LOCATION MOROCCO IN+IL MI WI
Established Series
Rev. FF-TRZ-RAB
03/2017
MOROCCO SERIES
The Morocco series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy outwash, glaciolacustrine, or eolian deposits on outwash plains, lake plains and dunes. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 889 mm (35 in), and mean annual temperature is about 10.0 degrees C (50 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Aquic Udipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Morocco loamy fine sand, on a 0.5 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 209 m (687 ft) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 23 cm (9 in); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loamy fine sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; common fine and very fine roots; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 in) thick]
Bw1--23 to 36 cm (9 to 14 in); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy fine sand; single grain; loose; few very fine roots; few fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common medium distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions in the matrix; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bw2--36 to 56 cm (14 to 22 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/3) loamy fine sand; single grain; loose; few very fine roots; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bg--56 to 89 cm (22 to 35 in); light gray (10YR 7/2) fine sand; single grain; loose; many coarse prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
B'w1--89 to 127 cm (35 to 50 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fine sand; single grain; loose; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common medium distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions in the matrix; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
B'w2--127 to 152 cm (50 to 60 in); very pale brown (10YR 7/4) fine sand; single grain; loose; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common medium distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bg or Bw horizon is 46 to 178 cm (18 to 70 in).]
C--152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 in); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand; single grain; loose; common medium distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common medium faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Jasper County, Indiana; about 4 miles southwest of Demotte; 270 feet north and 950 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 7, T. 31 N., R. 7 W.; USGS Shelby, IN topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 8 minutes 43.6 seconds N. and long. 87 degrees 15 minutes 35.9 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 478181 easting and 4554938 northing, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 61 to 203 cm (24 to 80 in)
Depth to iron depletions: within a depth of 61 cm (24 in)
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 to 6, 6 or more dry where the Ap or A horizon is 15 cm (6 in) or more thick
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: loamy fine sand, fine sand, loamy sand, or sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent gravel
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral depending on liming history
E horizon: (where present, up to 20 cm (8 in) thick)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loamy fine sand, fine sand, loamy sand, or sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 1 percent gravel
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral depending on liming history
Bw or Bg horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 to 8
Texture: fine sand, sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent gravel
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
C or Cg horizon:
Hue: 2.5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 to 8
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: fine sand or sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 7 percent gravel
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Algansee,
Altmar,
Birchwood,
Brems,
Brockatonorton,
Deerfield,
Elnora,
Fortress,
Livonia,
Meckling,
Ottokee,
Partridge,
Succotash,
Tedrow, and
Zaborosky series. Algansee soils have textural stratification in the lower part of the series control section. Altmar soils have more than 7 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Birchwood soils have a densic contact within the series control section. Brems and Elnora, soils do not have iron depletions within a depth of 61 cm (24 in). Brockatonorton soils have a buried histic epipedon within the series control section. Deerfield and Morocco soils have overlapping soils properties and are not clearly differentiated from one another, however Deerfield soils have a depth to iron depletions ranging in excess of 61 cm (24 in). Fortress soils have a B horizon that is less than 25 cm (10 inches) thick. Livonia soils have slightly acid to moderately alkaline reaction. Meckling soils are calcareous throughout. Ottokee soils have lamella within the series control section. Partridge soils have a lithic contact between a depth of 51 and 102 cm (20 and 40 in). Succotash soils do not have a B horizon. Tedrow soils are less acidic that moderately acid in the lower part of the series control section. Zaborosky soils have carbonates within a depth of 152 cm (60 in).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Morocco soils are on footslopes on outwash plains, low rises on lake plains, and low ridges and dunes on dune fields. Slope gradients range from 0 to 3 percent. Morocco soils formed in sandy outwash, glaciolacustrine, or eolian deposits . The sand fraction is fine or medium sand. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 762 to 107 cm (30 to 42 in). Mean annual temperature ranges from 8.3 to 11.7 degrees C (47 to 53 degrees F). Frost-free period is 120 to 180 days. Elevation is 177 to 466 m (580 to 1,530 ft) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Brems,
Maumee,
Newton,
Osolo,
Plainfield, and
Tyner soils on nearby landscapes. The moderately well drained Brems soils are on higher positions on footslopes and swells. The very poorly drained Maumee and Newton soils are in depressions. The well drained Osolo soils are on slightly higher positions on swells. The excessively drained Plainfield and Tyner soils are on swells and knolls.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Depth to the top of an apparent seasonal high water table ranges from 15 to 76 cm (0.5 to 2.5 feet) for some time in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is negligible. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are mostly used to grow corn, soybeans, and wheat. Irrigation is a common practice on cropped areas. Some areas are in pasture or forest. Native vegetation is hardwood forest with northern red oak and pin oak the principal species. White pine is also a common species in MLRA 97.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 95A, 97, 98, 105, 110, 111B, and 111C in northern Indiana, southern Michigan, northeastern Illinois, and central Wisconsin. The series is of large extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fulton County, Indiana, 1943.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include:
1. Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 23 cm (9 in) (Ap horizon)
2. Aquic conditions: redoximorphic features present in all horizons below a depth of 23 cm (9 in).
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 124289 represents the typical pedon.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401576 represents Morocco in complex with Brems soils.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab characterization data is available for the typical pedon (JR7801) from the Purdue University Soil Characterization Laboratory, AES Bulletin No. 323, Volume 6, Pg. 154. Transect data (T98IN-131-001) for the typical pedon is on file in the MLRA project office, Plymouth, Indiana. Transect shows 80 percent Morocco soils and 20 percent Brems soils.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.