The soils dominantly are well drained, strongly acid, and highly leached and have a clay-enriched subsoil. They range from shallow on the sandstone and shale ridges to very deep in the valleys and on the large limestone formations. The proportion of poorly drained soils, mainly Aquepts and Aquults, is very small. About 3 percent is used for coal mining, urban development, or other purposes. Timber production is mostly in the southern half of the area.
Poultry production is the major farm enterprise.
Corn, cotton, and vegetables are the major cash crops. Controlling erosion on soils that are cropped is the primary concern of management. Pastures are grazed mainly by beef cattle and are important disposal areas for poultry wastes. The dominant soils are Udults and Ochrepts. They have an udic moisture regime, a thermic temperature regime, and mixed mineralogy.