LOCATION METAMORA MI+IN OHEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Udollic Epiaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Metamora sandy loam - on a southwest-facing slope of 2 percent in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2), grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry, sandy loam; weak fine granular structure; friable; many fine roots; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Eg--9 to 13 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy loam; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; weak coarse granular structure; friable; many fine roots; about 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
Bg--13 to 28 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam, many medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) mottles (50 percent of the color); weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; about 3 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 24 inches thick)
2B2tg--28 to 36 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) mottles; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; clay films on surface of peds; about 5 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 16 inches thick)
2Cg--36 to 60 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) mottles; massive; firm; about 5 percent gravel; slight effervescence; mildly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Shiawassee County, Michigan, about 7 miles north of the town of Owosso; 1,360 feet east and 1,380 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 13, T. 8 N., R. 2 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 18 to 40 inches and coincides with depth to free carbonates. The reaction of the upper part of the solum ranges from neutral to strongly acid; the lower part is slightly acid or neutral. Rock fragments, dominantly gravel, ranges from 0 to 10 percent throughout the pedon.
The Ap horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. The E horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 2 or 3. Uncultivated areas have an A horizon with similar colors and textures as the Ap horizon. The A and E horizons are loamy sand, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam.
The Bg horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is dominantly sandy loam or loamy sand, but includes sandy clay loam or loam.
The 2Bt horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is sandy clay loam, clay loam, silty clay loam, or loam. Mottled colors account for over 40 percent of the matrix color in at least one of the subhorizons.
The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, or clay loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Beardstown, Cantril, Conover, Dundas, Manheim, Monitor, Riceville, Romulus, Schley, and Skyberg series. Beardstown, Cantril, Monitor, Riceville, Schley, and Skyberg soils have thicker sola. Conover, Dundas, and Romulus soils contain more clay in the upper part of the solum. In addition, Conover soils formed in loam till, and Dundas soils typically have 2.5Y and 5Y hues in the B and C horizon. Manheim soils are darker throughout.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Metamora soils are on lake plains, till plains, and low moraines. Slope gradients range from 0 to 6 percent. Metamora soils formed in loamy outwash or lacustrine sediments overlying loamy glacial till. Mean annual temperature ranges from 44 to 49 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 28 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Blount, Brookston, Conover, Corunna, Owosso, and Pewamo soils. Metamora soils are in a drainage sequence with the well drained Owosso and poorly drained Corunna soils. They are associated in the landscape with the Blount, Brookston, Conover, and Pewamo soils. These soils do not have the coarser textured A and Bg horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderately rapid in the A and Bg horizons and moderate or moderately slow in the 2Bt and 2C horizons.
USE AND VEGETATION: The greater part is under cultivation to corn, soybeans, small grain, or forest. A few areas are used for vegetable production. A smaller part is in permanent pasture and hay. The native vegetation was forests of American elm, white ash, hickory, American basswood, and red maple.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Michigan. The series is of large extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.
REMARKS: Classification adjusted to agree with ST Issue #17l on 6 Sept 94 by CLG. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 9 inches (Ap horizon); albic horizon - the zone from 9 to 13 inches (Eg horizon); argillic horizon - the zone from 28 to 36 inches (2Bt horizon).