LOCATION DOROVAN MS+AL FL NC SC VAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Dysic, thermic Typic Haplosaprists
TYPICAL PEDON: Dorovan muck, undrained--forested. (Colors are for wet soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oe--0 to 3 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) mucky peat consisting of partially decomposed moss, leaves, roots, and twigs; 50 percent fiber after rubbing; slightly sticky; extremely acid; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Oa1--3 to 11 inches; black (10YR 2/1) muck that remains black (10YR 2/1) when rubbed and pressed; about 30 percent fiber unrubbed and less than 5 percent rubbed; fibers remaining after rubbing are partially decomposed wood 1 to 2 mm in size; massive; nonsticky; common roots and partially decomposed limbs; extremely acid; diffuse wavy boundary.
Oa2--11 to 74 inches; black (10YR 2/1) muck that remains black (10YR 2/1) when rubbed and pressed; about 30 percent fiber unrubbed and less than 5 percent rubbed; fibers remaining after rubbing are partially decomposed wood 1 to 2 mm in size; massive; nonsticky; few roots; decomposed limbs and twigs; few logs; extremely acid; gradual wavy boundary. Combined thickness of the Oa horizon(s) is 51 to 80 inches)
Cg1--74 to 92 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) sand; single grained; nonsticky; few partially decayed small fragments of wood; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Cg2--92 to 108 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand; single grained; nonsticky; few partially decayed small fragments of wood; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: George County, Mississippi. Approximately 2.5 miles south of junction of State Highways 26 and 63; 0.75 mile east of Highway 63; 150 feet west of old bridge site and 75 feet north of levee in Cedar Creek flood plain; NE1/4 sec. 16 T. 2 S., R. 6 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The organic material ranges from 51 to more than 80 inches thick. It is extremely acid very strongly acid in the organic layers. It is strongly acid or very strongly acid in the 2C horizon.
The Oe layer is neutral with value of 2 to 4 or has a hue of 7.5YR or 10YR; value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 to 3. It contains 40 to 90 percent fiber unrubbed, and 20 to 60 percent rubbed. Some pedons lack this layer.
The remaining organic layers are neutral with value of 2 or 3 or have hue of 10YR, 7.5YR, 5YR, or 2.5Y; value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 3. They contain 10 to 40 percent fiber unrubbed, less than 1/6 of the volume when rubbed. Fibers remaining after rubbing are dominantly woody. A few logs and large fragments of wood are typically in the lower part of the organic layers.
The C horizon is neutral or has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y; value of 2 to 5, and chroma of 0, 1, or 2. Texture is sand, fine sand, loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, clay, or their mucky analogues.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dare and Pungo series in the same family and the Belhaven, Croatan, Handsboro, Istokpoga, Johnston, Mattamuskeet, Maurepas, Pamlico, Ponzer, and Terra Ceia series. Belhaven, Dare and Mattamuskett soils have hue of 2.5YR or 5YR in some part. Pungo soils have parts of the control section that are less decomposed than Dorovan soils. Belhaven and Ponzer have loamy mineral layers at a depth of less than 51 inches. Croatan, Mattamuskeet, and Pamlico soils have mineral layers at a depth of less than 51 inches, and Handsboro soils have sulfitic materials within 40 inches of the surface. Istokpoga soils have less decomposed organic matter than Dorovan soils, and the mean annual soil temperature exceeds 72 degrees F. Johnston soils have loamy mineral surface layers that are high in organic matter over sandy material. Maurepas and Terra Ceia soils are medium acid or moderately alkaline, and Terra Ceia soils have annual temperature of more than 72 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Dorovan soils are on the flood plains, hardwood swamps, and depressions in the Atlantic Coast Flatwoods, Eastern Gulf Coast Flatwoods, and Southern Coastal Plain Major Land Resource Areas. The soil is saturated to the surface most of the time. Runoff is very slow and water is ponded on the surface in depressions. Slopes are 0 to 2 percent. The underlying mineral sediments commonly are loamy or sandy and are very strongly acid or strongly acid. The mean annual temperature is about 67 degrees F., and the annual precipitation is about 57 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Croatan, Johnston, Pamlico, and Ponzer series and the Atmore, Basin, Harleston, and Lenoir series. All but Croatan, Pamlico, and Ponzer are mineral soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; moderate permeability. Water is at or near the surface most of the time.
USE AND VEGETATION: Nearly all of the soils are used for woodland and wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is blackgum, baldcypress, sweetbay, swamp tupelo, titi, greenbrier, red maple and scattered pine. The ground cover is ferns, mosses, and other hydrophytic plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Escambia County, Alabama; 1969.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Histic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of more than 8 inches. (the Oa1, Oa2 horizons).