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  1. Data Collection Methods
  2. Soils
  3. Soil Descriptions
  4. Harvard Forest & Quabbin Watershed NEON (HARV) Soil Descriptions

Harvard Forest & Quabbin Watershed NEON (HARV) 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.

Download

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

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 0-90 cm

soil profile

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 60-160 cm

soil profile

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 0-51 cm

soil profile

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 46-88 cm

soil profile

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 79-122 cm

soil profile

D01 HARV megapit soil profile 110-160 cm

Download All Images

Megapit Pedon Description

Print Date Apr 8 2015
Description Date Jul 17 2012
Describer Glenn Stanisewsky, Jacob Isleib, Marissa Theve
Site ID S2012MA027001
Pedon ID S2012MA027001
Lab Pedon # 12N8063
Soil Name as Described/Sampled Henniker, taxadjunct
Soil Name as Correlated Henniker, taxadjunct
Classification Coarse-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, semiactive, frigid Oxyaquic Dystrudepts
Pedon Type taxadjunct to the series
Pedon Purpose full pedon description
Taxon Kind taxadjunct
State Massachusetts
County Worcester
MLRA 144B -- New England and Eastern New York Upland, Northern Part
Soil Survey Area MA614 -- Worcester County, Massachusetts, Northwestern Part
12-STJ -- Saint Johnsbury, Vermont
Map Unit 908C -- Becket-Skerry association, 3 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony
Std Latitude 42.5356111
Std Longitude -72.1755556
Latitude 42 degrees 32 minutes 8.20 seconds north
Longitude 72 degrees 10 minutes 32.00 seconds west
Datum WGS84
Physiographic Division Appalachian Highlands
Physiographic Province New England Province
Physiographic Section New England upland section
Geomorphic Setting on backslope of side slope of drumlin on upland
Upslope Shape concave
Cross Slope Shape linear
Particle Size Control Section 29 to 104 cm.
Description origin PedonPC
Diagnostic Features ochric epipedon 0 to 17 cm. cambic horizon 17 to 82 cm. strongly contrasting particle size class 82 to cm. redox concentrations 96 to 113 cm. densic contact 113 to cm. densic materials 113 to 160 cm.
Primary Earth Cover Tree cover
Secondary Earth Cover Hardwoods
Existing Vegetation lowbush blueberry, northern red oak, red maple, striped maple
Parent Material lodgment till
Description database KSSL
Cont. Site ID S2012MA027001
Top Depth (cm) 113
Bottom Depth (cm) 160
Restriction Kind densic material
Restriction Hardness noncemented
Slope (%) 5.0
Aspect (deg) 82
Drainage Class well
Elevation (meters) 365.8
Horizon Details

Oi--0 to 4 centimeters (0.0 to 1.6 inches); very dark brown (7.5YR 2.5/2) slightly decomposed plant material; many very fine roots throughout and many medium roots throughout and many fine roots throughout; strongly acid, pH 5.2, Bromcresol green; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N03205

A--4 to 9 centimeters (1.6 to 3.5 inches); very dark brown (10YR 2/2) highly organic fine sandy loam; weak fine granular, and weak medium granular structure; very friable; many very fine roots throughout and many medium roots throughout and many fine roots throughout and many coarse roots throughout; 5 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments and 5 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.4, Bromcresol green; clear wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N03206

Ap--9 to 17 centimeters (3.5 to 6.7 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) gravelly fine sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky, and weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine roots throughout and many medium roots throughout and many fine roots throughout and many coarse roots throughout; 5 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments and 12 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.4, Bromcresol green; clear wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N03207

B/E--17 to 32 centimeters (6.7 to 12.6 inches); 90 percent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and 10 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) fine sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky, and weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many medium roots throughout and common fine roots throughout and few coarse roots throughout; few medium tubular and few fine dendritic tubular and few fine tubular pores; 5 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments and 7 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.4, Bromcresol green; gradual wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N03208

Bw1--32 to 53 centimeters (12.6 to 20.9 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; common medium roots throughout and common fine roots throughout and few coarse roots throughout; few medium tubular and few fine dendritic tubular and few fine tubular and few coarse tubular pores; 5 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments and 7 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.3, Bromcresol green; gradual wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N03209

Bw2--53 to 82 centimeters (20.9 to 32.3 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few medium roots throughout and few fine roots throughout and few coarse roots throughout; few fine dendritic tubular and few fine tubular pores; 5 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments and 7 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.3, Bromcresol green; clear smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N03210

2BC--82 to 96 centimeters (32.3 to 37.8 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy sand; single grain; loose; few very fine roots throughout and few fine roots throughout; 5 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments and 5 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; strongly acid, pH 5.3, Bromcresol green; clear smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N03211

2C--96 to 113 centimeters (37.8 to 44.5 inches); 75 percent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) and 25 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; loose; very few medium roots throughout and very few fine roots throughout; 5 percent coarse prominent 5YR 4/6), moist, masses of oxidized iron; 12 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; moderately acid, pH 5.7, Chlorophenol red; abrupt smooth boundary. Lab sample # 12N03212

2Cd1--113 to 133 centimeters (44.5 to 52.4 inches); olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam; massive; firm; 3 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments and 25 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; moderately acid, pH 5.7, Chlorophenol red; abrupt wavy boundary. Lab sample # 12N03213

2Cd2--133 to 160 centimeters (52.4 to 63.0 inches); 60 percent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) and 40 percent brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly coarse sand; massive; firm; 5 percent nonflat subangular 250 to 600-millimeter unspecified fragments and 10 percent nonflat subangular 75 to 250-millimeter unspecified fragments and 40 percent nonflat subangular 2 to 75-millimeter unspecified fragments; moderately acid, pH 5.7, Chlorophenol red. Lab sample # 12N03214.

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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