LOCATION RIDDLES IN+MI OHEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Riddles fine sandy loam, on a convex, 4 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 902 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and medium roots throughout; many very fine to medium interstitial and tubular pores; 7 percent gravel; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--8 to 13 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/3) sandy clay loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common distinct brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; 8 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--13 to 20 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common faint brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--20 to 33 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; many faint brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt4--33 to 46 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron depletions in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt5--46 to 55 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron depletions in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; 1 percent cobbles; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt6--55 to 63 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 30 to 60 inches.)
2Bt and E--63 to 70 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam (2Bt) as lamellae 1 to 1.25 inches thick with a combined thickness of 4 inches; weak thick platy structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay bridging between sand grains; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sand (2E); weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
2E and Bt--70 to 78 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand (2E); weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid; brown (10YR 4/3) loamy sand (2Bt) as lamellae 1 to 1.5 inches thick with a combined thickness of 2 inches; weak thick platy structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay bridging between sand grains; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
2B and BC--78 to 90 inches; 85 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy sand (2B); weak thin platy structure; very friable; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; 15 percent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand (2BC); single grain; loose; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt, or 2B and BC horizon is 4 to 40 inches.)
3C--90 to 100 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine sandy loam; weak thin platy structure; firm; pockets of sand; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Elkhart County, Indiana; about 1 mile northeast of Southwest, on the south side of Indiana Highway 119; 2,250 feet south and 500 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 26, T. 36 N., R. 5 E.; U.S.G.S. Foraker, IN topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 32 minutes 39 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 55 minutes 23 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 589824 easting and 4599733 northing, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 40 to more than 80 inches
Depth to carbonates: 40 to more than 80 inches
Particle-size control section: averages 20 to 30 percent clay and more than 40 percent sand
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 6 or more dry
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
Rock fragment content: 1 to 14 percent
E or EB horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Bt or BE horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam; the lower part of the Bt horizon may also include fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral
Rock fragment content: 1 to 14 percent
BC horizon: (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or sandy loam
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline
C horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline; most pedons contain carbonates
Rock fragment content: 7 to 14 percent
2Bt, 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt, or 2B and BC horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand, or their gravelly analogues; the sand fraction of individual strata or subhorizons is well graded
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral
Rock fragment content: averages less than 15 percent, but individual horizons can range up to 30 percent
2C horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand, or their gravelly analogues; the sand fraction of individual strata or subhorizons is well graded
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Rock fragment content: averages less than 15 percent, but individual horizons can range up to 34 percent
3C horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam, with pockets of sand in some pedons
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 35 percent
COMPETING SERIES: Amanda, Belmont, Belmore, Chenault, Chili, Cliftycreek, Conestoga, Crouse, Gallman, Greybrook, Hebron, Hickory, High Gap, Hollinger, Kanawha, Kidder, Kosciusko, LeRoy, Lumberton, Martinsville, Mifflin, Military, Nollville (T), Ockley, Owosso, Princeton, Relay, Richardville, Senachwine, Skelton, Strawn, Theresa, Turnersburg (T), Wawaka, Wawasee, and Woodbine series. Amanda, Crouse, and Hickory soils average less than 45 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Belmont, Hebron, Hollinger, Kidder, LeRoy, Relay, Senachwine, Strawn, Theresa, Turnersburg (T), and Wawasee soils are less than 40 inches to the base of the argillic horizon. Belmore, Chili, Kosciusko, and Ockley soils average more than 15 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Chenault soils have rock fragments in the series control section are predominantly chert or limestone. Cliftycreek, Greybrook, and Wawaka soils average less than 40 percent sand in the particle-size control section. Conestoga soils contain quartzite, chert, and schist rock fragments and mica flakes in the series control section. Gallman, Martinsville, Owosso, Richardville, and Skelton soils do not have lamellae in the lower part of the argillic horizon. High Gap, Lumberton, Mifflin, Military, Nollville, and Woodbine soils have a lithic contact within a depth of 60 inches. Kanawha soils have gravel and channers derived from interbedded shale, siltstone, and sandstone within the series control section
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Riddles soils formed in loamy and sandy till and are on swells and knolls of till plains and on summits, shoulders, and backslopes of dissected till plains and moraines of Wisconsinan Age. Slope gradients range from 0 to 35 percent. Mean annual temperature ranges from 48 to 53 degrees F., mean annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 42 inches, frost-free period ranges from 130 to 180 days, and elevation ranges from 580 to 1,530 feet above sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Barry, Brookston, Crosier, Hillsdale, Metea, Miami, Oshtemo, Rensselaer, and Williamstown soils. The Riddles soils are in a drainage sequence with the moderately well drained Williamstown soils, the somewhat poorly drained Crosier soils, the poorly drained Barry and Brookston soils, and the poorly drained or very poorly drained Rensselaer soils on lower landform positions. The well drained Hillsdale, Metea, and Oshtemo soils and the moderately well drained Miami soils are also closely associated on similar landform positions. Hillsdale and Oshtemo soils do not have as much clay in the argillic horizon. Metea soils have 20 to 40 inches of sand or loamy sand in the surface layer. Miami soils have carbonates at depths of less than 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to high depending on slope gradient. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are cropped to corn, soybeans, and small grain. Most rolling areas are in permanent pasture or forest. Native vegetation is deciduous forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 111 in northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwestern Ohio. The soils are of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Elkhart County, Indiana, 1971.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to 8 inches (Ap horizon)
Argillic horizon: from 8 to 78 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4, Bt5, Bt6, and the 2Bt part of the 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt horizons)
Udic moisture regime
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 125311 represents the typical pedon in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 125310 represents the 0 to 1 percent slope phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401580 represents the 5 to 10 percent slope, eroded phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401781 represents the 10 to 18 percent slope, eroded phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 155002 represents the 0 to 2 percent slope phase of Riddles.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401581 represents Riddles in complex with Metea.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab characterization data is available for the typical pedon (S94IN-039-22) from the National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE. Additional lab data for other pedons is also available from the NSSL. Transect data (T94IN-039-016) is on file in MLRA project office, Plymouth., Indiana. Transect shows 80 percent Riddles soils and 20 percent Oshtemo soils.