LOCATION TRANSYLVANIA NC+GA SC TN
Established Series
JMK; Rev BPS
02/2011
TRANSYLVANIA SERIES
The Transylvania series consists of very deep, well drained and moderately well drained soils that formed in loamy alluvial deposits. They are on nearly level flood plains of mountain valleys in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B. Near the type location, mean annual air temperature is about 56 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is about 63 inches. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Humudepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Transylvania silt loam -- cultivated (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; weak medium granular structure; very friable, slightly sticky; few fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
A1--10 to 27 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam; moderate medium granular structure; very friable, slightly sticky; few fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (16 to 36 inches thick)
Bw--27 to 42 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silty clay loam; few fine distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) mottles at a depth of 38 inches; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; sticky, slightly plastic; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Bg--42 to 60 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) silty clay loam; many medium and coarse, distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) mottles; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, sticky, slightly plastic; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Cg--60 to 70 inches; light olive gray (5Y 6/2) loamy fine sand; single grained; loose; common fine flakes of mica; moderately acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Transylvania County, North Carolina; 6 miles southeast of Brevard, 700 feet south of Little River and 100 feet east of Secondary Road 1535.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 24 to more than 70 inches. Depth to bedrock is more than 60 inches. The soil is very strongly acid to moderately acid unless the surface has been limed. Content of mica flakes ranges from few to many throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, or it is neutral, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 3. Texture is silt loam or loam.
The Bw horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 8. Many pedons have few or common mottles in shades of brown, yellow or gray in the Bw horizon. Texture is silty clay loam, clay loam, silt loam, loam, or sandy clay loam.
The Bg horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 1 or 2. Mottles with chroma of 3 or more range from few to many. Texture is silty clay loam, clay loam, silt loam, loam, or sandy clay loam.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 1 or 2. Some pedons have few to many mottles in shades of brown, yellow or gray. Texture is variable, but is typically loamy or sandy.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. The
Rosman series is in a closely related family. Rosman soils have an umbric epipedon 10 to 20 inches thick and are in a coarse-loamy family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Transylvania soils are on nearly level flood plains of mountain valleys in the Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B . Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. The soils formed in loamy alluvial deposits. Mean annual air temperature is 56 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is about 63 inches near the type location.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: In addition to the competing soils, these include the
Biltmore,
Cullowhee,
Dillard,
Rosman,
Reddies,
Statler,and
Toxaway soils. Rosman is in a similar landscape position as Transylvania soils. Biltmore soils are in a sandy family and are in a natural levee position beside the stream channel of large streams. Cullowhee and Reddies soils are along narrow flood plains where the loamy alluvium is moderately deep to gravel beds. These soils are in a coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal family. Dillard and Staler soils have argillic horizons and are on nearby stream terraces. Toxaway soils are very poorly drained and are in depressions and backwater areas of the flood plains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained and moderately well drained; very slow runoff; moderate permeability. These soils are subject to common flooding for brief periods.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of these soils are cleared and used for cultivated crops or pasture. Corn, vegetables, and grass and clover are the main crops grown. Native vegetation consists of mixed hardwoods and include red maple, river birch, American sycamore, yellow poplar, eastern white pine, and American beech. Understory plants include greenbrier, hobblebush, rhododendron, mountain laurel, flowering dogwood, sourwood, eastern hophornbeam.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Blue Ridge mountains, MLRA 130B of North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and possibly Virginia. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Transylvania County, North Carolina; 1937.
REMARKS: The following diagnostic horizons and features are recognized in this pedon.
Umbric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 27 inches (Ap and A1 horizons)
Cumulic feature - the presence of an umbric epipedon more than 20 inches thick (Ap and A1 horizons)
Cambic horizon - the zone from 27 to 60 inches below the surface (Bw and Bg horizons)
MLRAB = 130B SIR = NC0092a
Revised 02/11-BPS: Taxonomic Classification -- 11th Keys, update competing and associated series, MLRA clarification
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.