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  1. Data Collection Methods
  2. Soils
  3. Soil Descriptions
  4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park NEON (GRSM) Soil Descriptions

Great Smoky Mountains National Park NEON (GRSM) Soil Descriptions

Distributed Soils Reports

Pedon Descriptions

Pit‐level observations and field measurements reported using the standard NRCS format. They contain volume estimates for coarse fragments > 20 mm where applicable.

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Site Level Plot Summary

A narrative summary that places the sampled soil pedons in the broader context of soils and geomorphology for the entire NEON site.

Download

Megapit Images

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 0-200 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 0-34 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 28-64 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 55-103 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 99-143 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 115-200 cm

soil profile

D07 GRSM megapit soil profile 25-200 cm

Download All Images

Megapit Pedon Description

Print Date Feb 18 2016
Description Date Apr 21 2015
Describer Anthony Khiel, Mark Hudson, Tiffany Smith
Site ID S2015TN155400
Pedon ID S2015TN155001
Pedon Note Pedon sample area: No "O" horizons were described due to the lack of decomposed leaf litter. Last seasons' leafs are present, but no Oa,e, or i material is present at the sample location. ; Nutrient recycling in the upper layers. Roots are concentrated in the Surface horizons (A1 & A2) and all root size categories are described as many; roots decrease quickly with depth. Roots are in the surface layers due to higher organic matter, more than adequate rainfall (>50"/year), and low nutrients in the subsoil (Thunderhead Sandstone).
Lab Source ID KSSL
Lab Pedon # 15N0538
Soil Name as Described/Sampled Spivey
Classification Loamy-skeletal, isotic, mesic Typic Humudepts
Pedon Type correlates to named soil
Pedon Purpose laboratory sampling site
Taxon Kind series
Associated Soils Cheoah, Junaluska, Rubble Areas, Soco
Physiographic Division Appalachian Highlands
Physiographic Province Blue Ridge Province
Physiographic Section Southern section
Local Physiographic Area Blue Ridge; Qa--Surfical Deposits
Geomorphic Setting on toeslope of base slope of mountainbase of 1 cove
on toeslope of base slope of mountainbase of 2 mountains
Upslope Shape linear
Cross Slope Shape concave
Particle Size Control Section 25 to 100 cm.
Description origin NASIS
State Tennessee
County Sevier
MLRA 130B -- Southern Blue Ridge
Soil Survey Area TN155 -- Sevier County, Tennessee
SS0130 -- Blue Ridge MLRA Soil Survey
6-WAY -- Waynesville, North Carolina
Map Unit SsC -- Spivey-Santeetlah-Nowhere complex, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very stony
Quad Name Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Std Latitude 35.6883889
Std Longitude -83.5018333
Latitude 35 degrees 41 minutes 18.20 seconds north
Longitude 83 degrees 30 minutes 6.60 seconds west
Datum WGS84
UTM Zone 17
UTM Easting 273608 meters
UTM Northing 3952271 meters
Primary Earth Cover Tree cover
Secondary Earth Cover Hardwoods
Parent Material skeletal loamy colluvium derived from metasedimentary rock
Bedrock Kind metasedimentary rock
Bedrock Hardness very strongly cemented
Surface Fragments 2.0 percent nonflat subrounded indurated 250- to 600-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 0.5 percent nonflat subrounded indurated 600- to 2000-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments
Description database KSSL
Diagnostic Features umbric epipedon 0 to 32 cm.
cambic horizon 32 to 58 cm.
Slope (%) 8.0
Elevation (meters) 599.0
Aspect (deg) 350
MAAT (C) 12.1
MSAT (C) 21.2
MWAT (C) 2.6
MAP (mm) 1,483
Frost-Free Days 128
Drainage Class well
Horizon Details

A1--0 to 21 centimeters (0.0 to 8.3 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) exterior loam; moderate fine granular structure; very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; low excavation difficulty; many very fine roots throughout and many very coarse roots throughout and many medium roots throughout and many fine roots throughout and many coarse roots throughout; very fine irregular and fine irregular pores; distinct organic stains on all faces of peds; 1 percent flat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 2 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments; gradual smooth boundary. Lab sample # 15N02858, 15N02864

A2--21 to 32 centimeters (8.3 to 12.6 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) exterior loam; moderate medium granular, and weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; low excavation difficulty; many very fine roots throughout and many very coarse roots throughout and many medium roots throughout and many fine roots throughout and many coarse roots throughout; very fine irregular and fine irregular pores; distinct organic stains on all faces of peds; 1 percent flat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 2 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 15N02859, 15N02865

Bw--32 to 58 centimeters (12.6 to 22.8 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) crushed sandy clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; low excavation difficulty; common medium roots top of horizon and common fine roots top of horizon; very fine irregular and fine irregular pores; 1 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 75 to 250-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 2 percent flat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 5 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 15N02860, 15N02866

C--58 to 100 centimeters (22.8 to 39.4 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) exterior extremely gravelly loamy sand; structureless medium single grain; loose, nonsticky, nonplastic; moderate excavation difficulty; 10 percent flat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 12 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 75 to 250-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 45 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments; abrupt wavy boundary. Lab sample # 15N02861, 15N02867

Bw1--100 to 140 centimeters (39.4 to 55.1 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) crushed clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; low excavation difficulty; few medium roots throughout; fine irregular pores; 1 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 1 percent flat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 15N02862, 15N02868

Bw2--140 to 206 centimeters (55.1 to 81.1 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) crushed extremely bouldery clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable, nonsticky, slightly plastic; high excavation difficulty; few fine roots around fragments; fine irregular pores; 2 percent flat subrounded strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 3 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 2 to 75-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 4 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 75 to 250-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 12 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 250 to 600-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments and 55 percent nonflat subrounded very strongly cemented 600 to 2000-millimeter metasedimentary rock fragments. Lab sample # 15N02863, 15N02869.

Credits: This megapit soil pedon description was generously created by USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service staff, with particular thanks to Larry West, Jon Hempel, and numerous field staff.

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