LOCATION ELBURN IL+WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Elburn silt loam - on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of about 188 meters (617 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coats on faces of peds; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--15 to 41 cm (6 to 16 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 25 to 48 cm (10 to 19 inches).]
Bt1--41 to 53 cm (16 to 21 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron and few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron-manganese accumulations in the matrix; few fine prominent iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--53 to 71 cm (21 to 28 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; common distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and common faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; few fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine prominent iron-manganese concretions throughout; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--71 to 91 cm (28 to 36 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; common distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; common fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine prominent iron-manganese concretions throughout; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
Bt4--91 to 109 cm (36 to 43 inches); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few prominent very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and few distinct brown (10YR 5/3) clay films on faces of peds; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine prominent iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
Btg--109 to 125 cm (43 to 49 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; many medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine prominent iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt and Btg horizons is 53 to 102 cm (21 to 40 inches).]
2BCtg--125 to 147 cm (49 to 58 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), stratified silt loam, loam, and sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organo-clay films and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on surfaces along pores; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few very fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [15 to 64 cm (6 to 25 inches) thick]
2Cg--147 to 158 cm (58 to 62 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), stratified sandy loam and loamy sand; massive; very friable; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Christian County, Illinois on an outwash plain in front of the terminal moraine of the Wisconsin glacier; about 0.5 mile southwest of Moweaqua; 2716 feet north and 1300 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 36, T. 14 N., R. 1 E.; USGS Assumption, IL topographic quadrangle; lat. 39 degrees 37 minutes 4.7 seconds N., and long. 89 degrees 1 minute 45.8 seconds W., NAD 27., UTM Zone 16, 0325797 easting and 4387329 northing, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 102 to 178 cm (40 to 70 inches). Carbonates typically are at depths greater than 152 cm (60 inches), but are as shallow as 102 cm (40 inches) in some pedons. The depth to horizons with more than 10 percent sand is 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches). Soil development extends into the underlying material. The particle-size control section averages between 27 and 35 percent clay and less than 10 percent fine sand or coarser. Individual horizons can range from 25 to 35 percent clay.
The Ap, and/or A horizon has hue of 10YR; value of 2 or 3 (4 or 5 dry); and chroma of 1 to 3. Clay content ranges from 22 to 27 percent. It is moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
Some pedons have an AB or a BA horizon
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y; value of 4 or 5; and chroma of 2 to 4. Redoximorphic features are present. Hue of 5Y is only in the lower subhorizons. It is silty clay loam or silt loam. Clay content averages between 25 and 35 percent, but individual subhorizons range from 22 to 36 percent. Reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid in the upper part and ranges to slightly alkaline in the lower part.
The 2Btg, 2Bt, 2BCg, 2BCtg, and/or 2BC horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y; value of 4 to 6; and chroma of 2 to 8. It has redoximorphic features. It is sandy loam, clay loam, loam, silty clay loam, or silt loam and is typically stratified. Clay content ranges from 15 to 30 percent and sand content ranges from 15 to 70 percent. Coarse fragment content ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline. Some pedons have a subhorizon just above a calcareous 2C horizon that is enriched in clay and has darker value than the subhorizon above it.
The 2C or 2Cg horizon has colors in the same range as stated for the 2B horizon. It is sandy loam, loam, loamy sand, sand, or silt loam and is stratified. Clay content ranges from 2 to 15 percent and sand content ranges from 40 to 95 percent. Volume of coarse fragments ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Reaction is slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arrowsmith, Bearpen, Brenton, Edwardsville, Frankenmuth, Grundelein, Hacreek, Harco, Higginsville, Keller, Lafayette, Lawndale, Lisbon, Lismod, Loran, Mundelein, Muscatune, Nevin, Raub, Rooks, Rowley, and Shannondale series. Arrowsmith, Edwardsville, Higginsville, and Muscatune soils contain less than 7 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Bearpen and Rowley soils average between 18 and 27 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Brenton, Lafayette, Lisbon, Lismod, Mundelein, and Raub soils have horizons with more than 10 percent sand within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Frankenmuth soils have an E horizon and have the base of the argillic horizon within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Grundelein soils contain more than 15 percent gravel in the lower part of the series control section. Hacreek, Harco, Nevin, and Rooks soils have less than 15 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Keller soils have more than 30 percent clay in the lower half of the series control section. Lawndale soils average about 80 percent sand and do not have coarse fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Loran soils have a paralithic contact within a depth of 152 cm (60 inches). Shannondale soils have mean annual soil temperature at 51 cm (20 inches) of more than 13 degrees C (53 degrees F).
Note: Frankenmuth, Harco, Lawndale, and Rooks series do not have the same Taxonomic Classification as Elburn. They have not been updated to reflect current classification such as activity class. They are still included here for information and possible use in future updates.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elburn soils are on outwash plains, stream terraces, or till plains of Wisconsinan Age. Slope ranges are 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches) of loess or other silty material and in the underlying stratified loamy outwash. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 8 to 11 degrees C (46 to 52 degrees F)., mean annual precipitation ranges from 813 to 991 mm (32 to 39 inches), frost-free period ranges from 140 to 180 days, and elevation ranges from 177 to 311 meters (580 to 1020 feet) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Drummer, Kendall, Plano, Thorp, and Virgil soils. The poorly drained Drummer soils and the well drained Plano soils form a hydro-sequence with Elburn soils. Drummer soils are on lower positions and Plano soils are on higher positions. The somewhat poorly drained Kendall and Virgil soils form a biosequence with Elburn soils and are on similar parts of the landscape nearby. Kendall soils have an ochric epipedon with moist color value of 4 or 5 and Virgil soils have an ochric epipedon less than 25 cm (10 inches) thick with moist color value of 2 or 3. The poorly drained Thorp soils have an albic horizon and are on nearly level to depressional parts of the landscape nearby.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. An apparent seasonal high water table is at a depth of 31 to 61 cm (1 to 2 feet) at some time between January and May in most years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high in the loess and moderately high to high to high in the outwash (4.23 to 14..11 micrometers per second in the loess and 4.23 to 42. 34 micrometers per second in the outwash). Permeability is moderate in the loess and moderate to moderately rapid in the outwash.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans, small grain, and pasture are the principal crops. Native vegetation is prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The extent is large in MLRAs' 95B, 108A, 108B, and 110.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kendall County, Illinois, 1941.
REMARKS: A gravelly substratum phase and an overwash phase are recognized. These soils are identified for study as part of the update MLRA update activities. These and similar soils that formed in loess/outwash or sandy loam till will be evaluated to determine what needs to be done to keep separate areas of outwash and areas of till. Possibly new series will be developed.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 41 cm (16 inches) (Ap and A horizons);
argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 41 to 125 cm (16 to 49 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4, and Btg horizons).
10/2001 -- The type location for Elburn is moved to Christian County, Illinois with this update. The pedon number is 85IL-021-002. Data mapunit number is 399244.