LOCATION ABSCOTA MI+IN MN WI

Established Series
Rev. PRA-LWB-MLK
01/2013

ABSCOTA SERIES

The Abscota series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in sandy alluvium on flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 813 mm (32 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 9.4 degrees (49 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Oxyaquic Udipsamments

TYPICAL PEDON: Abscota loamy sand, on a 2 percent convex slope in a wooded area in a flood plain. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 13 cm (5 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many roots; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. [10 to 25 cm (4 to 10 inches) thick]

Bw1--13 to 28 cm (5 to 11 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very friable; common roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bw2--28 to 36 cm (11 to 14 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loamy sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; common roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 0 to 81 cm (32 inches).]

C1--36 to 71 cm (14 to 28 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; few roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

C2--71 to 96 cm (28 to 38 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand; single grain; loose; common coarse faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

C3--96 to 122 cm (38 to 48 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; many coarse very dark grayish brown organic stains; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

C4--122 to 132 cm (48 to 52 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; common coarse distinct brown (10YR 5/3) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary.

C5--132 to 152 cm (52 to 60 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand; single grain; loose; few medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Kent County, Michigan, about 2 miles south of the city of Wyoming; 1,600 feet south and 2,500 feet east of the NW corner of sec. 12, T. 5 N., R. 12 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to redoximorphic features: 102 to more than 152 cm (40 to greater than 60 inches)
Special features: saturated with water in at least one layer within 102 cm (40 inches) of the mineral surface for one month per l year in 6 or more out of 10 years; an irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: loamy sand, sandy loam, loamy fine sand, fine sandy loam, loam, or sand.
Rock fragment content: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

Ap horizon, where present:
Thickness: 13 to 25 cm (5 to 10 inches)

Bw horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: sand, fine sand, loamy fine sand, or loamy sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline

C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 7
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: fine sand, sand, coarse sand, gravelly coarse sand, or gravelly sand; some pedons are loamy sand or loamy fine sand in the upper part; thin layers of sandy loam are in some pedons; gravelly coarse sand is common below depths of 127 cm (50 inches); thin layers of very gravelly sand may be present below depths of 102 cm (40 inches)
Rock fragment content: 0 to 40 percent gravel
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Denham, Factoryville, Platteriver, and Solo series. Denham, Factoryville, and Platteriver soils do not have an irregular decrease in organic carbon with depth. Solo soils contain more than 60 percent by weight vitric volcanic ash.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Abscota soils occupy are on flood plains. Slope ranges from 0 to about 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 711 to 914 mm (28 to 36 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 8.3 to 10.0 degrees C (47 to 50 degrees F). Frost-free period is 130 to 180 days. Elevation is 183 to 274 meters (600 to 900 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The Abscota soils are the moderately well drained member of a drainage sequence that includes the somewhat poorly drained Algansee soils and the poorly drained Glendora soils.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. Depth to an apparent seasonal high water table ranges from 76 to 107 cm (2.5 to 3.5 feet) at some time between September and May in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible or very low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high. Permeability is rapid. In some years, these soils flood for brief periods between March and June.

USE AND VEGETATION: Permanent pasture and woodlands are the principal uses. Where areas are large enough to be cultivated, corn is the principal crop. Native vegetation is American elm, red maple, black ash, and sycamore.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 96, 97, 98, 103, 105, and 111C in southern Michigan, northern Ohio, southern Minnesota and northern Indiana. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 13 cm (5 inches) (A horizon).

ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil Interpretation Record No. MI0082.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.