The Proposed State Soil of Georgia

The Tifton soil series is the proposed state soil of Georgia. The Tifton soil series was one of the first soils to be established in Georgia. The Tifton series was established in Grady County, Georgia, in a 1908 soil survey conducted by Hugh Hammond Bennett.

A typical Tifton soil profile consists of an 11 inch topsoil of dark grayish brown loamy sand. The subsoil extends to about 65 inches, strong brown fine sandy loam to 22 inches; yellowish brown sandy clay loam to 40 inches; yellowish brown mottled, sandy clay loam to 60 inches, and strong brown, mottled sandy clay to 65 inches. Two distinctive features of the Tifton soil profile are the presence of more than 5 percent ironstone nodules in the upper part of the soil and more than 5 percent plinthite in the lower part of the soil.

Tifton soils are on nearly level to gently sloping uplands of the Southern Coastal Plain. They formed in loamy sediments of marine origin. Tifton soils are among the most agriculturally important soils in the state. Twenty-seven percent of Georgia's prime farmland is on Tifton soils, more than twice as much as any other soil series. Cotton, peanuts, soybeans, and corn are the principal crops grown on these soils.

Soil Family Classification: Fine-loamy, siliceous, thermic Plinthic Kandiudults.

Tifton soils are in the Ultisols soil order. Ultisols are highly weathered soils developed under woodland vegetation. They are generally low in natural fertility. "Fine-loamy" means the upper part of the subsoil has an average clay content between 18 and 35 percent, and an average sand content of more than 15 percent. "Siliceous" means the sand and silt size particles are mostly silica minerals, such as quartz. "Thermic" refers to an average annual soil temperature between 15 degrees and 22 degrees C (59 degrees-72 degrees F). "Plinthic" refers to the presence of reddish, firm, iron enriched bodies in the soil. "Kandi" indicates that the clay fraction of the subsoil has a relatively low activity.

Tifton soils occur throughout the Southern Coastal Plain in Georgia. They are the most extensive soils in the State, with over 2 million acres correlated. They have been correlated in more Georgia counties (56) than any other soil.

See a graphic showing the counties in Georgia where the Tifton soil is located.

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