Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Tifton, Georgia » Southeast Watershed Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #101926
Title: MLRA 133A: SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN

Author
item Hubbard, Robert
item RADCLIFFE, DAVID - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item CASSEL, K. - NO. CAROLINA STATE UNIV.
item HOOK, JAMES - UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
item DANE, J - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Book Chapter Soil Physics Properties of the Southeast
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/19/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: HUBBARD, R.K., RADCLIFFE, D.D., CASSEL, K., HOOK, J., DANE, J. MLRA 133A: SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. BOOK CHAPTER SOIL PHYSICS PROPERTIES OF THE SOUTHEAST SPECIAL REPORT 197, Refereed Book Chapter #3, Ark. Ag. Exp. Station. P. 235-263. 1999.

Interpretive Summary: Movement of water and solutes in the landscape depends on several different factors including rainfall and irrigation, management practices, topography soils and geology. Land managers need climatic, geologic and soil property information to help in management decisions so that the environment is not degraded. This book chapter characterizes the climate, geology and hydrology and soils of multiple land resoure area 133A, the southern coastal plain (SCA). Climatically the SCA (MlRA 133A) is humid subtropical. The amount of rainfall and its temporal distribution in this region result in a high potential for solute movement to groundwater. In terms of geology and hydrology, the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain containing MLRA 133A is a relatively low, flat region along the eastern and southern margins of the U.S. The geologic deposits are seaward-dipping strata, chiefly unconsoli- dated materials such as sand, clay, marl and limestone that resulted from fluvial and marine deposition, erosion and sedimentation and the repeated advance/retreat of the seas. The area can be described topographically as an area of floodplains, river terraces and gently sloping uplands. The area contains a range of soils depending on original parent material and land- scape position. The chapter contains general information on MLRA 133A soils and summarizes available information from specific research studies that characterized soils and water and solute transport. Also included is detailed soils information from studies on Dothan, Tifton, Fuquay, Esto, Faceville, Norfolk and Wagram soil series. This is important information because it gives land managers critical soils information needed for resource management planning.

Technical Abstract: Studies were conducted in MLRA 133A to characterize water and solute transport and their relation to soil properties. Climatically the southern coastal plain (MLRA 133A) is humid subtropical and is contained in the sub- tropical oceanic margin (Atlantic & Gulf). An abundant annual rainfall of 114-152 cm is concentrated in this area. The amount of rainfall and its temporal distribution in this region result in a high potential for solute movement to groundwater. Supplementary irrigation, used on many soils in this region may also move solute toward groundwater, particularly if excessive irrigation is applied. The region is a relatively low, flat area along the eastern and southern margins of the U.S. The geologic deposits are seawared-dipping strate, chiefly unconsolidated materials such as sand, clay, marl and limestone that resulted from fluvial and marine deposition, erosion and sedimentation, and the repeated advance/retreat of the seas. The regional aquifer system generally consists of two major water-bearing units: the surficial aquifer and the regional artesian aquifer system. MLRA 133A can be described topographically as an area of floodplains, river terraces and gently sloping uplands. The area contains a range of soils depending on original parent material and topography. Soils of MLRA 133A are primarily Udults, that is, soils are well or moderately well drained, low in bases, have silicate accumulation in B horizons and have formed in a humid climate. As Ultisols they are highly weathered with kaolinite as the dominant clay mineral. Soils in the region can be grouped as upland or lowland with lowland soils being immediately adjacent to drainage networks. This chapter describes soil series in MLRA 133A and provides hydrologic information on the various soil series.