LOCATION NOTTAWA MIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Oxyaquic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Nottawa sandy loam -- on a 2 percent west-facing slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 11 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine roots; medium acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (10 to 24 inches thick)
Bt1--11 to 15 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; thin very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent pebbles and cobbles; medium acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--15 to 23 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; thin continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 10 percent pebbles and cobbles; medium acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt3--23 to 28 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine roots; thin dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay coatings on sand grains and as bridging between sand grains; 5 percent pebbles; medium acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt4--28 to 33 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; common fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and few fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) mottles; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; thin dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay coatings on sand grains and bridging between sand grains; 5 percent pebbles; medium acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 16 to 40 inches.)
BC--33 to 46 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) sand; few coarse distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) mottles; single grain; loose; 5 percent pebbles; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
C--46 to 60 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand; common fine distinct yellow (10YR 7/6), brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and many medium distinct dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) mottles; single grain; loose; slightly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: St. Joseph County, Michigan; about 2 miles southwest of Mendon; 1,650 feet north and 330 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 3, T. 6 S., R. 10 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 40 to 72 inches. The sand throughout the solum is dominantly medium or coarser. Pebble content by volume ranges from 0 to 15 percent throughout.
The Ap horizon has 10YR hue, value of 2 or 3, value of 3 to 5 dry, and chroma of 1 to 3. It is sandy loam or loam. It ranges from neutral to strongly acid. Some pedons have BA horizons.
The Bt horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR; value of 3 to 5; and chroma of 3 or 4. It is typically sandy loam or loam with individual horizons of sandy clay loam or loamy sand. The upper 20 inches of the argillic horizon averages between 12 and 18 percent clay. The Bt horizon ranges from medium acid to strongly acid. The BC horizon has colors similar to the Bt horizon. It is loamy sand or sand. It ranges from slightly acid to strongly acid.
The C horizon has 10YR hue, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 or 4. It ranges from medium acid to moderately alkaline. Calcareous sand or gravelly sand is usually at depths of 5 to 10 feet.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Coyne, Elston, Hesch, Onarga, and Rasset series. Coyne soils have a mollic epipedon over 14 inches thick. Elston soils lack mottles between a depth of 30 and 60 inches. Hesch soils have sandstone bedrock above a depth of 40 inches. Onarga soils have stratification in the underlying material and are well drained. Rasset soils have stratified B horizons and lack mottling above a depth of 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Nottawa soils are on nearly level outwash plains. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. They are formed in Wisconsinan age outwash that is loamy in the upper part and sandy in the lower part. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 27 to 37 inches, and mean annual temperature ranges from 48 to 54 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the well drained Oshtemo, somewhat poorly drained Brady and poorly drained Gilford soils. Oshtemo soils lack mollic epipedons. Gilford soils lack argillic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderately rapid over rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are cropped to corn, soybeans, small grain, and legume-grass mixtures. Native vegetation was prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Michigan. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: St. Joseph County, Michigan; 1980.
REMARKS: Classification was adjusted to agree with ST Issue #17 on 6 Sept 94 by CLG.