LOCATION ELMDALE MIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Elmdale sandy loam - on a 3 percent convex slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; friable; about 3 percent coarse fragments; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
BA--9 to 16 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy fine sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; very few traces of light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy coatings on peds; about 3 percent coarse fragments; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bt1--16 to 27 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 3 percent coarse fragments; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--27 to 37 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) mottles; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many distinct dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 3 percent coarse fragments; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--37 to 54 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and few fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) mottles; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 3 percent coarse fragments; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (The combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 24 to 50 inches.)
C--54 to 60 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; about 5 percent coarse fragments; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Branch County, Michigan; 240 feet south and 1,570 feet west of the northeast corner of sec. 34, T. 5 S., R. 8 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum and depth to carbonates ranges from 40 to more than 60 inches. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 20 percent in the solum and C horizon.
The Ap horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. The value dry is 6 or more. Some pedons have an A1 horizon, 1 to 3 inches thick, that has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. The A horizon is fine sandy loam, sandy loam or loam. It ranges from strongly acid to neutral.
In some pedons, E material occurs as coatings on the faces of peds of the B horizon in some pedons. These coatings constitute less than 5 percent of the horizon.
The BA horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is fine sandy loam, loam, sandy loam, or loamy fine sand. The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is fine sandy loam sandy loam or loam. Some thin subhorizons are sandy clay loam or clay loam. The BC horizon, where present, has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 to 6. It is dominantly fine sandy loam or sandy loam with strata of loamy sand in some pedons. The B horizon ranges from very strongly acid to neutral.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is fine sandy loam or sandy loam but has pockets of loamy sand in some pedons. It ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alvin, Boyer, Burnsville, Council, Dryden, Eleva, Hillsdale, Lamont, Lapeer, Mecan, Oshtemo, Perrin, and Wyocena series. Alvin, Boyer, Burnsville, Council, Eleva, Hillsdale, Lamont, Lapeer, Mecan, Oshtemo, and Wyocena soils do not have mottles with chroma of 2 or less in the lower part of the B horizon. Dryden soils contain free carbonates at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Perrin soils are underlain by gravelly sand within depths of 40 to 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elmdale soils formed in fine sandy loam calcareous glacial till on ground moraines. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 29 to 35 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 51 degrees F., and the mean summer temperature is about 70 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The well drained Hillsdale, the somewhat poorly drained Teasdale, and the poorly or very poorly drained Barry soils form a drainage sequence with Elmdale. The competing Oshtemo and the Spinks soils are also associated in some areas. They occur in similar landscape positions as Hillsdale soils. Spinks soils have lamellae and are in a sandy family.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. The soil has a seasonal high water table that ranges from 2 to 3 feet below the surface from November to May. Surface runoff is slow or medium. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: A large proportion is under cultivation. Small grain, corn, beans, and grass-legume hay are the principal crops. Some areas are idle cropland or have forest vegetation. Common tree species include oak, soft maple, and basswood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Michigan and possibly northern Indiana. The series is inextensive. SERIES ESTABLISHED: St. Joseph County, Michigan, 1980.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
REMARKS: Classification was adjusted to agree with ST Issue #17 on 6 Sept 94 by CLG. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in the pedon are: ochric epipedon - zone from surface to a depth of approximately 9 inches (Ap horizon); argillic horizon - zone from 16 to 54 inches (Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3 horizons).