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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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Lordstown loams

Found on hills in Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne counties, Lordstown soil parent material reddish coarse-loamy till derived from sandstone and siltstone. 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 moderately high. Available water to a depth of 60 inches 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

Except as noted, the soil is comprised of 13 percent clay, 30.7 percent sand and 56.3 percent silt, with about 2 percent organic matter in the surface horizon and 1.7 percent by weight within the top 12 inches. Soil pH is 5.4. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 2 percent (4 percent on 25 to 80 percent slopes).

LvB - Lordstown very stony silt 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.
LvD - Lordstown very stony silt 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.
LvF - Lordstown very stony silt 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. Soil composition: 14.7 percent clay, 30.1 percent sand, 55.2 percent silt. Organic matter in the surface horizon, 4 percent; in the top 12 inches, 1.53 percent by weight.

Monroe County

Composition of the top 12 inches is 13 percent clay, 30.7 percent sand and 56.3 percent silt, except as noted below. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 2 percent, and averages 1.7 percent in the top 12 inches. Soil pH is 5.4 One variant includes a high percentage of Oquaga soil, but it has the same general characteristics (see below).

LsB - Lordstown channery silt loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has moderate limitations that reduce choice of plants or requires moderate conservation practices.
LsC - Lordstown channery silt loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has severe limitations that reduce choice of plants or requires special conservation practices, or both.
LsD - Lordstown channery silt loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has very severe limitations that reduce choice of plants or that require very careful management, or both.
LxB - Lordstown extremely stony silt 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.
LxC - Lordstown extremely stony silt 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.
LyE - Lordstown and Oquaga extremely stony soils, 25 to 70 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. The complex is 40 percent Lordstown and 35 percent Oquaga, a similar till deposit found on uplands and the flanks of valleys and the margins of eroding uplands. Soil composition in the top 12 inches is 14 percent clay, 36 percent sand and 50 percent silt.

Pike County

Soil composition is 14.8 percent clay, 62.3 percent sand and 22.9 percent silt. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 6 percent, but averages only 1.83 percent in the top 12 inches. Soil pH is 5.4

97B - Lordstown very channery loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes, very stony
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.
97C - Lordstown very channery loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes, very stony
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.

Wayne County

Soil is composed of 13 percent clay, 45.4 percent sand and 41.6 percent silt. Organic matter content in the surface horizon is about 2 percent and 1.7 percent in the top 12 inches. Soil pH is 5.4

LdB - Lordstown channery loam, 3 to 8 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has moderate limitations that reduce choice of plants or requires moderate conservation practices.
LdC - Lordstown channery loam, 8 to 15 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has severe limitations that reduce choice of plants or requires special conservation practices, or both.
LdD - Lordstown channery loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes
Because risk of erosion unless close-growing plant cover is maintained, this soil has very severe limitations that reduce choice of plants or that require very careful management, or both.
LxB - Lordstown extremely stony loam, 3 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.
LxC - Lordstown 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.