LOCATION ALSTAD WI+MI+MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Glossudalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Alstad loam, on a linear slope of 1 percent, in a cultivated field, at an elevation of about 290 meters above sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 23 centimeters; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine and medium granular structure; friable; many fine and medium roots; about 2 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
E--23 to 38 centimeters; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; moderate medium platy structure parting to weak very fine subangular blocky; friable; common fine roots; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
E/B--38 to 46 centimeters; about 60 percent pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam (E), very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; weak thick platy structure parting to weak very fine subangular blocky; friable; extends as tongues into yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam (Bt); moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films in root channels and pores; common distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) coats of silt and sand grains on faces of some peds; few fine roots; few fine faint and distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
B/E--46 to 61 centimeters; about 70 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam (Bt); moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels and pores; common distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) coats of silt and sand grains on faces of peds; few fine rounded iron-manganese concretions; penetrated by tongues of pale brown (10YR 6/3) fine sandy loam (E), very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; weak thin platy structure; friable; few fine roots; few fine distinct and faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt1--61 to 97 centimeters; brown (10YR 4/3) sandy clay loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very firm; few fine roots; common faint brown (10YR 5/3) and distinct dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds and in pores; few prominent very dark brown (10YR 2/2) clay films in root channels and in pores; common medium rounded iron-manganese concretions; common fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--97 to 124 centimeters; brown (10YR 4/3) sandy clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; common prominent very dark brown (10YR 2/2) clay films on some major vertical faces of peds and in root channels and pores; common medium rounded iron-manganese concretions; common fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; some of the gravel are shale fragments; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
BCk--124 to 152 centimeters; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; massive; friable; common medium rounded iron-manganese concretions; common fine carbonate threads; few medium rounded soft masses of calcium carbonate; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and common fine distinct dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) masses of iron accumulation; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; about 6 percent gravel and 1 percent cobbles; some of the gravel are shale fragments; moderately alkaline; strong effervescence.
TYPE LOCATION: Major Land resource Area (MLRA) 90B-Wisconsin and Minnesota Thin Loess and Till, Southern Part, Burnett County, Wisconsin subset; about 1 mile south of Grantsburg; located about 2,300 feet east and 1,300 feet north of the southwest corner section 26, T. 38 N., R. 19 W.; USGS Trade River topographic quadrangle; lat. 45 degrees 44 minutes 51 seconds N. and long. 92 degrees 41 minutes 01 seconds W., NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to carbonates--100 to 200 centimeters
Clay content in the particle-size control section (weighted average)--18 to 27 percent
Sand content in the particle-size control section (weighted average)--45 to 65 percent
Rock fragments--1 to 15 percent, gravel; 0 to 5 percent, cobbles, mixed lithology, some are limestone and some are shale
Ap or A horizon:
Hue--5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR
Value--2 to 3
Chroma--1 to 3
Texture--loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam
Clay content--6 to 18 percent
Sand content--30 to 65 percent
Reaction--pH 4.5 to 7.8
Thickness--13 to 25 centimeters
E horizon and the e part of the E/B or B/E horizon:
Hue--5YR, 7.5YR or 10YR
Value--4 to 6
Chroma--2 or 3, colors of 4/3 or 5/3 have value dry of 7 or more
Texture--fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Clay content--4 to 16 percent
Sand content--35 to 70 percent
Reaction--pH 4.5 to 7.8
Thickness of the E horizon--0 to 40 centimeters
Bt part of the E/B or B/E horizon and Bt horizon:
Hue--7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value--4 or 5
Chroma--3 to 6
Texture--sandy clay loam, fine sandy loam, or loam
Clay content--11 to 35 percent
Sand content--45 to 65 percent
Reaction--pH 4.5 to 8.4
Thickness of the glossic horizon (E/B and B/E horizons)--10 to 90 centimeters
Thickness of the Bt horizon--10 to 75 centimeters
Some pedons have subhorizons of sandy loam or clay loam
Btk or Bk horizon (when present):
Hue--7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value--4 or 5
Chroma--3 to 6
Texture--sandy clay loam, fine sandy loam, or loam
Clay content--11 to 30 percent
Sand content--45 to 65 percent
Reaction--pH 7.4 to 8.4
Thickness--0 to 100 centimeters
Some pedons have subhorizons of sandy loam or clay loam
BC, BCk, or C horizon:
Hue--10YR or 2.5Y
Value--4 to 6
Chroma--3 or 4
Texture--fine sandy loam or loam
Clay content--13 to 17 percent
Sand content--15 to 30 percent medium, coarse, and very coarse sand
Reaction--pH 6.1 to 8.4
Calcium carbonate equivalent--0 to 10 percent
Moist bulk density--1.55 to 1.8 g/cc
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Big Iron,
Dusler,
Keewatin,
Kert,
Meadland,
Milladore,
Nary,
Point,
Rietbrock, and
Withee series.
Big Iron--have a densic layer within a depth of 150 centimeters
Dusler--have a clay content of 18 to 30 percent in the lower third of the series control section
Keewatin--have a densic layer within a depth of 150 centimeters
Kert--have a paralithic contact within a depth of 100 centimeters
Meadland--do not have carbonates within a depth of 200 centimeters
Milladore--do not have carbonates within a depth of 200 centimeters
Nary--have a frequently saturated zone between depth of 0.75 and 1.0 meter during the wettest periods of years when precipitation is within one standard deviation of 30 year mean of annual precipitation
Point--have a sand content of more than 70 percent in the upper third of the series control section
Rietbrock--have a lithic contact within a depth of 150 centimeters
Withee--do not have carbonates within a depth of 200 centimeters
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Parent material--loamy, calcareous till
Landform--moraines
Slope--0 to 4 percent
Elevation--185 to 600 meters
Mean annual air temperature--3 to 9 degrees C
Mean annual precipitation--585 to 965 millimeters
Frost-free period--90 to 185 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Bluffton,
Branstad, and
Cushing soils.
Bluffton--are on lower landscape positions in depressions, swales and drainageways and have a mollic epipedon 18 to 60 centimeters thick
Branstad--are on slightly higher landscape positions and have a frequently saturated zone between depths of 0.75 and 1 meter during the wettest periods of years when precipitation is within one standard deviation of 30 year mean of annual precipitation
Cushing--are on higher landscape positions and do not have a frequently saturated zone within a depth of 1.8 meter during the wettest periods of years when precipitation is within one standard deviation of 30 year mean of annual precipitation
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY:
Drainage class--somewhat poorly drained--a frequently saturated zone occurs between depths of 0.15 and 0.60 meter during the wettest periods of years when precipitation is within one standard deviation of 30 year mean of annual precipitation, this saturation is considered apparent
Saturated hydraulic conductivity--1.00 to 14.00 micrometers per second
USE AND VEGETATION:
Most areas are cultivated. The principal crops are corn, small grain, and hay. The native vegetation is deciduous forest. Common trees are American basswood, American elm, red maple, quaking aspen, and northern red oak.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT:
Physiographic divisions--Interior Plains and Laurentian Upland
Physiographic Provinces--Central Lowland and Superior Upland
Physiographic sections--Western Lake section and Eastern lake section
MLRAs--Wisconsin and Minnesota Thin Loess and Till, Northern Part (90A),
Wisconsin and Minnesota Thin Loess and Till, Southern Part (90B),
Central Minnesota Sandy Outwash (91A),
Wisconsin and Minnesota Sandy Outwash (91B),
Superior Stony and Rocky Loamy Plains and Hills, Eastern Part (93B), and
Northern Michigan and Wisconsin Sandy Draft (94A)
LRR K; north-central and northwestern Wisconsin, upper peninsula and northern part of the lower peninsula of Michigan and east-central Minnesota
Extent--moderate
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota; MLRA SSO 10-9 (Rhinelander, Wisconsin).
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Carlton County, Minnesota, 1973.
REMARKS:
Particle-size control section--the zone from a depth of 46 to 96 centimeters; series control section--the zone from the surface to a depth of 150 centimeters.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon--the zone from the surface to a depth of 46 centimeters (Ap, E, and E/B horizons);
albic horizon--the zone from a depth of 23 to 38 centimeters (E horizon);
glossic horizon--the zone from a depth of 38 to 61 centimeters (E/B and B/E horizons);
argillic horizon--the zone from a depth of 46 to 124 centimeters (B/E, Bt1 and Bt2 horizons);
udic moisture regime.
Cation-exchange activity class is supported by laboratory data (NSSL).
Taxonomy version--Keys to Soil Taxonomy, tenth edition, 2006.
ADDITIONAL DATA:
Laboratory data--National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, Nebraska-user pedonids 88WI013003, 75WI095001, and 91WI013001 (http://ssldata.sc.egov.usda.gov/).