LOCATION CLYMER PA+KY MD OH VA WVEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, mesic Typic Hapludults
TYPICAL PEDON: Clymer channery loam, cultivated, on a 3 to 8 percent north-facing slope. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) channery loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; 20 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 12 inches thick)
Bt1--8 to 15 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) channery loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; common faint clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 20 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt2--15 to 24 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) very channery loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common faint clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 40 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon ranges from 12 to 30 inches.)
BC--24 to 36 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very channery sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; few distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 40 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; clear irregular boundary. (4 to 15 inches thick)
C--36 to 50 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) extremely channery coarse sandy loam; massive; friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; 80 percent rock fragments; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 24 inches thick)
R--50 inches; gray and brown sandstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Indiana County, Pennsylvania; in a field 3/4 miles north-northwest of Marchand, North Mahoning Township, 600 feet northwest of junction of L.R. 32110 with a farm lane on north side of road which is 1/2 mile west of junction of L.R. 32110 with U.S. Route 119.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 24 to 40 inches. Depth to bedrock ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Rock fragments of sandstone and siltstone range from 5 to 50 percent in individual horizons in the solum and from 10 to 85 percent in the C horizon. Reaction ranges from strongly acid through extremely acid throughout.
The Ap horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 4. Fine-earth texture is silt loam, loam or sandy loam.
The E horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 to 8. Fine-earth texture is silt loam, loam or sandy loam.
The B horizon (including the BC) has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8. Fine-earth texture is silt loam, loam, or sandy loam.
The C horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8. Fine-earth texture is silt loam, loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand.
COMPETING SERIES: Clymer is the only series in this family at this time. Massanutten and Zepp soils are in a related family and may become competitors as their classification is updated to the eighth edition of soil taxonomy. Massanutten soils have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Zepp soils are greater than 60 inches to bedrock and formed in colluvium.
The Dennisville, Downer, Ingleside, Phalanx, Swainton, and Woodmansie soils are in a related family. They are all semiactive, greater than 60 inches to bedrock, and formed in coastal marine sediments.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Clymer soils formed in sandstone and siltstone residuum and are on upland ridges and hills and on sideslopes. Dominant slopes are 0 to 15 percent, but range to 80 percent. Climate is continental with warm summers and cold winters. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 48 inches and is evenly distributed throughout the year. Mean annual temperature ranges from 45 to 57 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Cookport, Lily, Nolo, Dekalb, Gilpin, Hartleton, Hazleton and Leetonia soils are on nearby landscapes. Cookport soils are moderately well drained and Nolo soils are poorly drained. Dekalb, Hartleton and Hazleton soils contain more than 35 percent rock fragments by weight. Leetonia soils have spodic horizons. Lily soils average more than 18 percent clay in the particle size control section and are moderately deep.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. The potential for surface runoff is low to high. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderate to moderately rapid in the substratum.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Clymer soils are forested. The trees are dominantly oaks, maples, some white pine, and Virginia pine. The remainder of the soil has been cleared and is used for cropland or pasture.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Allegheny plateau and ridge and valley areas of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland. The soil is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Indiana County, Pennsylvania, 1931.
REMARKS: Classification was changed from Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludult to Coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, mesic Typic Hapludults based on analysis of lab data from states involved, including data on the typifying pedon.
Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this pedon are:
1. Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 8 inches (Ap horizon).
2. Argillic horizon - the zone from 8 to 24 inches (Bt horizon).