LOCATION AYLMER NDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, frigid Aquic Udipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Aylmer sand - on a northwest-facing slope of 1 percent under grass. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. Where described, the soil was moist below 40 inches.)
A--0 to 7 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) sand, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; common roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
C1--7 to 24 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few roots; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
C2--24 to 40 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; many large prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) dry and moist redoximorphic concentrations; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few roots; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
C3--40 to 60 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) sand, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) dry and moist redoximorphic concentrations; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Pierce County, North Dakota; about 1/2 mile west and 2 7/8 miles north of Orrin; 750 feet south and 100 feet east of the northwest corner, sec. 27, T. 154 N., R. 74 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to carbonates is generally greater than 60 inches. Distinct or prominent redoximorphic features are within depths of 20 to 40 inches. Some pedons have an Ab horizon.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5 and 2 to 4 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2 dry. It commonly is sand, but some is fine sand, loamy fine sand or loamy sand.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7 and 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is sand or fine sand. Some pedons have a fine textured 2C horizon below a depth of 40 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Clearriver, Hiwood, Lino, Meehan, Perchlake, Poppleton, Redby, Rushlake, Sciota and Winterfield series. Clearriver and Perchlake soils have a thin zone of clay accumulation (Bt) in the series control section. Hiwood, Lino, Meehan, Poppleton and Redby soils have a wetter climate and have redoximorphic features higher in the profile. Rushlake soils have rock fragments in the series control section. Sciota soils are in areas of higher precipitation and are substantially wetter in the soil moisture control section during the growing season. Winterfield soils have a higher mean annual precipitation and an irregular decrease in organic carbon content with increasing depth.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Aylmer soils are on nearly level to gently undulating wind outwash plains and delta plains. Slopes are plane, concave, and convex. Slope gradient range from 0 to 6 percent. The climate is cool, subhumid. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 48 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation ranges from 15 to 23 inches. Most of the precipitation falls in the spring and summer.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Fossum, Hamar, Hecla, Maddock, Serden and Ulen soils. Fossum, Hamar, Hecla, Maddock and Ulen soils have mollic epipedons. Fossum, Hamar and Ulen soils are on nearby low basins and swales. Hecla and Maddock soils are on nearby nearly level and undulating areas. Serden soils do not have redoximorphic features. Serden soils are on nearby higher positions.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. Surface runoff is negligible or very low depending on slope. Rapid saturated hydraulic conductivity. A seasonal high water table is within depths of 1.5 to 3.5 feet during the months of April through June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for pasture and hay. Native vegetation is prairie sandreed, needleandthread, and some forbs and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North-central North Dakota. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Pierce County, North Dakota, 1975.
REMARKS: In the mid 1950's and 1960's, a soil similar to Aylmer (Bantry) was used in McHenry County, North Dakota. That Bantry series was dropped (prior to the establishment of the Aylmer series in 1975) and part of its concept included in the Serden series. The current Bantry series, established in 1987, represents a soil that is wetter than the Aylmer series.