LOCATION BIRCHLAKE MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Oxyaquic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Birchlake silty clay loam on a southwest facing slope of 2 percent on a glacial moraine in a cultivated field.. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).
Ap--0 to 8 inches; black (10YR 2/1) silty clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; about 1 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 16 inches thick.)
Bt--8 to 22 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay; strong medium angular blocky structure; friable; many distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; about 2 percent gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 16 inches thick.)
Btk--22 to 27 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) Fe concentrations; few prominent dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds; few light gray (10YR 7/2) lime coatings on faces of peds; about 2 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 18 inches thick)
Bk--27 to 40 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) Fe concentrations and common fine distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) Fe depletions; many light gray (10YR 7/2) filaments and threads of segregated lime; about 2 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (6 to 25 inches thick)
C--40 to 80 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky soil fragments; friable; common medium distinct light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) Fe depletions and common fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) Fe concentrations; few light gray (10YR 7/2) filaments and threads of segregated lime; about 2 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Becker County, Minnesota; about 6 miles north of Detroit Lakes; 1100 feet south and 1800 feet east of the northwest corner, sec. 33, T.140N., R.41W; USGS Richwood, Minnesota quadrangle; 46 degrees 54 minutes 09 seconds N., and lon. 95 degrees 52 minutes 17 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon is 7 to 16 inches thick. Free calcium carbonate is at depths of 12 to 30 inches. Rock fragments of mixed lithology make up about 1 to 4 percent of the volume of the horizons. The particle size control section contains more that 15 percent fine sand and coarser. The lower part of the series control section contains more than 30 percent clay.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1. It is silty clay loam, clay loam or silt loam. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay. It is slightly acid or neutral.
The Btk, Bk and C horizons have hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. They are silty clay loam or clay loam. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bygland(T), Doran and Mehurin series. Bygland soils have less than 15 percent fine sand and coarser in the particle size control section. Doran soils formed in a 15 to 40 inch thick lacustrine mantle overlying glacial till and have a lithologic discontinuity. Mehurin soils have less than 30 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils are on convex slopes of moraines. Slopes range from 1 to 40 percent. They formed in glacial till. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 26 inches. Frost-free days range from 90 to 140. Elevation above sea level ranges from 1000 to 1600 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Foxlake, Cathro, Dovray and Seelyeville soils. The poorly drained Foxlake soils are on nearly level lower lying areas or in drainageways. The very poorly drained Cathro, Dovray and Seelyeville soils are in depressions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Surface runoff range from slow to rapid. Permeability is slow. A perched water table occurs in most years at a depth of 2.5 to 4.0 feet at some time from October to June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are cultivated. Most steeply sloping areas remain in woodland. Wheat, barley, and soybeans are the principal crops. Native vegetation is mixed deciduous forest and tall grass prairie.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Minnesota. This series is inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Becker County, Minnesota, 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features identified in this soil are: Mollic epipedon--the zone from the surface to a depth of 8 inches (A horizon); Argillic horizon--the zone from 8 to 22 inches (Bt horizon); Udic moisture regime; Aquertic suborder based on redox depletions within 40 inches of the surface and over 6 cm of linear extensibility within the upper 40 inches of the profile.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to MAES Central File Code No. 3697 for results of some laboratory data on a representative pedon. Soil Interpretation Record number MN0717