LOCATION TILLERY NC
Established Series
STE-DTA; Rev. DTA
02/2026
TILLERY SERIES
MLRA(s): 136 (thermic part)
Soil Survey Regional Office (SSRO) Responsible: Southeast
Depth Class: Very deep
Agricultural Drainage Class: Moderately well drained
Flooding Frequency and Duration: Rare; very brief
Index Surface Runoff: Medium
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Class: Moderately high
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Stream terrace
Parent Material: Moderately fine textured fluvial sediments underlain by stratified coarse to medium textured sediments
Slope: 0 to 15 percent
Elevation (type location): 119 meters (390 feet)
Frost Free Period (type location): 215 days
Mean Annual Air Temperature (type location): 15 degrees C. (59 degrees F.)
Mean Annual Precipitation (type location): 1168 millimeters (46 inches)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, siliceous, subactive, thermic Aquic Hapludults
TYPICAL PEDON: Tillery silt loam (in an area of Tillery silt loam, 0 to 6 percent slopes, rarely flooded), in a hayfield. (Colors are for moist soil, unless otherwise indicated.)
Ap--0 to 25 centimeters (0 to 10 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam; weak medium granular structure; friable, many fine, medium, and coarse roots throughout; 2 percent subrounded quartz gravel fragments; moderately acid, pH 5.6, Hellige-Truog; clear smooth boundary. (5 to 30 centimeters (2 to 12 inches) thick)
Bt1--25 to 51 centimeters (10 to 20 inches); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable, common fine and medium roots throughout; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 2 percent subrounded quartz gravel fragments; slightly acid, pH 6.4, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt2--51 to 81 centimeters (20 to 32 inches); brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots throughout; 10 percent medium prominent light gray (10YR 7/2) and 20 percent coarse distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron depletions; few faint clay films on faces of peds; strongly acid, pH 5.4, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--81 to 109 centimeters (32 to 43 inches); brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; 25 percent medium prominent light gray (10YR 7/2) and 15 percent coarse distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) iron depletions; few faint clay films on faces of peds; very strongly acid, pH 4.7, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 64 to 127 centimeters, (26 to 49 inches) thick)
BCtg--109 to 147 centimeters (43 to 58 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) silty clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable, 30 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and 10 percent medium prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron; very strongly acid, pH 4.6, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 38 centimeters (0 to 15 inches) thick)
Cg1--147 to 190 centimeters (58 to 75 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) silt loam; massive; friable, 25 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and 5 percent medium prominent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron; 5 percent subrounded quartz gravel fragments; very strongly acid, pH 4.7, Hellige-Truog; gradual wavy boundary.
Cg2--190 to 203 centimeters (75 to 80 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) very gravelly loam; massive; very friable, 25 percent coarse prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and 5 percent medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; 35 percent subrounded quartz gravel fragments; very strongly acid, pH 4.6, Hellige-Truog.
TYPE LOCATION: Montgomery County, North Carolina; about 2.2 miles west of Wadeville on Secondary Road 1134; 2.0 mile south on Secondary Road 1130, 140 feet southeast of road in hayfield. USGS Morrow Mountain, North Carolina topographic quadrangle.
Latitude--35.2819
Longitude-- -80.0203
Datum--WGS84
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to top of argillic horizon: 10 to 50 centimeters (4 to 20 inches)
Depth to base of argillic horizon: 76 to 150 centimeters (30 to 59 inches)
Depth to bedrock: Greater than 152 centimeters (60 inches) to hard bedrock
Depth to Seasonal High Water Table; kind: 46 to 76 centimeters (18 to 30 inches); perched; November to April
Soil reaction: Extremely acid to moderately acid throughout, except where limed.
Rock Fragment Content: 0 to 25 percent, by volume, in the A and B horizons, and 0 to 40 percent, by volume, in the C horizon at depths below 100 centimeters (39 inches); mostly rounded quartz gravel
Other Features: The upper 51 centimeters (20 inches) of the argillic horizon averages more than 30 percent silt or more than 40 percent silt plus very fine sand. Some pedons have argillic horizons that extend below 152 centimeters (60 inches). Some pedons have few mica flakes
RANGE OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS:
A or Ap horizon:
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 through 5, chroma of 2 through 4
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, or loam and where eroded, silty clay loam
E horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 through 6, chroma of 3 through 6
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
BA or BE horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 through 6, chroma of 3 through 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--very fine sandy loam, loam, silt loam, or silty clay loam
Bt horizon (upper part):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 4 through 7, chroma of 3 through 8
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown and iron depletions in shades of gray, yellow, or brown
Bt horizon (lower part):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 5 through 7, chroma of 3 through 8, or it is mottled in shades of red, yellow, brown, or gray.
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown and iron depletions in shades of gray, yellow, or brown
Btg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 4 through 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, clay loam, or silty clay
Redoximorphic Features--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
BC, BCt, or CB horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 5Y, value of 5 through 7, chroma of 3 through 8, or it is mottled in shades of red, yellow, brown, or gray.
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, or clay loam
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown and iron depletions in shades of gray, yellow, or brown
BCtg or CBg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 5Y, value of 5 through 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, or clay loam
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
C or 2C horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 5Y, value of 5 through 7, chroma of 3 through 8, or it is mottled in shades of red, yellow, brown, or gray.
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--stratified sands to sandy clay loam. Strata of finer textures are in some pedons.
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown and iron depletions in shades of gray, yellow, or brown
Cg or 2Cg horizon (if it occurs):
Color--hue of 7.5YR through 5Y, value of 5 through 7, chroma of 1 or 2
Texture (fine-earth fraction)--stratified sands to sandy clay loam. Strata of finer textures are in some pedons.
Redoximorphic Features (where present)--iron masses in shades of red, yellow, or brown
COMPETING SERIES:
Kirksey soils--have hard bedrock at depths of 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches) and are upland residual soils
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landscape: Piedmont
Landform: Stream terrace
Elevation: 90 to 245 meters (295 to 787 feet) above mean sea level
Parent Material: Moderately fine textured fluvial sediments underlain by stratified coarse to medium textured sediments
Mean Annual Air Temperature: 14 to 17 degrees C (57 to 62 degrees F)
Mean Annual Precipitation: 1015 to 1220 millimeters (40 to 48 inches)
Frost Free Period: 180 to 240 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS:
Alamance soils--are well drained; on residual uplands
Badin soils--are well drained, clayey, and moderately deep to soft bedrock 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); on residual uplands
Biscoe soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table 15 to 46 centimeters (6 to 18 inches) and moderately deep to soft bedrock 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); on residual uplands
Callison soils--are moderately deep to soft bedrock 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); on residual uplands
Chastain soils--are poorly drained (seasonal high water table 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches)and clayey; on adjacent floodplains
Chenneby soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table at 15 to 61 centimeters (6 to 24 inches); on adjacent floodplains
Cid soils--are clayey and moderately deep to hard bedrock 51 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches); on residual uplands
Georgeville soils--are well drained, red, and clayey; on residual uplands
Goldston soils--are well to excessively drained, shallow to soft bedrock less than 51 centimeters (less than 20 inches), and loamy-skeletal; on residual uplands
Herndon soils--are well drained and clayey; on residual uplands
Kirksey soils--are deep to hard bedrock 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); on residual uplands
Lignum soils--somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained (seasonal high water table 30 to 76 centimeters (12 to 30 inches), clayey and deep to soft bedrock 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); on residual uplands
Mandale soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table less than 50 centimeters (less than 20 inches) and very deep to bedrock; on residual uplands
Misenheimer soils--are somewhat poorly drained or moderately well drained(seasonal high water table 30 to 46 centimeters (12 to 18 inches) and shallow to soft bedrock less than 51 centimeters (less than 20 inches); on residual uplands
Moncure soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table 30 to 46 centimeters (12 to 18 inches); on slightly lower landscapes
Nanford soils--are well drained, clayey, and deep to soft bedrock 104 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); on residual uplands
Oakboro soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table (seasonal high water table 15 to 61 centimeters (6 to 24 inches); on adjacent floodplains
Roanoke soils--are poorly drained (seasonal high water table 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches), clayey; on slightly lower landscapes
Secrest soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table 30 to 76 centimeters (12 to 30 inches)and deep to soft bedrock 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); on residual uplands
Shellbluff soils--are well to moderately well drained (seasonal high water table 76 to 122 centimeters (30 to 48 inches); on adjacent floodplains
State soils--are well drained; on slightly higher landscapes
Tarrus soils--are well drained, clayey, red, and deep to soft bedrock 102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); on residual uplands
Warne soils--are somewhat poorly drained (seasonal high water table 30 to 46 centimeters (12 to 18 inches), clayey; on slightly lower landscapes
Wehadkee soils--are poorly drained (seasonal high water table 0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches); on adjacent floodplains
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Agricultural Drainage Class: Moderately well drained
Flooding Frequency and Duration: None to rare for brief periods
Ponding Frequency and Duration: None
Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity: Moderately high or moderately low
USE AND VEGETATION:
Major Uses: Woodland, pasture and hayland, 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: Small
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Montgomery County, North Carolina; 2007.
REMARKS:
Tillery soils were formerly included with Tetotum soils. Tetotum soils were mapped as upland soils in the coastal plains and on stream terraces in the Piedmont, but now is restricted to the coastal plain. The 02/2026 revision changed formatting. No data was changed.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Ochric epipedon--the zone from 0 to 25 centimeters (10 inches) (A horizon)
Argillic horizon--the zone from 25 to 147 centimeters (10 to 58 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, and BCtg horizons)
Redox concentrations--the zone from 109 to 203 centimeters (43 to 80 inches) (BCtg, Cg1, and Cg2 horizons)
Redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less--the zone from 51 to 203 centimeters (20 to 80 inches) (Bt2 through the C horizons)
ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data is available from the National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln Nebraska; pedon numbers S04NC-123-001, S04NC105-001, S04NC-125-001, and S04NC-007-001.
TABULAR SERIES DATA:
Soil Name Slope Airtemp FrFr/Seas Precip Elevation
TILLERY 0-15 57-62 180-240 40-48 200-551
FloodL FloodH Watertable Kind Months Bedrock Hardness
NONE RARE 1.5-2.5 PERCHED DEC-APR >60 -
Depth Texture 3-Inch No-10 Clay% -CEC-
0-10 SIL L 0-25 75-100 5-27 4-7
0-10 SICL 0-25 75-100 27-40 6-10
10-58 CL SICL 0-25 75-100 27-40 6-15
58-80 L SIL SL 0-40 60-100 5-27 4-8
Depth -pH- O.M. Salin Permeab Shnk-Swll
0-10 3.6-5.5 .5-2. 0-0 2.0-6.0 LOW
0-10 3.6-5.5 .5-2. 0-0 0.6-2.0 LOW
10-58 3.6-5.5 0.-.5 0-0 0.06-0.2 LOW
58-80 3.6-5.5 0.-.5 0-0 0.6-20 LOW
________________________________________
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.