LOCATION AETNA OH+IL

Established Series
Rev. RJG-JRS-TJE
11/2021

AETNA SERIES

The Aetna series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in silty alluvium over glaciolacustrine deposits on flood plains, terraces, and alluvial fans. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 11 degrees C (51 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, nonacid, mesic Fluvaquentic Endoaquepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Aetna silt loam, on a 0 to 2 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of about 154 meters (505 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 18 cm (0 to 7 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak thin platy structure parting to weak fine and very fine granular; friable; many fine and coarse roots; slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 13 to 28 cm (5 to 11 inches).]

Bw--18 to 38 cm (7 to 15 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine and coarse roots; common medium faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) organic coatings on faces of peds; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.

Btg--38 to 58 cm (15 to 23 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium and fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; few faint brown (10YR 4/3) and few distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on vertical faces of peds; common medium faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions within peds; few very fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation within peds; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the B horizon is 25 to 84 cm (10 to 33 inches).]

2Ab--58 to 86 cm (23 to 34 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) coatings on vertical faces of peds; common fine faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions within peds; few very fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation within peds; few fine distinct very dark brown (10YR 2/2) iron-manganese stains on faces of peds; neutral; gradual wavy boundary. [25 to 61 cm (10 to 24 inches) thick]

2Bwb1--86 to 122 cm (34 to 48 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; many coarse prominent dark gray (5YR 4/1) iron depletions within peds; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.

2Bwb2--122 to 160 cm (48 to 63 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium and coarse subangular blocky; firm; many coarse distinct gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions within peds; many coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron concentrations within peds; few fine distinct very dark brown (10YR 2/2) iron-manganese stains on faces of peds; neutral; gradual wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the 2Bw horizon is 0 to 46 cm (18 inches).]

2C--160 to 203 cm (63 to 80 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silt loam; massive; firm; many coarse distinct gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions within peds; many coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron concentrations within peds; few fine distinct very dark brown (10YR 2/2) iron-manganese stains on faces of peds; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Licking County, Ohio; 2.5 miles east-northeast of Kirkersville, in Union Township; 2100 feet north and 2250 feet east of southwest corner of sec. 5, T. 17 N., R. 13 W.; USGS Millersport topographic quadrangle; lat. 39 degrees 57 minutes 48 seconds N. and long. 82 degrees 33 minutes 46 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 inches) of recent alluvium over buried mollic surface
Thickness of the buried mollic epipedon: 25 to 61 cm (10 to 24 inches)

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silt loam or loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral

B horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silt loam, loam, or silty clay loam, with thin subhorizons of sandy loam and fine sandy loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline

2Ab horizon:
Hue: 10YR or N
Value: 2, 2.5 or 3
Chroma: 0 to 2
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

2Bwb horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or N
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 0 to 4
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, loam, or clay loam, with thin subhorizons of silty clay
Rock fragment content: 0 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

2C horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, or sandy loam or the gravelly analogs of these textures
Rock fragment content: 0 to 25 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Canalschool (T), Nookachamps, Petrolia, Puget, Rafton, Skagit, and Wick series. Canalschool soils are in MLRA 4B with cool, foggy summers and cool, rainy winters. Nookachamps, Petrolia, Puget, Rafton, Skagit, and Wick soils do not have a buried mollic epipedon within the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Aetna soils are on flood plains, low terraces, and alluvial fans in the Wisconsinan glacial area or on flood plains in the Illinoian glacial area where the headwaters are in the Wisconsinan till plain. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. The soils formed in 51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 inches) of recent light colored alluvium and are underlain by a buried Aquoll formed in glaciolacustrine deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from about 813 to 1016 mm (32 to 40 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from about 9 to 12 degrees C (48 to 54 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Eel, Genesee, Killbuck, Shoals, and Sloan series, all on flood plains. Of these soils, only the poorly drained Killbuck soils formed in recent alluvium over a buried soil. Eldean, Ockley, Sleeth, Thackery, Lippincott, and Westland soils are formed in outwash and are on nearby terraces. Nearby soils formed in glacial till include the series which are members of the Miamian and Amanda drainage sequence.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for runoff is low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderate in the recent alluvium and moderately slow in the underlying buried material. This soil is subject to flooding.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Aetna soils have been cleared. Most are cultivated with corn, oats, wheat, soybeans, and mixed hay the principal crops. Some areas are still wooded. Red maple, beech, red oak, pin oak, elm, hackberry, and hickory are the main tree species.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Ohio and Illinois (see Remarks); MLRA 111E. The series is of moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Licking County, Ohio, 1998.

REMARKS: Formerly part of the Algiers series. The Aetna soils in Illinois do not fit the Aetna series concept and will be considered for a new series during MLRA updating activities.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric pedon: from the surface to a depth of 18 cm (Ap horizon).
Cambic horizon: from a depth of 18 to 58 cm (Bw and Btg horizons).
Buried soil (mollic epipedon): from a depth of 56 to 86 cm (2Ab horizon).
Lithologic discontinuity: at a depth of 58 cm, the contact between the Btg and 2Ab horizons.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Typical pedon data (LC35) is available at the Soil Characterization Laboratory at The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.