United States In cooperation with the Soil Survey of Department of Alabama Agricultural Agriculture Experiment Station and the Houston County, Alabama Soil and Water Natural Conservation District Resources Alabama Conservation Service i How To Use This Soil Survey The detailed soil maps can be useful in planning the use and management of small areas. To find information about your area of interest, locate that area on the Index to Map Sheets. Note the number of the map sheet and turn to that sheet. Locate your area of interest on the map sheet. Note the map unit symbols that are in that area. Turn to the Contents, which lists the map units by symbol and name and shows the page where each map unit is described. The Contents shows which table has data on a specific land use for each detailed soil map unit. Also see the Contents for sections of this publication that may address your specific needs. ii This soil survey is a publication of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, a joint effort of the United States Department of Agriculture and other Federal agencies, State agencies including the Agricultural Experiment Stations, and local agencies. The Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the Soil Conservation Service) has leadership for the Federal part of the National Cooperative Soil Survey. Major fieldwork for this soil survey was completed in July, 2002. Soil names and descriptions were approved in July, 2002. Unless otherwise indicated, statements in this publication refer to conditions in the survey area in 2002. This survey was made cooperatively by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee, the Houston County Commission, the Houston County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Dothan, and the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. It is part of the technical assistance furnished to the Houston County Soil and Water Conservation District. Soil maps for this survey may be copied without permission. Enlargement of these maps, however, could cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping. If enlarged, maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a larger scale. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Cover: Peanuts being harvested in an area of Fuquay loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes. Fuquay soils have sandy surface and subsurface layers with a combined thickness of 20 to 40 inches. These soils are well suited for peanut seed germination and for ease of harvesting. About 38,000 acres of peanuts were planted in Houston County in 2002. For additional information, see the “Crops and Pasture” section of this survey. Additional information about the Nation’s natural resources is available online from the Natural Resources Conservation Service at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov. iii Contents How To Use This Soil Survey..................................i LcB—Lucy loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes...23 Foreword............................................................... vii LcC—Lucy loamy sand, 5 to 8 percent Introduction ............................................................1 slopes..........................................................23 Early History ........................................................1 LtE—Lucy-Troup complex, 8 to 20 percent Climate.................................................................2 slopes..........................................................24 How This Survey Was Made................................3 MIA—Mantachie, Iuka, and Kinston soils, 0 to Detailed Soil Map Units .........................................7 1 percent slopes, frequently flooded............24 AnA—Annemaine-Wahee complex, 0 to 2 MtA—Meggett fine sandy loam, 0 to 1 percent percent slopes, rarely flooded .......................8 slopes, frequently flooded............................26 ArA—Ardilla fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent NaB—Nankin sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes............................................................9 slopes..........................................................26 BnB—Benevolence loamy sand, 2 to 5 percent NcD—Nankin-Cowarts complex, 5 to 12 slopes............................................................9 percent slopes.............................................27 BnD—Benevolence loamy sand, 5 to 15 NpE—Nankin-Lucy-Springhill complex, 12 to percent slopes.............................................10 20 percent slopes........................................28 BOA—Bibb, Osier, and Kinston soils, 0 to 1 NsE—Nankin-Springhill-Henderson complex, percent slopes, frequently flooded...............10 8 to 20 percent slopes, cobbly.....................29 BuB—Buncombe-Bigbee complex, 0 to 5 OiA—Ocilla-Albany complex, 0 to 2 percent percent slopes, frequently flooded...............12 slopes..........................................................30 CdA—Clarendon loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent OrA—Orangeburg sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes..........................................................12 slopes..........................................................31 CoB—Cowarts fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 OrB—Orangeburg sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent percent slopes.............................................13 slopes..........................................................31 DBA—Dorovan, Byars, and Grady soils, OrC—Orangeburg sandy loam, 5 to 8 ponded.........................................................14 percent ........................................................32 DoA—Dothan loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent PaA—Pansey fine sandy loam, depressional.....33 slopes..........................................................15 PeA—Pansey fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent DoB—Dothan loamy sand, 2 to 5 percent slopes, occasionally flooded........................33 slopes..........................................................15 PmA—Plummer sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes.....34 DoC—Dothan loamy sand, 5 to 8 percent Pt—Pits..............................................................34 slopes..........................................................16 RbA—Red Bay sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent DsA—Dunbar-Goldsboro complex, 0 to 2 slopes..........................................................35 percent slopes.............................................17 RbB—Red Bay sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent FaA—Faceville fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 slopes..........................................................35 percent slopes.............................................18 RbC—Red Bay sandy loam, 5 to 8 percent FaB—Faceville fine sandy loam, 2 to 5 slopes..........................................................36 percent slopes.............................................18 RvB—Riverview silt loam, 0 to 5 percent FqB—Fuquay loamy sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes, occasionally flooded........................36 slopes..........................................................19 TnB—Troup-Bonifay complex, 0 to 5 percent GbA—Grady-Byars complex, depressional .......20 slopes..........................................................37 KeA—Kenansville loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent TnC—Troup-Bonifay complex, 5 to 8 percent slopes, rarely flooded ..................................21 slopes..........................................................38 KhB—Kolomoki-Cahaba complex, 0 to 3 TyB—Troup-Lucy complex, 0 to 5 percent percent slopes, rarely flooded .....................22 slopes..........................................................39 iv UbA—Urban land-Bibb-Kinston complex, 0 to Annemaine Series..............................................77 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded............40 Ardilla Series......................................................78 UcA—Urban land-Clarendon-Ardilla complex, Benevolence Series...........................................79 0 to 2 percent slopes...................................41 Bibb Series.........................................................80 UdB—Urban land-Dothan complex, 0 to 5 Bigbee Series.....................................................81 percent slopes.............................................42 Bonifay Series....................................................82 UrB—Urban land-Red Bay complex, 0 to 5 Buncombe Series...............................................82 percent slopes.............................................43 Byars Series.......................................................83 VaB—Varina sandy loam, 2 to 5 percent Cahaba Series...................................................84 slopes..........................................................43 Clarendon Series...............................................85 WnB—Wicksburg-Nankin complex, 2 to 5 Cowarts Series ..................................................87 percent slopes.............................................44 Dorovan Series ..................................................88 WnC—Wicksburg-Nankin complex, 5 to 8 Dothan Series....................................................88 percent slopes.............................................45 Dunbar Series....................................................89 Prime Farmland....................................................47 Faceville Series..................................................91 Use and Management of the Soils......................49 Fuquay Series....................................................92 Interpretive Ratings............................................49 Goldsboro Series...............................................93 Rating Class Terms........................................49 Grady Series......................................................94 Numerical Ratings .........................................49 Henderson Series..............................................95 Crops and Pasture.............................................49 Iuka Series.........................................................99 Yields per Acre ..............................................53 Kenansville Series............................................100 Land Capability Classification........................53 Kinston Series..................................................101 Landscaping and Gardening..............................54 Kolomoki Series...............................................102 Hydric Soils........................................................56 Lucy Series......................................................102 Forest Productivity and Management ................57 Mantachie Series.............................................103 Forest Productivity.........................................57 Meggett Series.................................................104 Forest Management.......................................58 Nankin Series...................................................106 Recreation..........................................................59 Ocilla Series.....................................................107 Wildlife Habitat ...................................................61 Orangeburg Series...........................................108 Engineering........................................................63 Osier Series.....................................................109 Building Site Development.............................64 Pansey Series..................................................110 Sanitary Facilities...........................................65 Plummer Series ...............................................111 Construction Materials...................................66 Red Bay Series................................................112 Water Management .......................................67 Riverview Series..............................................112 Soil Properties......................................................69 Springhill Series...............................................113 Engineering Index Properties.............................69 Troup Series.....................................................114 Soil Features......................................................70 Varina Series....................................................115 Water Features ..................................................70 Wahee Series...................................................117 Physical and Chemical Properties .....................71 Wicksburg Series.............................................119 Physical and Chemical Analyses of Selected Formation of the Soils .......................................121 Soils.............................................................72 Factors of Soil Formation.................................121 Classification of the Soils ...................................75 Parent Material ............................................121 Soil Series and Their Morphology ..........................75 Climate ........................................................121 Albany Series.....................................................75 Relief ...........................................................121 v Plants and Animals......................................122 Table 10b.—Recreation (Part 2).......................182 Time.............................................................122 Table 11.—Wildlife Habitat ...............................188 Processes of Horizon Differentiation................122 Table 12a.—Building Site Development References..........................................................125 (Part 1) ......................................................193 Glossary..............................................................127 Table 12b.—Building Site Development Tables..................................................................139 (Part 2) ......................................................199 Table 1.—Temperature and Precipitation .........140 Table 13a.—Sanitary Facilities (Part 1)............207 Table 2.—Freeze Dates in Spring and Table 13b.—Sanitary Facilities (Part 2)............216 Fall.............................................................141 Table 14a.—Construction Materials (Part 1)....223 Table 3.—Growing Season ..............................141 Table 14b.—Construction Materials (Part 2) ....230 Table 4.—Acreage and Proportionate Extent Table 15.—Water Management........................239 of the Soils.................................................142 Table 16.—Engineering Index Properties.........248 Table 5.—Land Capability and Yields per Table 17.—Soil Features..................................266 Acre of Crops ............................................143 Table 18.—Water Features ..............................270 Table 6.—Land Capability and Yields per Table 19.—Physical and Chemical Acre of Pasture..........................................146 Properties of the Soils ...............................274 Table 7.—Hydric Soils List ...............................149 Table 20.—Physical Analyses of Selected Table 8.—Forest Productivity...........................153 Soils...........................................................281 Table 9a.—Forestland Management (Part 1) ...160 Table 21.—Chemical Analyses of Selected Table 9b.—Forestland Management (Part 2) ...168 Soils...........................................................282 Table 10a.—Recreation (Part 1).......................174 Table 22.—Classification of the Soils...............283 Issued 2005 vii Foreword This soil survey contains information that affects land use planning in this survey area. It contains predictions of soil behavior for selected land uses. The survey also highlights soil limitations, improvements needed to overcome the limitations, and the impact of selected land uses on the environment. This soil survey is designed for many different users. Farmers, ranchers, foresters, and agronomists can use it to evaluate the potential of the soil and the management needed for maximum food and fiber production. Planners, community officials, engineers, developers, builders, and home buyers can use the survey to plan land use, select sites for construction, and identify special practices needed to ensure proper performance. Conservationists, teachers, students, and specialists in recreation, wildlife management, waste disposal, and pollution control can use the survey to help them understand, protect, and enhance the environment. Various land use regulations of Federal, State, and local governments may impose special restrictions on land use or land treatment. The information in this report is intended to identify soil properties that are used in making various land use or land treatment decisions. Statements made in this report are intended to help the land users identify and reduce the effects of soil limitations on various land uses. The landowner or user is responsible for identifying and complying with existing laws and regulations. Great differences in soil properties can occur within short distances. Some soils are seasonally wet or subject to flooding. Some are shallow to bedrock. Some are too unstable to be used as a foundation for buildings or roads. Clayey or wet soils are poorly suited to use as septic tank absorption fields. A high water table makes a soil poorly suited to basements or underground installations. These and many other soil properties that affect land use are described in this soil survey. The location of each soil is shown on the detailed soil maps. Each soil in the survey area is described. Information on specific uses is given for each soil. Help in using this publication and additional information are available at the local office of the Natural Resources Conservation Service or the Cooperative Extension Service. Robert N. Jones State Conservationist Natural Resources Conservation Service