Alaga Series

• Depth class: Very deep
• Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
• Permeability: Rapid
• Parent material: Sandy sediments
• Landscape: Coastal Plain
• Landform: High stream terraces
• Landform position: Planar and convex slopes on high parts of the terrace
• Slope range: 0 to 2 percent
• Taxonomic class: Thermic, coated Typic Quartzipsamments

Alaga soils are commonly associated on the landscape with Bassfield, Harleston, and Prentiss soils. The well drained Bassfield soils are in positions similar to those of the Alaga soils and have a coarse-loamy control section. The moderately well drained Harleston soils are in the slightly lower positions and have a coarse-loamy control section. The moderately well drained Prentiss soils are in positions similar to those of the Alaga soils at the higher elevations and have a coarse-loamy control section with a fragipan.

Typical Pedon

Alaga loamy sand, 0 to 2 percent slopes; 1.8 miles east of Forrest County line on Old River Road, 100 feet north of Old River Road; SW1/4NW1/4SE1/4 sec. 8, T. 3 N., R. 11 W.; USGS New Augusta quadrangle; lat. 31 degrees 14 minutes 36 seconds N. and long. 89 degrees 07 minutes 11 seconds W.

• Ap—0 to 6 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) loamy sand; weak fine granular structure; very friable; few fine roots; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
• C1—6 to 16 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; single grained; loose; few fine roots; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• C2—16 to 22 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grained; loose; few fine roots; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• C3—22 to 42 inches; brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) sand; single grained; loose; few fine roots; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• C4—42 to 53 inches; yellow (10YR 7/6) sand; single grained; loose; strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
• C5—53 to 80 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) sand; single grained; loose; strongly acid.

Range in Characteristics

• Thickness of underlying soil material: More than 80 inches
• Reaction: Very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout, except where the surface layer has been limed.
• A or Ap horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 or 3
  • Texture—loamy sand
• C horizon:
  • Color—hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 4 to 6
  • Texture—sand or loamy sand
  • Mottles (if they occur)—shades of brown

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