LOCATION MARCELLON WI+MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Marcellon loam - on a 3 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 965 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 5 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine roots; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
A1--5 to 9 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
A2--9 to 14 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots; few worm casts; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 10 to 20 inches.)
AB--14 to 18 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 5 inches)
Bt1--18 to 25 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common faint clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--25 to 30 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common clay films on faces of peds; common fine distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) and grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--30 to 36 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; weak medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds; many medium distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) iron depletions; many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 8 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons ranges from 10 to 30 inches.)
C--36 to 60 inches; mixed grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; common fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and common fine prominent reddish gray (5YR 5/2) iron depletions; common fine prominent reddish brown (5YR 5/3) and distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 8 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Columbia County, Wisconsin; about 3 miles south of the village of Rio; 790 feet west and 557 feet south of the northeast corner of sec. 30, T. 11 N., R. 11 E. USGS Rio Wis. Quad. Latitude 43 degrees 23 minutes 41 seconds N., Longitude 89 degrees 13 minutes 41 seconds W. NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 20 to 40 inches and typically is the same as the depth to carbonates but some pedons have carbonates in the lower part of the subsoil. Thichness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 20 inches. The weighted average clay content of the particle-size control section ranges from 18 to 24 percent. Volume of gravel ranges from 0 to 15 percent in the upper part of the solum and from 2 to 35 percent in the lower solum and in the substratum. Volume of cobbles ranges from 0 to 5 percent throughout the soil. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to neutral in the upper part of the solum and from moderately acid to slightly alkaline in the lower part. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline in the substratum and the calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 25 percent. Aquic conditions occur either within 16 inches of the mineral soil surface in horizons with redox features or within 30 inches of the mineral soil surface in one or more horizons totaling 6 inches or more that have one or more of the following: a. Value of 4 or more and redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less; b. Hue of 10YR or redder and chroma of 2 or less; or c. Hue of 2.5Y or yellower and chroma of 3 or less.
The Ap or A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 3. Texture is loam.
The AB horizon has hue of 10YR, and value and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is loam.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 6. Typically texture is mostly loam or sandy clay loam but some pedons have subhorizons of clay loam. In some pedons, the Bt horizon grades to sandy loam, fine sandy loam or the gravelly analogs in the lower part.
Some pedons have a Btk horizon in the lower part of the solum with color like the Bt horizon above. Texture is loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or the gravelly analogs.
Some pedons have a Bk horizon with colors and textures similar to the C horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 2 or 3. Texture is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or the gravelly analogs. The C horizon averages 8 to 17 percent clay and has more than 52 percent sand.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Andres, Aztalan, Darroch, Francesville, Gilboa, Houstenader, La Hogue, Lahoguess, Le Sueur, Newhaven, Odell, Protivin, and Vigar series. Andres, Gilboa, Houstenader, Le Sueur, and Protivin soils all average more than 24 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Aztalan, Darroch, and La Hogue soils all are stratified in the lower part of the series control section. Francesville soils have a densic contact within the series control section and a lithic contact at 40 to 80 inches. Lahoguess soils have more than 80 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Newhaven soils have lamellae (E & BT horizons) in the lower part of the argillic horizon and do not have free carbonates within the series control section. Odell soils have loam till with less than 52 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Vigar soils need to be reclassified as Aquic Pachic Argiudolls.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Marcellon soils are on toe slopes and depressions on drumlins and moraines. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Marcellon soils formed in calcareous till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 24 to 33 inches. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 46 to 52 degrees F. The frost free period ranges from about 125 to 160 days. Elevation ranges from 700 to 1400 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Barry, Griswold, Kidder, and Ringwood series. The well drained Griswold soils and the poorly drained Barry soils form a drainage sequence with Marcellon soils. The well drained Ringwood soils are nearby in higher landscape positions than those of Marcellon soils where there is a 15 to 30 inch thick silty mantle. The well drained Kidder soils occupy higher landscape positions than those of Marcellon soils, where the surface layer is thinner and lighter colored.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff ranges from negligible to low. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderately rapid in the substratum. Marcellon soils have an apparent seasonal high water table at a depth of 1 to 2.5 feet for 1 month or more per year at some time during the period November to May in 6 or more out of 10 years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are used for cropland. Common crops are corn, small grain, and hay. Native vegetation is prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South-central Wisconsin and central Minnesota. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Columbia County, Wisconsin, l972.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - 0 to 18 inches (Ap, A1, A2, AB); argillic horizon - 18 to 30 inches (Bt1, Bt2); aquic feature - aquic conditions in horizons 6 inches or more thick with value of 4 or more and redox depletions with chroma of 2 or less immediately below the mollic epipedon.