has
hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 to 6.
Mottles are in shades of brown, yellow, or gray. Texture and reaction is the same as the A horizon, or it is a loam.
The B21t horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, and
chroma of 3 through 6 with coatings of chroma 1 or 2 on ped exteriors; or has value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 2. The B2tg
horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 1
or 2. Mottles are in shades of yellow and brown. The B2t horizon
is silt loam, loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam. Reaction is
very strongly acid or strongly acid.
The B3 horizon, and C horizon where present, has the same hue,
value, and chroma as the lower part of the B2tg horizon. Texture
is sandy loam, loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or silty clay
loam. Reaction is medium acid to mildly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: The only known series in the same family is the
Steens series. Steens soils are more acid in the lower part of
the B horizon. Series in similar families include the
Cupco,
Dundee,
Fork,
McGehee, and
Sylacauga. Cupco, Dundee, McGehee, and Sylacauga soils have less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser in
the control section. In addition, Dundee, Fork, McGehee, and Sylacauga soils have mixed mineralogy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sterrett soils are on nearly level flood
plains and low stream terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in loamy fluvial sediments weathered from sandstone and shale uplands. The mean annual precipitation near
the type location is about 53 inches and the mean annual
temperature is about 60 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are
Allen,
Choccolocco,
Etowah,
Quitman, and
Townley series. Allen, Etowah, and Townley soils are on upland positions and have a redder argillic horizon. Choccolocco and Quitman soils are on slightly higher positions on
the landscape with Choccolocco soils being better drained.
Quitman soils have a browner argillic horizon.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; runoff is slow and permeability is moderately slow. These soils are usually saturated with water in winter and early spring, and may flood for brief periods from December through March.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the acreage has been cleared and is being used for pasture. Areas that remain in woodland are predominantly pine and mixed hardwoods.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Alabama and possibly Georgia and
Tennessee. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Shelby County, Alabama, 1982.
REMARKS: Sterrett series was formerly included in the Sylacauga series.