Saunook soil series
A representative soil profile of the Saunook soil series. (Original photo provided by Matthew C. Ricker, NC State University)
The Saunook series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on benches, fans, and toe slopes in coves in the Blue Ridge (MLRA 130). They formed in colluvium derived from materials weathered from felsic to mafic, igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. Slope ranges from 2 to 60 percent. Near the type location, mean annual temperature is 53 degrees F.
and mean annual precipitation is 55 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Humic Hapludults
Solum thickness is 40 to more than 60 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Content of mica flakes is few or common. Rock fragment content is less than 35 percent in the A and Bt horizons, and ranges to 60 percent in the BC and C horizon, where present. The fragments range in size from gravel to stones. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid in the A horizon, unless the soil has been limed. It is very strongly acid to slightly acid the Bt and C horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: Much of this soil has been cleared and is used for orchards, corn, burley tobacco, small grain, truck crops, ornamentals, and pasture, as well as urban development. Common trees are yellow poplar, northern red oak, white oak, yellow buckeye, black cherry, black birch, white ash, cucumbertree, and black locust. Understory plants include mountain-laurel, black locust, rhododendron, greenbrier, flowering dogwood, red maple, poison-ivy, grape,
honeysuckle, sourwood, switchcane, and Christmas fern.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North Carolina, Tennessee, and possibly Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina. The series is of large extent.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Macon County, North Carolina, 1990. The name is from the Saunook community, near the type location in Haywood County, North Carolina.
REMARKS: The Saunook series was formerly included with the Tate and Tusquitee series. However, Tate soils have an ochric epipedon that has higher color value, and Tusquitee soils have a cambic horizon.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SAUNOOK.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:
Saunook soil series
A representative soil profile of the Saunook soil series. (Original photo provided by Matthew C. Ricker, NC State University)
The Saunook series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on benches, fans, and toe slopes in coves in the Blue Ridge (MLRA 130). They formed in colluvium derived from materials weathered from felsic to mafic, igneous and high-grade metamorphic rocks. Slope ranges from 2 to 60 percent. Near the type location, mean annual temperature is 53 degrees F.
and mean annual precipitation is 55 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Humic Hapludults
Solum thickness is 40 to more than 60 inches. Depth to bedrock is greater than 60 inches. Content of mica flakes is few or common. Rock fragment content is less than 35 percent in the A and Bt horizons, and ranges to 60 percent in the BC and C horizon, where present. The fragments range in size from gravel to stones. Reaction ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid in the A horizon, unless the soil has been limed. It is very strongly acid to slightly acid the Bt and C horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: Much of this soil has been cleared and is used for orchards, corn, burley tobacco, small grain, truck crops, ornamentals, and pasture, as well as urban development. Common trees are yellow poplar, northern red oak, white oak, yellow buckeye, black cherry, black birch, white ash, cucumbertree, and black locust. Understory plants include mountain-laurel, black locust, rhododendron, greenbrier, flowering dogwood, red maple, poison-ivy, grape,
honeysuckle, sourwood, switchcane, and Christmas fern.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North Carolina, Tennessee, and possibly Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina. The series is of large extent.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Macon County, North Carolina, 1990. The name is from the Saunook community, near the type location in Haywood County, North Carolina.
REMARKS: The Saunook series was formerly included with the Tate and Tusquitee series. However, Tate soils have an ochric epipedon that has higher color value, and Tusquitee soils have a cambic horizon.
For a detailed description, visit:
soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/S/SAUNOOK.html
For acreage and geographic distribution, visit: