Jory (soil)

The Jory series consists of very deep, well-drained soils that formed in colluvium derived from basic igneous rock. These soils are in the foothills surrounding the Willamette Valley. They have been mapped on more than 300,000 acres in western Oregon. They are named after Jory Hill, Marion County, Oregon.

*Surface layer: organic material
*Subsurface layer: dark reddish brown silty clay loam
*Subsoil - upper: dark reddish brown clay
*Subsoil - lower: red clay

Jory soils generally support forest vegetation, dominantly Douglas fir and Oregon white oak. They are very productive forest soils. Many areas have been cleared and are used for agricultural crops. The Jory soils and the climate of the Willamette Valley provide an ideal setting for the production of many crops, including Christmas trees, various berries, filberts (hazelnuts), sweet corn, wheat, and many varieties of grass seed. The soils are suitable for the grapes used in the expanding Oregon wine industry.

Growing urbanization of the Willamette Valley is resulting in a great deal of pressure for development in areas of the Jory soils.

Jory is recognized as Oregon's state soil by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, an agency of the USDA. The state legislature considered a resolution to make Jory an official state symbol in 2007, which died in committee. [cite news |title=The jury's in, and Jory's out |work=Statesman Journal |first=Michael |last=Rose |date=2007-07-02 |url=http://osss.peak.org/SJArticle%20Jory.pdf |accessdate=2008-02-10]

References

*cite web |title=Jory -- Oregon State Soil |author=Natural Resources Conservation Service |year=2003 |url=http://soils.usda.gov/gallery/state_soils/ |work=State Soils |publisher=USDA |accessdate=2008-02-10

ee also

*List of U.S. state soils