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This page is one of a series discussing soils of Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties, Pennsylvania. Go up to index.

About values

Unless otherwise noted, references to soil properties, organic matter and soil pH represent values for the top 12 inches of the described soil - the area of likely interest for most landscapers using herbaceous perennials. Depth to root restrictive layers, either in the form of fragipans or bedrock, may be of interest to those planting trees and shrubs.

Source: National Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

About Pennystone

The Pennystone project provides information relating to sustainable landscape practices using native species, with emphasis on the northeastern counties of Pennsylvania.

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Dekalb loams

Found on mountains, Dekalb soils parent material consists of residuum weathered from sandstone and shale. Depth to a root restrictive layer of lithic bedrock is 20 to 40 inches. The natural drainage class is well drained and water movement in the most restrictive layer is high. Available water to a depth of 60 inches is very low and shrink-swell potential is low. This soil is not flooded or ponded. There is no zone of water saturation within a depth of 72 inches.

Carbon County

In the top 12 inches, Dekalb loams composed of 15 percent clay, 44.8 percent sand and 40.2 percent silt, with an average pH of 4.1. Organic matter: surface horizon, about 4 percent by weight; top 12 inches, 2.96 percent by weight.

DeB - Dekalb very stony loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for cultivation and that restrict its use mainly to pasture, rangeland, forestland or wildlife habitat.
DeD - Dekalb very stony loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has severe limitations that make them generally unsuitable for cultivation and that restrict its use mainly to pasture, rangeland, forestland or wildlife habitat.
DeF - Dekalb very stony loam, 25 to 100 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has very severe limitations that make it unsuitable for cultivation and restricts use mainly to grazing, forestland or wildlife habitat.

Monroe County

Soil composition is 14 percent clay, 53.7 percent sand and 32.3 percent silt. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 3 percent, while in the top 12 inches it averages 2 percent, and soil pH is 4.9.

DxB - Dekalb extremely stony loam, 0 to 8 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has very severe limitations that make it unsuitable for cultivation and restricts use mainly to grazing, forestland or wildlife habitat.
DxC - Dekalb extremely stony loam, 8 to 25 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has very severe limitations that make it unsuitable for cultivation and restricts use mainly to grazing, forestland or wildlife habitat.
DxE - Dekalb extremely stony loam, 25 to 80 percent slopes
Because it is shallow, droughty, or stony, this soil has very severe limitations that make it unsuitable for cultivation and restricts use mainly to grazing, forestland or wildlife habitat.