LOCATION TECUMSEH IN

Established Series
Rev. TRZ-TJE-KKN
11/2021

TECUMSEH SERIES

The Tecumseh series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in loess and in the underlying loamy glaciofluvium and till. The Tecumseh soils are on till plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 10 degrees C (50 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Tecumseh silt loam, on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 203 meters (665 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--25 to 38 cm 10 to 15 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine roots; common very fine vesicular pores; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 46 cm (10 to 18 inches).]

Bt1--38 to 53 cm (15 to 21 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many very fine vesicular pores; thin continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings and clay films on faces of peds; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--53 to 76 cm (21 to 30 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many fine roots; many very fine vesicular pores; thin continuous dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 30 to 76 cm (12 to 30 inches).]

2Bt3--76 to 89 cm (30 to 35 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; thin continuous dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent rock fragments; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

2Bt4--89 to 102 cm (35 to 40 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.

2Bt5--102 to 122 cm (40 to 48 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; many fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent rock fragments; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 25 to 89 cm (10 to 35 inches).]

3Bt6--122 to 145 cm (48 to 57 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay film on faces of peds; 5 percent rock fragments; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

3Bt7--145 to 165 cm (57 to 65 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; thin discontinuous dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent rock fragments; neutral; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the 3Bt horizon is 13 to 51 cm (5 to 20 inches).]

3BCt--165 to 190 cm (65 to 75 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; thin discontinuous dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent rock fragments; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 30 cm (0 to 12 inches) thick]

3C--190 to 203 cm (75 to 80 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; 5 percent rock fragments; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Tippecanoe County, Indiana; 5 miles south of Lafayette, 375 feet east and 2500 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 21, T. 22 N., R. 4 W.; USGS Romney, Ind. topographic quadrangle; lat. 40 degrees 20 minutes 14 seconds N. and long. 86 degrees 53 minutes 1.5 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 509874 easting and 4465196 northing, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the loess: 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 61 cm (10 to 24 inches)
Depth to soil developed in loamy glacial till: 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches)
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches)

Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral, depending on liming history

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 34 percent
Sand content: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid

2Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: clay loam, sandy clay loam, or fine sandy loam
Sand content: 25 to 70 percent, some subhorizons range to 75 percent
Rock fragment content: 1 to 5 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid

3Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 25 percent
Silt content: less than 50 percent
Sand content: 30 to 50 percent
Rock fragment content: 2 to 10 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

3C horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 25 percent
Silt content: less than 50 percent
Sand content: 30 to 50 percent
Rock fragment content: 2 to 10 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ashdale, Broadwell, Dinsdale, Douglas, Elkhart, Elmont, Gymer, Healing, Lycurgus, Malcolm, Meadowbank, Mendota, Mickle, Ogle, Osco, Parkway, Plano, Proctor, Richwood, Ripon, Sibley, Sidell, Tama, Toddville, Wakenda, and Waupecan series. Ashdale soils have more than 25 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section. Broadwell, Douglas, Parkway, and Plano soils are deeper than 102 cm (40 inches) to horizons with more than 25 percent sand. Dinsdale soils have redoximorphic features in the lower part of the series control section. Elkhart, Elmont, Malcolm, Mendota, and Richwood soils are less than 152 cm (60 inches) to the base of the argillic horizon. Gymer soils do not have rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Healing soils have mean annual temperature greater than 11 degrees C (52 degrees F), and are formed in alluvial sediments. Lycurgus, Osco, Tama, and Wakenda soils have less than 30 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Meadowbank and Toddville soils have more than 50 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Mickle soils have more than 50 percent silt in the lower part of the series control section. Ogle soils have matrix color with hue redder than 10YR in the lower part of the series control section. Proctor soils do not have horizons formed in till in the lower part of the series control section. Ripon soils have sola terminated by a lithic contact within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Sibley soils have a mollic epipedon that is thicker than 61 cm (24 inches). Sidell soils do not have loamy glaciofluvium material above the till (see REMARKS). Waupecan soils have a horizon in the middle part of the series control section with more than 5 percent gravel.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Tecumseh soils are on till plains of Wisconsinan age. They are on lower lying portions of the till plains which are typically near outwash plains or stream terraces. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches) of loess and in the underlying loamy glaciofluvium and till. The till contains strata of coarser material in many places. Sandy and gravelly textures are within a depth of 2.4 to 3.6 meters (8 to 12 feet) in many places. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 889 to 965 mm (35 to 38 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 10 to 11 degrees C (50 to 52 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the well drained Lauramie and Mellott soils. Lauramie soils have more sand in the upper part of the sola and are on more sloping areas in the landform. Mellott soils are on similar landform positions but have dark colored surface layers less than 25 cm (10 inches) thick.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used to grow corn, soybeans, or small grain. A few areas are used for hay or pasture. Native vegetation is tall prairie grasses, chiefly big bluestem.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Indiana; MLRA 111D. The series is of small extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 1993.

REMARKS: Differentiae separating Tecumseh series and Sidell series are unclear based on current series concepts. The 6/87 revision of Sidell Official Series Description indicates that Sidell series formed in loess and the underlying loamy glaciofluvium and till, same as Tecumseh series. Historical records indicate that Sidell series formed in loess and the underlying till, and it is believed that this is the correct series concept. This will need to be investigated and resolved during MLRA updating activities.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 38 cm (Ap, A horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 38 to 165 cm (Bt, 2Bt, 3Bt horizons).

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.