LOCATION TUSCOLA MI+IL IN OH WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Tuscola fine sandy loam - on a 2 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; many fine roots; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 12 inches thick)
Bt1--9 to 17 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm; many fine roots; faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels; few distinct pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay depletions on faces of peds; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 and 10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--17 to 26 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) loam; moderate medium and fine angular blocky structure; firm; common fine roots; faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels; common fine distinct gray (10 R 6/1) iron depletions in the matrix; few medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 and 10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Btg--26 to 31 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam; moderate medium angular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; few medium distinct gray (N 6/0) iron depletions in the matrix; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 and 10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt and Btg horizons is 16 to 39 inches.)
Cg--31 to 60 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) stratified silt loam, very fine sand, and fine sand; massive; friable; many medium distinct gray (N 6/0) iron depletions in the matrix; many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6 and 10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Eaton County, Michigan; about 8 miles south of Charlotte, 1,380 feet north and 100 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 31, T. 1 N., R. 4 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 23 to 48 inches. Depth to carbonates and to the stratified C horizon ranges from 30 to 50 inches. Mean annual soil temperature is 49 to 56 degrees F.
The Ap horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4 (6 or 7 dry), and chroma of 1 to 3. Texture is fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.
Uncultivated areas have an A horizon with hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 moist, (5 dry), and chroma of 2. It is 1 to 4 inches thick.
Some pedons have a BA horizon.
Some pedons have an E or BE horizon with hue of 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 3 or 4. Texture is fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.
The Bt or Btg horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is silty clay loam, clay loam, silt loam, loam, sandy clay loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. Clay content ranges from 18 to 35 percent. Thin strata 1/4 to 1 inch thick of very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, loamy very fine sand, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, silt, and fine sand are in most pedons. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral.
Some pedons have a BC or BCg horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 6. It is stratified silt loam, fine sand, loamy fine sand, very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, and fine sandy loam. Strata of clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam 1/2 to 3 inches thick are in many pedons. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Some pedons have Ck horizons that are thinly stratified with colors and textures similar to those of the C horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ashtabula (T), Bogart, Centerburg, Conowingo, Cygnet, Haney, Houcktown, Jenera, Lehigh, Mount Lucas, Nicely (T), Reaville, Scattersville (T), Swampoodle (T), Thackery, Vanlue and Williamstown series. The Ashtabula, Bogart, Centerburg, Conowingo, Haney, Jenera, Mount Lucas, Thackery, and Vanlue soils have 1 percent or more rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. The Cygnet, Houcktown, and Williamstown soils have a densic contact in the series control section. The Nicely series are more than 48 inches to the base of the argillic horizon. The Lehigh and Reaville soils have a lithic contact in the series control section. The Scattersville and Swampoodle soils are more acid than slightly alkaline in the lower part of the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Tuscola soils are on lake plains [outwash plains,] and deltas of Wisconsin age. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. Elevations are 500 to 1,200 feet. They formed in stratified loamy and silty lacustrine sediments. The mean annual precipitation is 29 to 37 inches, the mean annual temperature is about 49 degrees F, and the mean summer temperature is about 70 degrees F. The frost free period is 130 to 180 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The well drained Sisson, somewhat poorly drained Kibbie, and poorly and very poorly drained Colwood soils are in a drainage sequence with Tuscola soils and are common associates. In some places the Del Rey soils are associated on lake plains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Depth to the apparent seasonal high water table ranges from 1.5 to 2.5 feet below the surface from November to April in most years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to medium. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. The principal crops are corn, small grain, soybeans, and hay. Small areas are in permanent pasture or woodland. The native vegetation was forest of sugar maple, oak, and American basswood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA's 97, 98, 99, and 111. Southern Michigan, northwestern Ohio, eastern Wisconsin, and northern Indiana. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Tuscola County, Michigan, 1926.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from the surface to 9 inches (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon - from 9 to 31 inches (Bt1, Bt2 and Btg horizons).
Aquic feature - iron depletions in the upper 10 inches of the argillic horizon (Bt2 horizon).
Particle-size control section - the zone from 9 to 29 inches (Bt1, Bt2, and part of the Btg horizon).