LOCATION AYR IN+IL
Established Series
Rev. LCO-WDH
11/2021
AYR SERIES
The Ayr series consists of deep, well drained soils formed in sandy deposits and loam glacial till on till plains. Permeability is rapid in the sandy upper layers and moderately slow in the lower part of the solum and the underlying material. Slopes range from 0 to 10 percent. Mean annual temperature is 5l degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 37 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy over loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Arenic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ayr loamy fine sand - on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; black (10YR 2/1) loamy fine sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; common medium and fine roots; 1 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--9 to 13 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) loamy sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; few fine and medium roots; 1 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Ap and A horizon is 10 to 18 inches.)
AB--13 to 17 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; single grain; loose; few medium roots; 1 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
BA--17 to 26 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) sand; single grain; loose; few fine roots; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Btl--26 to 33 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; loose; few fine roots; thin patchy brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay bridging between sand grains; 1 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
2Bt2--33 to 37 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; thin discontinuous dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)
2C--37 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam; massive; friable; common discontinuous gray (10YR 6/1) carbonate coatings on internal planes; 5 percent gravel; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Jasper County, Indiana; about 1 mile north and l mile west of Rensselaer; 2500 feet west and 130 feet north of southeast corner of sec. l6, T. 29 N., R. 7 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum ranges from 29 (total of 20" above argillic, 6" sandy argillic, and 3" loamy argillic) to 40 inches and commonly is the same as depth to free carbonates. The combined thickness of the sandy layers above the argillic horizon ranges from 20 to 30 inches. (If the sandy layer above the Bt is 20 inches or more thick the soil is in an arenic subgroup. The Bt1 horizon is 6 to 10 inches thick. That leaves 16 to 26 inches for the sandy layers above the argillic horizon. The type location is 26 inches deep to the top of the argillic horizon).
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 3. Dry value is 5 or less. It is loamy fine sand or loamy sand. Gravel content is 1 percent or less. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 to 8. It is loamy sand or loamy fine sand. Gravel content is 1 percent or less. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The 2Bt horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 to 8. It contains less than 50 percent fine or coarser sand. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 5 percent. It is slightly acid to mildly alkaline in the lower part.
The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. It is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline and contains free carbonates.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. Series in closely related families are
Aubbeenaubbee,
Halverson,
Hillsdale,
Markton,
Metamora,
Metea,
Owosso, and
Seward. All of these soils, except the Halverson series, do not have a mollic epipedon. The Halverson soils are frigid and are loamy throughout the argillic horizon. In addition, Aubbeenaubbee, Metamora, and Owosso soils are fine-loamy; Hillsdale soils are coarse-loamy; and Markton, Metea, and Seward soils are loamy.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ayr soils are on till plains. Slopes range from 0 to 10 percent. Ayr soils formed in 20 to 36 inches of water and windlaid sandy sediments and the underlying loamy glacial till. Mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 53 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation from 30 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Ade,
Aubbeenaubbee,
Markton,
Metea,
Montmorenci,
Octagon,
Parr,
Rensselaer,
Sparta,
Watseka, and
Wolcott soils. Ade and Sparta soils are dominantly on higher lying topographic positions and are sandy to depths of 60 inches or more. Aubbeenaubbee, Markton, Rensselaer, Watseka, and Wolcott soils are on lower lying topographic positions and have a predominantly gray solum. Metea soils are on similar topographic positions but do not have a mollic epipedon. Montmorenci, Octagon, and Parr soils are on similar topographic positions and do not have the sandy upper sola.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. The potential for surface runoff ranges from negligible to medium, depending on slope. .Permeability is rapid in the sandy upper layers and moderate in the lower part of the solum and underlying material.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the Ayr soils are cropped to corn, soybeans, and small grain. A few acres are in hay or pasture. Native vegetation was tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Indiana and northern Illinois. Ayr soils are of small extent. Total acreage is about 8000 acres.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Newton County, Indiana, 1948.
REMARKS: The Ayr series was formerly classified as fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Argiudolls.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Diagnostic features and horizons recognized in this pedon are: Mollic epipedon - 0 to 17 inches (Ap, A, AB horizons);
Argillic horizon - 26 to 37 inches (Bt1, 2Bt2 horizons);
A strongly contrasting particle-size class at 33 inches (between the Bt1 and the 2Bt2 horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.