LOCATION ALGANSEE                MI+IL IN MN OH WI

Established Series
Rev. NWS-WEF-TWN-TJE
01/2017

ALGANSEE SERIES

The Algansee series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in stratified sandy alluvium. These soils are on flood plains and lake shores. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 800 mm. Mean annual temperature is about 8 degrees C.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, mesic Aquic Udipsamments

TYPICAL PEDON: Algansee loamy fine sand, on a 1 percent slope in an idle field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 20 cm (8 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loamy fine sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 inches) thick]

C1--20 to 66 cm (8 to 26 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sand; single grain; loose; few medium distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) iron depletions; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

C2--66 to 102 cm (26 to 40 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; common coarse faint very dark brown (10YR 2/2) organic stains; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.

C3--102 to 117 cm (40 to 46 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very fine sandy loam; weak medium subangular structure; friable; fine medium distinct very dark brown (10YR 2/2) organic stains; few medium faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.

Cg--117 to 152 cm (46 to 60 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sand; single grain; loose; few medium distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Kent County, Michigan; located in the city of Wyoming; about 1,860 feet south and 1,450 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 12, T. 6 N., R. 12 W.; USGS Grand Rapids West topographic quadrangle; lat. 42 degrees 55 minutes 21 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 40 minutes 50 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to carbonates: more than 102 cm (40 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 0 to 10 percent clay, 80 to100 percent sand, and less than 10 percent rock fragments
Organic carbon content: irregular decrease with increasing depth

Ap horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: loamy sand, loamy fine sand, fine sand, sand, fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or loam
Clay content: 2 to 15 percent
Sand content: 50 to 95 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly alkaline

A horizon, where present:
Thickness: 3 to 18 cm
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2

Bw horizon, where present:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loamy fine sand, fine sand, sand, or loamy sand
Clay content: 2 to 15 percent
Sand content: 85 to 95 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly alkaline

C horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 3 to 7
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: stratified with textures of loamy fine sand, fine sand, sand, or loamy sand, or the gravelly analogs of these textures
Clay content: 0 to 10 percent
Sand content: 80 to 100 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 35 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly alkaline

Some pedons have thin strata of loam, sandy loam, loamy very fine sand, very fine sandy loam, or the gravelly analogs of these textures.

Some pedons have thin layers darkened by organic matter.

Some pedons are moderately alkaline below a depth of 102 cm (40 inches).

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Altmar, Birchwood, Brems, Brockatonorton, Deerfield, Elnora, Fortress, Livonia, Meckling, Morocco, Ottokee, Partridge, Succotash, Tedrow, and Zaborosky series. Altmar soils average more than 10 percent rock fragments in the particle-size control section. Birchwood soils have a densic contact within the series control section. Brems, Deerfield, Elnora, Livonia, Morocco, Ottokee, Succotash, and Tedrow soils do not have an irregular decrease in organic carbon with increasing depth. Brockatonorton soils have a buried organic horizon within the series control section. Fortress soils are in a wetter climate with a mean annual precipitation of more than 1015 mm (40 inches). Meckling soils have carbonates within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Partridge soils have a lithic contact within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Zaborosky soils have buried A horizons within the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Algansee soils are on flood plains and lake shores. Slope ranges from 0 to 4 percent. The Algansee soils formed in stratified sandy alluvium. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 585 to 1,015 mm (23 to 40 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 4 to 11 degrees C (39 to 52 degrees F). Frost-free period is 115 to 225 days. Elevation is 175 to 450 meters (575 to 1470 feet) above sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Abscota, Ceresco, Cohoctah, Glendora, and Landes soils. The moderately well drained Abscota soils are on higher landscape positions. Ceresco soils are on landscape positions similar to those of the Algansee soils and have a mollic epipedon. The poorly drained or very poorly drained Cohoctah soils are on lower landscape positions and have a mollic epipedon. The poorly drained or very poorly drained Glendora soils are on lower landscape positions. The well drained Landes soils are on higher landscape positions, have a mollic epipedon and have a clay content that averages 5 to 18 percent in the particle-size control section.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Depth to the top of a seasonal high water table ranges from 30 to 61 cm (1 to 2 feet) between September and May in normal years. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is very high. Algansee soils are subject to frequent or occasional flooding for long duration.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are forested. Only a very small part is drained and cultivated. Cleared areas are used mostly for permanent pasture. Native vegetation is red maple, swamp white oak, quaking aspen, and white ash.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 89, 91A, 96, 97, 98, 103, 104, and 105 in Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. The type location is in MLRA 98. The series of is moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and feature recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 20 cm (8 inches) (Ap horizon).
Aquic conditions: iron depletions with chroma of 2 in the C1 horizon, 20 to 66 cm (8 to 26 inches).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.