"Mesic" is a soil temperature regime that refers to soils with moderate temperatures. In technical terms, for a soil to be classified as mesic, the following criteria typically apply:
Mean annual soil temperature at a depth of 50 cm (about 20 inches) is between 8°C (46°F) and 15°C (59°F).
The difference between the mean summer soil temperature and mean winter soil temperature is greater than 5°C (9°F), meaning the soil experiences seasonal temperature changes typical of temperate climates.
In simpler terms, mesic soils are neither too hot nor too cold and are found in regions with temperate climates, like parts of the United States, Europe, and similar latitudes. This moderate temperature range helps determine the types of plants and microorganisms that can thrive in the soil.
In terms of farming or land use, mesic soils are generally suitable for a wide variety of crops, depending on other factors like drainage and fertility. They're in the middle of the spectrum compared to soils that are either very cold (frigid) or very warm (thermic).
Geologic Variations: Southern Stone County is characterized by a karst landscape, formed by the dissolution of limestone bedrock. This creates a unique topography with long ridges, deep valleys, and numerous caves and springs. The soil in this region is generally described as average to poor, with the exception of fertile alluvial soils found in the river bottoms. This suggests that as a homesteader and gardener, you'll need to carefully consider soil conditions on your specific property and potentially amend the soil to improve its fertility. Source
Stone County, Missouri
73117—Clarksville-Scholten-Hailey complex, 3 to 15 percent slopes
Map Unit Setting
National map unit symbol: 2qphr
Elevation: 500 to 1,400 feet
Mean annual precipitation: 39 to 49 inches
Mean annual air temperature: 54 to 59 degrees F
Frost-free period: 172 to 232 days
Farmland classification: Not prime farmland
Map Unit Composition
Clarksville and similar soils: 45 percent
Scholten and similar soils: 27 percent
Hailey and similar soils: 23 percent
Minor components: 5 percent
Estimates are based on observations, descriptions, and transects of the mapunit.
Description of Clarksville
Setting
Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Shoulder
Landform position (three-dimensional): Side slope
Down-slope shape: Convex
Across-slope shape: Convex
Parent material: Slope alluvium over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile
A - 0 to 9 inches: very gravelly silt loam
Bt1 - 9 to 32 inches: very gravelly silt loam
2Bt2 - 32 to 79 inches: extremely cobbly silty clay
Properties and qualities
Slope: 3 to 15 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: More than 80 inches
Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Runoff class: Medium
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high to high (0.57 to 1.98 in/hr)
Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
Frequency of flooding: None
Frequency of ponding: None
Maximum salinity: Nonsaline to very slightly saline (0.0 to 2.0 mmhos/cm)
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 3.2 inches)
Interpretive groups
Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 6e
Hydrologic Soil Group: B
Ecological site: F116AY012MO - Low-Base Chert Upland Woodland
Hydric soil rating: No
Description of Scholten
Setting
Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Shoulder
Landform position (three-dimensional): Side slope
Down-slope shape: Convex
Across-slope shape: Convex
Parent material: Slope alluvium over pedisediment over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile
A - 0 to 7 inches: very gravelly silt
Bt1 - 7 to 24 inches: very gravelly silt loam
2Btx - 24 to 30 inches: extremely gravelly silty clay loam
3Bt2 - 30 to 79 inches: gravelly clay
Properties and qualities
Slope: 3 to 15 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: 18 to 27 inches to fragipan
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Runoff class: High
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Very low to moderately low (0.00 to 0.06 in/hr)
Depth to water table: About 16 to 24 inches
Frequency of flooding: None
Frequency of ponding: None
Maximum salinity: Nonsaline to very slightly saline (0.0 to 2.0 mmhos/cm)
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Very low (about 2.4 inches)
Interpretive groups
Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 4s
Hydrologic Soil Group: C/D
Ecological site: F116AY012MO - Low-Base Chert Upland Woodland
Hydric soil rating: No
Description of Hailey
Setting
Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Shoulder
Landform position (three-dimensional): Side slope
Down-slope shape: Convex
Across-slope shape: Convex
Parent material: Slope alluvium over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile
A - 0 to 15 inches: very gravelly silt loam
Bw - 15 to 60 inches: extremely gravelly silt loam
2Bt - 60 to 79 inches: extremely gravelly clay
Properties and qualities
Slope: 3 to 15 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: More than 80 inches
Drainage class: Excessively drained
Runoff class: Very low
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high to high (0.57 to 1.98 in/hr)
Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
Frequency of flooding: None
Frequency of ponding: None
Maximum salinity: Nonsaline to very slightly saline (0.0 to 2.0 mmhos/cm)
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 3.6 inches)
Interpretive groups
Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 6e
Hydrologic Soil Group: A
Ecological site: F116AY011MO - Chert Upland Woodland
Hydric soil rating: No
Minor Components
Goss (3% of map unit)
Poynor (2% of map unit)
70031—Hailey-Rueter complex, 15 to 35 percent slopes, very rocky Source
Map Unit Setting
National map unit symbol: 2qpc0
Elevation: 700 to 1,400 feet
Mean annual precipitation: 41 to 45 inches
Mean annual air temperature: 55 to 57 degrees F
Frost-free period: 194 to 221 days
Farmland classification: Not prime farmland
Map Unit Composition
Hailey and similar soils: 55 percent
Rueter and similar soils: 35 percent
Minor components: 10 percent
Estimates are based on observations, descriptions, and transects of the mapunit.
Description of Hailey
Setting
Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
Landform position (three-dimensional): Side slope
Down-slope shape: Convex
Across-slope shape: Convex
Parent material: Slope alluvium over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile
A - 0 to 10 inches: extremely gravelly silt
Bw - 10 to 60 inches: extremely cobbly silt loam
2Bt - 60 to 79 inches: extremely gravelly clay
Properties and qualities
Slope: 15 to 35 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: More than 80 inches
Drainage class: Excessively drained
Runoff class: Low
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high to high (0.57 to 1.98 in/hr)
Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
Frequency of flooding: None
Frequency of ponding: None
Maximum salinity: Nonsaline to very slightly saline (0.0 to 2.0 mmhos/cm)
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Very low (about 1.2 inches)
Interpretive groups
Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 7e
Hydrologic Soil Group: A
Ecological site: F116AY002MO - Chert Protected Backslope Forest, F116AY062MO - Chert Exposed Backslope Woodland
Hydric soil rating: No
Description of Rueter
Setting
Landform: Hillslopes
Landform position (two-dimensional): Backslope
Landform position (three-dimensional): Side slope
Down-slope shape: Convex
Across-slope shape: Convex
Parent material: Slope alluvium over residuum weathered from limestone
Typical profile
A - 0 to 2 inches: very gravelly silt loam
E - 2 to 8 inches: very gravelly silt
Bt1 - 8 to 48 inches: extremely gravelly silt loam
2Bt2 - 48 to 79 inches: extremely gravelly clay
Properties and qualities
Slope: 15 to 35 percent
Depth to restrictive feature: More than 80 inches
Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Runoff class: Medium
Capacity of the most limiting layer to transmit water (Ksat): Moderately high to high (0.57 to 1.98 in/hr)
Depth to water table: More than 80 inches
Frequency of flooding: None
Frequency of ponding: None
Maximum salinity: Nonsaline to very slightly saline (0.0 to 2.0 mmhos/cm)
Available water supply, 0 to 60 inches: Low (about 3.2 inches)
Interpretive groups
Land capability classification (irrigated): None specified
Land capability classification (nonirrigated): 6e
Hydrologic Soil Group: A
Ecological site: F116AY002MO - Chert Protected Backslope Forest, F116AY062MO - Chert Exposed Backslope Woodland
Hydric soil rating: No
Minor Components
Ocie (5% of map unit)
Rock outcrop (5% of map unit)
Data source: Natural Resources Conservation Service, Web Soil Survey (Version 28, Aug 21, 2024)