LOCATION SUCKERCREEK        MN 
Established Series
TCJ-AGG
06/2001

SUCKERCREEK SERIES


The Suckercreek series consists of very deep, poorly drained and very poorly drained soils formed in alluvium on flood plains. These soils have moderate or moderate rapid permeability in the upper loamy alluvium and moderately rapid permeability in the lower part. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 29 inches. Mean annual air temperature is about 48 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Suckercreek loam on a plane level slope in a pasture. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 17 inches; black (10YR 2/1) loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to moderate very fine subangular; very friable; common fine roots; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

A2--17 to 22 inches; very dark gray (5Y 3/1) loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; few fine prominent olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) Fe concentrations; weak very fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; few fine roots; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizon 7 to 24 inches)

Cg--22 to 80 inches; stratified black (10YR 2/1) very dark gray (5Y 3/1), dark gray (5Y 4/1) loamy fine sand and gray (5Y 6/1) fine sand; common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) Fe concentrations; massive; very friable; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Meeker County, Minnesota; about 6 miles north of Litchfield; 850 feet east and 475 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 12, T. 120 N., R. 31 W; USGS Litchfield North quadrangle; lat. 45 degrees 13 minutes 26 seconds N. and 94 degrees 31 minutes 05 seconds W., NAD27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges form 7 to 24 inches. Typically, free carbonates are at the surface and occur in all parts between depths of 10 to 20 inches. Fragments of snail shells are dispersed in some horizons. The textural family control section averages from 8 to 18 percent clay. Volume of gravel makes up 0 to 15 percent throughout. The reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y or is neutral, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 3. It is loam, silt loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or very fine sandy loam. Some pedons have a muck surface layer up to 6 inches thick.

A Bg horizon is present in some pedons.

The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y, value of 2 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is typically stratified with textures of sand, fine sand, coarse sand, very fine sand, loamy sand, silt loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ninnescah and Rose Creek series. Ninnescah soils have a calcic horizon in the series control section. The Rose Creek soils are dry in some part of the soil moisture control section for more than 90 cumulative days in 6 out of 10 years.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Suckercreek soils are on plane, or slightly concave slopes on flood plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in loamy alluvium overlying sandy alluvium. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 45 to 50 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 26 to 32 inches. Frost free period ranges from 120 to 165 days. Elevation above sea level ranges from 850 to 1200 feet.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Angus, Crowfork, Estherville, Hawick, Klossner, Koronis, Lester, Medo, Muskego, and Sparta soils. The Crowfork, Estherville, Hawick, and Sparta soils are on nearby terraces above the floodplain. Angus, Koronis, and Lester soils are on nearby glacial till areas. Klossner, Medo, and Muskego soils are in abandoned meander channels or nearly level areas with organic deposits 16 to 51 inches thick.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained and very poorly drained. Runoff is negligible. Permeability is moderate in the upper loamy alluvium and moderately rapid in the lower part. Flooding is occasionally to frequent and very brief to long duration. The main period of flooding is March to June, but flooding can occur following any period of high runoff. Suckercreek soils have an apparent seasonal high water table from .5 to 1.5 feet from November to June on the poorly drained phase and +1.0 to .5 on the very poorly drained phase in most years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for pasture. Some areas are in woodland or are used for cropland. Native vegetation is mixed water tolerant grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Minnesota and possibly northern Iowa. Inextensive. MLRA-103.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Wright County, Minnesota 1998.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon-the zone from the surface to a depth of 22 inches, udic moisture regime; fluvaquentic subgroup based on irregular decrease in organic carbon in Cg horizon.

This soil was formerly included in the Cohoctah series. It was a taxadjunct in Meeker County.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.