LOCATION AYRMOUNT INEstablished Series
The Ayrmount series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in sandy sediments and the underlying glacial till on moraines. Permeability is rapid in the upper part of the subsoil and moderate in the lower part and in the underlying material. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is about 51 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is about 37 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy over loamy, mixed, active, mesic Oxyaquic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ayrmount loamy fine sand on a nearly level 1 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy fine sand, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; common fine roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--8 to 13 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) loamy fine sand, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; few fine roots; medium acid; clear wavy boundary. (total combined thickness of the A horizon is 10 to 18 inches.)
Bw--13 to 27 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; few fine roots; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
Bt1--27 to 30 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy fine sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; thin distinct dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay bridges between sand grains; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 15 inches thick)
2Bt2--30 to 33 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; thin discontinuous distinct dark brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
2Bt3--33 to 44 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) mottles; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; thin discontinuous distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 3 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (total combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 8 to 26 inches)
2C--44 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) mottles; massive; friable; 3 percent gravel; slight effervescence; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Newton County, Indiana; 1 mile east of Morocco; 800 feet east and 2,200 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 23, T. 29 N., R. 9 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon is from 40 to 60 inches. Thickness of the sandy sediments is from 20 to 38 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 18 inches thick. Depth to mottles with chroma of 2 or less is 24 to 40 inches. Rock fragments range from 0 to 3 percent in the upper two parts of the control section and from 2 to 10 percent in the lower two parts.
The upper part of the series control section (A) has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 3. Clay content is from 4 to 8 percent. Reaction is moderately acid to neutral depending on liming history.
The second part of the series control section (Bw, Bt) is fine sand or loamy fine sand. Clay content is from 2 to 10 percent and sand content is from 75 to 95 percent. Hue is 7.5YR or 10YR; value is 4 or 5; and chroma is 4 or 6. Reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid.
The third part of the series control section (2Bt) is sandy clay loam in the upper part, and loam in the lower part. Clay content averages 15 to 27 percent, and sand content averages 35 to 65 percent. Hue is 10YR; value is 4 or 5; and chroma is 3 to 6. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The lower part of the series control section (2C) has hue of 10YR, value of 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. Clay content is from 10 to 18 percent and sand content is from 35 to 52 percent. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Free carbonates are present, and calcium carbonate equivalent is 20 to 30 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Ayr series. Ayr soils do not have mottles with chroma of 2 or less within a depth of 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ayrmount soils are on recessional moraines thought to be Wisconsinian Age. The slope gradient is 0 to 2 percent. They formed in sandy sediments 20 to 38 inches thick and the underlying glacial till. Average annual temperature ranges from 50 to 52 degrees F., and average annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nesius and Ridgeville soils. The moderately well drained Nesius soils have more than 60 percent sand in the lower two parts of the serlies control section and are on higher lying positions in the landscape. The somewhat poorly drained Ridgeville soils are on lower lying positions in the landscape.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is rapid in the upper part of the subsoil and moderate in the lower part and in the underlying material. An intermittent apparent water table is at a depth of 2.5 to 4 feet.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used to grow corn, soybeans, and small grain. A few areas are used for hay or pasture.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwest Indiana. The Ayrmount series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Newton County, Indiana 1990.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features in this pedon
are: Mollic Epipedon: the zone from 0 to 13 inches Ap and A); Argillic Horizon: the zone from 27 to 44 inches (Bt1,2Bt2, and 2Bt3); Redoximorphic features: 2 chroma mottles in the zone from 33 to 60 inches.