LOCATION ABSCOTA MI+IN MN WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Oxyaquic Udipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Abscota loamy sand - on a 2 percent convex slope in a wooded area in a floodplain.(Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 5 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many roots; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bw1--5 to 11 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very friable; common roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bw2--11 to 14 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; common roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizons is 0 to 32 inches)
C1--14 to 28 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; few roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
C2--28 to 38 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand; single grain; loose; common coarse faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron oxides in the matrix; few roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
C3--38 to 48 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; many coarse very dark grayish brown organic stains; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
C4--48 to 52 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; common coarse distinct brown (10YR 5/3) masses of iron oxides in the matrix; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary.
C5--52 to 60 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR4/2) sand; single grain; loose; few medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron oxides in the matrix; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Kent County, Michigan, about 2 miles south of the city of Wyoming; 1,600 feet south and 2,500 feet east of the NW corner of sec. 12, T. 5 N., R. 12 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Rock fragments, dominantly gravel, range from 0 to 10 percent in the solum and from 0 to 40 percent in the C horizons. Depth to redoximorphic features ranges from 40 to greater than 60 inches. The soil is saturated with water in at least one layer within 40 inches of the mineral surface for one month per l year in 6 or more out of 10 years. There is an irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth.
The A horizon has value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is loamy sand, sandy loam, loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam, loam, or sand. An Ap horizon, where present, is 5 to 10 inches thick. Reaction of the A horizon ranges from strongly acid to neutral.
The B horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is sand, fine sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 to 7, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is fine sand, sand, coarse sand, gravelly coarse sand or gravelly sand. In some pedons the upper part of the C horizon is loamy sand or loamy fine sand. Some pedons have thin layers of sandy loam. Gravelly coarse sand is common below depths of 50 inches. Some pedons have thin layers of very gravelly sand below 40 inches. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES:
These are the
Denham,
Platteriver, and the
Solo series. These soils do not have an irregular decrease in organic carbon. In addition the Solo series receive more than 42 inches of annual precipitation and are formed from volcanic ash and pumice. The Denham series averages 50 to 90 percent fine sand. The Platteriver series formed from eolian sands.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Abscota soils occupy level or gently undulating sandy alluvial flood plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to about 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 36 inches, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 50 degrees F. Frost free days ranges from 130 to 180 days. Elevation ranges from 600 to 900 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The Abscota soils are the moderately well drained member of a drainage sequence that includes the somewhat poorly drained Algansee soils and the poorly drained Glendora soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. The soil has an apparent seasonal high water table that ranges from 2.5 to 3.5 feet below the surface at some time during the period from September to May. The potential for surface runoff is negligible or very low. Permeability is rapid. In some years, these soils flood for brief periods from March through June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Permanent pasture and woodlands are the principal uses. Where areas are large enough to be cultivated, corn is the principal crop. Native vegetation was chiefly American elm, red maple, black ash, and sycamore.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Michigan, northern Ohio, southern Minnesota and northern Indiana. The Abscota soils are of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 5 inches (A horizon); oxyaquic feature - saturated with water in at least one layer within 40 inches of the mineral surface for one month per l year in 6 or more out of 10 years.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil Interpretation Record No. MI0082