The following are breif descriptions of the soils that you will be studying and discussing in labs. For each soil their is a hot-link to the "Official Series Description" (OSD) page on your data sheets (the hot links for the soil names will take you directly to the OSD site for that soil). At that site you will find the horizon and color description for each soil.
The home page for the Official Series Descriptions (OSD) is NRCS Official Soil Series Descriptions (OSD) . If you want to look up other soils on this site, the best way to do this is by clicking on the "View OSD by Series Name (with best-match feature)" option, then typing the name of the soil of interest in the text box and submitting.
IMPORTANT NOTE! You may find discrepencies between the taxonomic classification for some soils on this page (the Soils Data page) and the OSD links. This is most likely because the information on the OSD is more recent and has been updated from the information available in the Soil Survey of Centre County. Other differences between the soil survey and the OSD information (color, horizons...) may be due to some differences between the type location soil described in the Soil Survey of Centre County and the type location soil on the OSD page. You can check these out by scrolling down past the horizon descriptions on the OSD page to the TYPE LOCATION heading.
| Soil series | Andover |
| Topographic Position | benches, toeslopes, footslopes, and swales along the base of prominent ridges |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy,mixed,acid, mesic Typic Fragiaquult
|
| Parent Material | sandstone, siltstone, shale colluvium |
| Drainage Class | poorly drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland |
| Limitations | high water table; slow permeability; fragipan; surface stones |
| Soil series | Atkins |
| Topographic Position | Flood Plains |
| Physiographic Province | Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Entisol; Fine-loamy,mixed,acid, mesic Typic Fluvaquent
|
| Parent Material | Alluvium from shale, siltstone, and sandstone |
| Drainage Class | poorly drained |
| Major Uses | Pasture or woodland |
| Limitations | frequent flooding; high water table |
| Soil series | Basher |
| Topographic Position | flood plains |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley and
Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Blair County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Coarse-loamy, mixed, mesic Fluvaquentic Dystrochrepts
|
| Parent Material | Alluvium from red shale, siltstone, and sandstone |
| Drainage Class | Moderately Well drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland or woodland and pasture |
| Limitations | flooding; seasonal high water table |
| Soil series | Berks |
| Topographic Position | Convex uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley and
Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Loamy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Typic Dystrochrepts
|
| Parent Material | Shale and Siltstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well drained |
| Major Uses | Crops or pasture |
| Limitations | depth; rippable shale; droughtiness; rock fragments |
| Soil series | Brinkerton |
| Topographic Position | Convex midslopes |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley and
Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Loamy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Typic Dystrochrepts
|
| Parent Material | Siltstone, shale and sandstone colluvium |
| Drainage Class | Poorly Drined |
| Major Uses | Woodland, pasture, or idle |
| Limitations | high water table; slow permeability; surface stones |
| Soil series | Buchanan |
| Topographic Position | Concave uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Aquic Fragiudults
|
| Parent Material | Sandstone, siltstone, shale colluvium |
| Drainage Class | Moderately well drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland, some pasture |
| Limitations | seasonal high water table; slow permeability; slope; surface stones |
| Soil series | Calvin |
| Topographic Position | Uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; loamy-skeletal mixed,mesic Typic Dystrochrept |
| Parent Material | Red shale residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland, cropland |
| Limitations | slope; moderate depth; rock fragments |
| Soil series | Canfield |
| Topographic Position | Uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Glaciated Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Venango County |
| Classification | Alfisol; fine-loamy, mixed,mesic Aquic Fragiudalf |
| Parent Material | glacial till from gray shale, sandstone, and quartzite |
| Drainage Class | Moderately well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland |
| Limitations | seasonal high water table; fragipan; rock fragments |
| Soil series | Carlisle (the organic soil) |
| Topographic Position | Bogs and swampy areas |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Histosol; Euic, mesic Typic Medisaprists |
| Parent Material | woody organic deposits |
| Drainage Class | very poorly Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodlands and swamps |
| Limitations | very frequent flooding; high water table; organic nature of soils |
| Soil series | Dunning |
| Topographic Position | Flood Plains |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Mollisol; Fine, mixed, mesic Fluvaquentic Haplaquolls |
| Parent Material | Alluvium; from limestone and shale |
| Drainage Class | very poorly Drained |
| Major Uses | Wildlife habitat |
| Limitations | frequent flooding; high water table; slow permeability |
| Soil series | Ernest |
| Topographic Position | Concave midslopes |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Fragiudults |
| Parent Material | Siltstone, shale, and sandstone colluvium |
| Drainage Class | Moderately well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland and pasture |
| Limitations | seasonal high water table; fragipan; surface stones |
| Soil series | Gilpin |
| Topographic Position | Convex uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Clearfield County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludults
|
| Parent Material | shale and siltstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland |
| Limitations | moderate depth; rippable shale bedrock; slope |
| Soil series | Glenelg |
| Topographic Position | Well dissected uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Piedmont Plateau |
| Sample Location | Chester County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludult |
| Parent Material | Micaceous schist residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Crops |
| Limitations | moderate permeability; clayey layer |
| Soil series | Hagerstown |
| Topographic Position | Valley uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Fine, mixed,mesic Typic Hapludalf |
| Parent Material | Limestone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland, pasture, buildings |
| Limitations | sinkhole potential; erodibility; clayey layer |
| Soil series | Hazleton |
| Topographic Position | Mountains |
| Physiographic Province | Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Loamy-skeletal, mixed, mesic Typic Dystrochrept (Braker, 1981)
Loamy-skeletal, siliceous, active, mesic Typic Dystrudepts (OSD, 2006) |
| Parent Material | Sandstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland |
| Limitations | many rock fragments; slope; surface stones |
| Soil series | Hublersburg |
| Topographic Position | Convex uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Clayey, illitic, mesic Typic Hapludult
(in Centre County these are alfisols; clayey, illitic, mesic Ultic Hapludalfs) |
| Parent Material | Limestone residuum with impurities (cherty limestone residuum) |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Crops and pasture, some woodland |
| Limitations | erodibility; clayey layer; sinkhole potential |
| Soil series and phase | Laidig |
| Topographic Position | Upland; concave midslopes and lower footslopes |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Clinton County |
| Classification | Ultisol; fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudult |
| Parent Material | Sandstone and siltstone colluvium |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland |
| Limitations | slope; surface stones; moderately slow permeability; stoniness |
| Soil series | Lakin |
| Topographic Position | Terraces |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Northumberland County |
| Classification | Entisol; mixed,mesic Alfic Udipsamment |
| Parent Material | Aeolian sands |
| Drainage Class | Excessively Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland |
| Limitations | rapid permeability; droughtiness; sandy texture |
| Soil series | Leetonia |
| Topographic Position | Upland hilltops |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Spodosol; Sandy, silicious, mesic EnticHaplorthod |
| Parent Material | Sandstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well to excessively Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland, buildings |
| Limitations | sandy texture; rapid permeability; droughtiness |
| Soil series | Meckesville |
| Topographic Position | Footslopes and sides of ridges in uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudult |
| Parent Material | siltston, shale, and sandstone colluvium |
| Drainage Class | well drained |
| Major Uses | woodland and cropland |
| Limitations | moderately slow permeability; slope; surface stones |
| Soil series and phase | Monongahela |
| Topographic Position | Terraces |
| Physiographic Province | Appalachian Plateau, Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Venango County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Fragiudult |
| Parent Material | Sandstone and shale alluvium |
| Drainage Class | Moderately Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland or pasture |
| Limitations | seasonal high water table; moderately slow permeability |
| Soil series | Morrison |
| Topographic Position | Dissected upland valleys |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic UlticHapludalf |
| Parent Material | Limy sandstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland and some crops |
| Limitations | slope; erosion; stones |
| Soil series | Murrill |
| Topographic Position | Footslope |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Clinton County |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Hapludult |
| Parent Material | Sandstone colluvium underlain by limestone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland |
| Limitations | sinkhole potential; slope; stones |
| Soil series | Opequon |
| Topographic Position | Valley uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Clayey, mixed, mesic LithicHapludalf |
| Parent Material | Limestone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland, hay or pasture |
| Limitations | shallow depth; silty clay loam surfface layer; clayey subsoil; sinkhole potential |
| Soil series | Penn |
| Topographic Position | Dissected uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Piedmont, Appalachian Plateau, and Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic UlticHapludalf |
| Parent Material | noncalcareous reddish shale, siltstone, and finegrained sandstone residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Crops |
| Limitations | rock fragments |
| Soil series | Philo |
| Topographic Position | Flood plains |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Fluvaquentic Dystrudepts
|
| Parent Material | alluvium underlain by shale, siltstone, and sandstone |
| Drainage Class | Moderately well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland, some pastures and cropland |
| Limitations | occasional flooding; seasonal high water table |
| Soil series | Pope |
| Topographic Position | Flood plains |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Coarse-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Fluventic Dystrudepts
|
| Parent Material | alluvium underlain by shale, siltstone, and sandstone |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland, pasture, and woodland |
| Limitations | occasional flooding |
| Soil series | Sassafras |
| Topographic Position | Summits and sideslopes |
| Physiographic Province | Coastal Plain |
| Sample Location | St Mary's County, Maryland |
| Classification | Ultisol; Fine-loamy, siliceous, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludults |
| Parent Material | Alluvium from Sandy marine and old alluvial sediments |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland and pastures |
| Limitations | moderate to moderately slow permeability |
| Soil series | Vanderlip |
| Topographic Position | Uplands |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Centre County |
| Classification | Entisol; Mesic, coated Argic Quartzipsamment |
| Parent Material | Limy sandstone and quartzite residuum |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland |
| Limitations | slope; rapid permeability; loamy sand surface layer |
| Soil series | Washington |
| Topographic Position | Upland, on hills |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley |
| Sample Location | Lehigh County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Ultic Hapludalfs |
| Parent Material | Glacial till from sandstone, siltstone, shale and limestone |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland |
| Limitations | rock fragments |
| Soil series | Weikert |
| Topographic Position | Narrow Ridges |
| Physiographic Province | Ridge and Valley, Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Lehigh County |
| Classification | Inceptisol; Loamy-skeletal, mixed, active, mesic Lithic Dystrudepts |
| Parent Material | Shale and sandstone residuum - scoured by glacier |
| Drainage Class | Well Drained |
| Major Uses | Woodland, some cropland |
| Limitations | shallow depth to rippable bedrock; slope; many rock fragments |
| Soil series | Wooster |
| Topographic Position | Upland hills, ridges, and sideslopes |
| Physiographic Province | Glaciated Appalachian Plateau |
| Sample Location | Crawford County |
| Classification | Alfisol; Fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Oxyaquic Fragiudalfs |
| Parent Material | Glacial till from sandstone, siltstone,shale, limestone, and granite |
| Drainage Class | Well drained |
| Major Uses | Cropland, pasture |
| Limitations | fragipan; rock fragments |
|
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