United States Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Conservation Service		 Southeast Coastal Plain and Caribbean Soil Survey Region #15 Go to Accessibility Information
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Williamsville Series

  • Depth class: Very deep
  • Drainage class: Well drained
  • Permeability: Moderately slow
  • Parent material: Stratified clayey and loamy sediments
  • Landform: Ridges and hillslopes
  • Landform position: Summits, backslopes, footslopes, and shoulder slopes
  • Slope: 2 to 8 percent
  • Taxonomic class: Fine, mixed, active, thermic Typic Hapludults

Commonly Associated Soils

Arundel, Lucy, Smithdale, and Troup soils are commonly associated with the Williamsville series.

  • The moderately deep Arundel soils are on side slopes at lower elevations than the Williamsville soils.
  • The Lucy and Troup soils are in positions similar to those of the Williamsville soils but have a thick, sandy epipedon.
  • The Smithdale soils are on dissected side slopes and are fine-loamy.

Typical Pedon

Typical pedon of Williamsville fine sand, 2 to 5 percent slopes; about 2.5 miles southwest of Luverne; 2,000 feet west and 500 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 7, T. 8 N., R. 18 E.; USGS Luverne topographic quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees 40 minutes 5 seconds N. and long. 86 degrees 17 minutes 30 seconds W.

  • Ap—0 to 6 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sand; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many fine and medium roots; few fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
  • E—6 to 11 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) fine sand; single grained; loose; many fine and medium roots; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
  • BE—11 to 15 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; strong medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common medium and few fine and coarse roots; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; few fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • Bt1—15 to 28 inches; red (2.5YR 4/8) sandy clay; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong fine and medium angular blocky; firm; few fine and medium roots; continuous distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; common fine flakes of mica; few medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation that are relict redoximorphic features; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • Bt2—28 to 42 inches; red (2.5YR 4/8) sandy clay; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular and subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; continuous distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; common fine flakes of mica; few medium distinct reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) masses of iron accumulation that are relict redoximorphic features; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • Bt3—42 to 48 inches; red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; common fine flakes of mica; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • Bt4—48 to 60 inches; red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few fine fragments of silicified, fossil oyster shell; common fine flakes of mica; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation that are relict redoximorphic features; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • BC1—60 to 70 inches; red (2.5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint clay films on faces of peds; common fine flakes of mica; common medium distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) iron depletions; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; the iron depletions and masses of iron accumulation are relict redoximorphic features; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
  • BC2—70 to 80 inches; yellowish red (5YR 4/6) sandy clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine flakes of mica; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation that are relict redoximorphic features; very strongly acid.

Range in Characteristics

  • Thickness of the solum: More than 60 inches
  • Reaction: Very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout the profile, except for the surface layer in areas where lime has been applied
  • A or Ap horizon:
    • Color—hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 2 to 4
  • E horizon (where present):
    • Color—hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 3 or 4
    • Texture—fine sand or loamy fine sand
  • BE horizon (where present):
    • Color—hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 6
    • Texture—sandy loam or sandy clay loam
  • Bt horizon:
    • Color—hue of 2.5YR or 5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 4 to 8
    • Texture—clay, sandy clay, or sandy clay loam
    • Redoximorphic features (where present)—iron depletions in shades of brown and masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or red; all of which are relict redoximorphic features
  • BC horizon (where present):
    • Color—hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 4 to 8
    • Texture—sandy loam or sandy clay loam
    • Redoximorphic features (where present)—iron depletions in shades of brown and masses of iron accumulation in shades of brown, yellow, olive, or red; all of which are relict redoximorphic features


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