LOCATION WELLSBORO PA+NJ NY
Established Series
Rev. EAW-STS-SEA
09/2015
WELLSBORO SERIES
The Wellsboro series consists of very deep moderately well and somewhat poorly drained soils formed in till derived from red sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Slope ranges from 0 to 50 percent. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high in the mineral surface layer, subsurface layer, and upper part of the subsoil; and low or moderately low in the lower part of the subsoil (fragipan) and the substratum. Mean annual precipitation is 1080 mm (42.5 in). Mean annual temperature is 8 degrees C (46 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Fragiudepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Wellsboro channery silt loam - in a hayfield. (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 in); dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) channery silt loam; weak fine granular structure; friable; 20 percent flat rock fragments; slightly acid (pH 6.3), abrupt wavy boundary. (13 to 30 cm (5 to 12 in thick)
Bw1--20 to 46 cm (8 to 18 in); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) channery silt loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 20 percent flat rock fragments; moderately acid (pH 5.8), abrupt wavy boundary.
Bw2--46 to 61 cm (18 to 24 in); brown (7.5YR 5/4) very channery loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly plastic; 15 percent fine distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron and 15 percent fine distinct gray (10YR 6/1) and light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) masses of reduced iron; 35 percent flat rock fragments; strongly acid (pH 5.3), clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of Bw horizons is 13 to 66 cm (5 to 26 in) thick.)
Bx--61 to 122 cm (24 to 48 in); reddish brown (5YR 5/3) very channery loam; coarse prismatic structure parts to moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; brittle; 25 percent medium distinct yellowish red (5YR 5/8) and reddish yellow (5YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron and 25 percent medium distinct gray (10YR 6/1) masses of reduced iron; 40 percent flat rock fragments; strongly acid (pH 5.3), clear wavy boundary. (36 to 152 cm (14 to 60 in) or more thick)
C--122 to 163 cm (48 to 64 in); weak red (10R 4/2) very channery silt loam; massive structure; very firm, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; 10 percent patchy clay films on surfaces along pores; 50 percent flat rock fragments; moderately acid (pH 5.8) .
TYPE LOCATION: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania; Jackson Township, about 1/4 mile east of intersection of Township Routes 657 (Bower Rd.) and 812 (Raker Rd.), about 200 ft north of Township Route 657, in a hayfield. USGS Nauvoo, PA topographic quadrangle latitude 41 degrees, 32 minutes, 18.7 seconds North and longitude 77 degrees, 9 minutes, 14.87 seconds west. NAD83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness is greater than 102 cm (40 in). Depth to the fragipan ranges from 36 to 76 cm (14 to 30 in). Depth to bedrock is 152 cm (60 in) or more. Rock fragments of subangular and rounded sandstone, siltstone or shale range from 5 to 40 percent in the A and B horizons, and from 15 to 50 percent in the Bx and C horizons. Typically rock fragments average about 5 to 25 percent by volume above the fragipan and 15 to 40 percent by volume in and below the fragipan. The control section has less than 35 percent rock fragments by volume. Reaction commonly ranges from very strongly acid through moderately acid unless limed but the range includes extremely acid.
The Ap horizon has hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma 2 or 3. Dry color value is 6 or more. Texture is loam or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction.
Pedons in wooded areas have an A horizon with hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 2 through 4, and chroma of 1 or 2. These pedons also may have an E horizon with hue of 5YR through 10YR, value of 3 through 6, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is loam, silt loam, or fine sandy loam in the fine-earth fraction.
A B/E horizon may also be present in some pedons. Colors and textures of the B part of the B/E are similar to those of the Bw horizon. The E part of the B/E has color and texture similar to the E horizon.
The Bw horizon above 51 cm (20 in) has hue of 2.5YR through 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 through 6. The lower part of the Bw horizon includes subhorizons with chroma of 2. The Bw horizon has both high and low chroma redoximorphic features. Texture is loam or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction.
Some pedons have an E' horizon above the fragipan. Texture is fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction.
The Bx horizon has chroma of 10R through 5YR, value of 3 through 5, and chroma of 2 through 4. Faces of prisms range in hue from 10R through 7.5YR, value of 4 through 7, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is sandy loam, loam, or silt loam in the fine-earth fraction. Structure of the Bx horizon is weak or moderate, coarse or very coarse prismatic. Prisms have platy, blocky, or massive interiors.
The C or Cd horizon is similar in color and texture to the Bx horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: The
Bath,
Braceville,
Broadalbin,
Ira,
Lackawanna,
Mardin,
Rushford,
Sodus,
Swartswood, and
Wurtsboro series are in the same family. The Bath, Broadalbin, and Mardin soils have hue of 7.5YR or yellower in the fragipan. Braceville soils have stratified sand and gravel within the series control section. Ira, Sodus, Swartswood and Wurtsboro commonly have less than 55 percent silt plus very fine sand in the particle size control section. Lackawanna soils do not have redoximorphic features above the fragipan. Rushford soils have a silty lacustrine substratum with few or no rock fragments.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Wellsboro soils are on nearly level to steep glaciated uplands. Slope ranges from 0 to 50 percent. The soils developed in firm till derived from reddish sandstone, siltstone, and shale. Mean annual temperature ranges from 6 to 11 degrees C (43 to 52 degrees F). Mean annual precipitation ranges from 795 to 1725 mm (31 to 68 in), and mean annual frost-free season ranges from 105 to 180 days. These soils generally occur at elevations between 100 and 670 m (328 and 2,198 ft), but have been mapped as high as 750 m (2,460 ft) in some areas.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The
Lackawanna,
Morris, and
Norwich soils are in a drainage sequence with Wellsboro. Morris soils have dominant chroma of 2 or less within 51 cm (20 in). Norwich soils have dominant chroma of 2 or less in all horizons below the Ap, or below 15 cm (6 in).
Arnot,
Lordstown,
Maplecrest, and
Oquaga soils are nearby. Arnot soils are shallow to bedrock; Lordstown and Oquaga soils are moderately deep. Maplecrest soils are well drained and lack a fragipan.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. The potential for surface runoff is low to very high. Internal drainage is slow. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high in the mineral surface layer, subsurface layer, and upper part of the subsoil; and low or moderately low in the lower part of the subsoil (fragipan) and the substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Many areas have been cleared and are used for growing hay, small grain, pasture, and potatoes. Some areas are idle. Woodlots contain sugar maple, American beech, red oak and white pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The glaciated Allegheny Plateau of northwestern New Jersey, southern New York and northern Pennsylvania. The acreage of Wellsboro is almost entirely within MLRA 140. Small acreage occurs in transitional areas that border MLRA 140. The series is extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Amherst, Massachusetts
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Tioga County, Pennsylvania, 1929.
REMARKS: Three soil survey areas in Pennsylvania (Bradford-Sullivan, Columbia, and Wayne Counties) mapped Wellsboro as moderately well drained and somewhat poorly drained. All three of these survey areas also had Morris (somewhat poorly drained) in their legend as well. The Taxonomic Unit Descriptions for these three survey areas look moderately well drained. Further investigation is needed.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
1. Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of about 20 cm (8 in) (Ap horizon).
2. Cambic horizon - the zone from 20 to 61 cm (8 to 24 in) (Bw horizon).
3. Fragipan - the zone from 61 to 122 cm (24 to 48 in) (Bx horizon).
4. Udic soil moisture regime (a humid, temperate climate).
Soil Interpretation Records: PA0027, PA0028, PA0227
The activity class is based on pedon S86NY025-5 from Delaware County, NY.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.