LOCATION BIXLER OH

Established Series
Rev. RAR-RMG
09/2012

BIXLER SERIES

The Bixler series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy deposits over stratified lacustrine materials. They are on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 889 mm (35 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 9 degrees C (49 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Arenic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Bixler loamy fine sand, on a 1 percent convex slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 194 meters (635 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loamy fine sand, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; common fine roots; few medium black (10YR 2/1) iron and manganese oxide concretions in the matrix; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [18 to 30 cm (7 to 12 inches) thick]

E1--25 to 48 cm (10 to 19 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few fine roots; few fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

E2--48 to 71 cm (19 to 28 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) fine sand; single grain; loose; few fine roots; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and common medium faint pale brown (10YR 6/3) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few medium black (10YR 2/1) iron and manganese oxide concretions; neutral; abrupt wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the E horizon is 38 to 76 cm (15 to 30 inches).]

Btg1--71 to 81 cm (28 to 32 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) fine sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few faint clay films on faces of peds and clay bridging between sand grains; few fine distinct gray (5Y 5/1) iron depletions in the matrix; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron and manganese oxide concretions; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. [8 to 25 cm (3 to 10 inches) thick]

2Btg2--81 to 86 cm (32 to 34 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) silt loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint clay films on faces of peds; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [5 to 25 cm (2 to 10 inches) thick]

2BC--86 to 114 cm (34 to 45 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silt loam with few thin lenses of silty clay loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint clay films; common medium distinct gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions in the matrix; few fine black (10YR 2/1) iron and manganese oxide concretions; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [0 to 38 cm (15 inches) thick]

2Cg--114 to 183 cm (45 to 72 inches); gray (N 5/) stratified silt, very fine sand, fine sand, and silty clay loam; massive; firm; common medium prominent brown (7.5YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Lucas County, Ohio; approximately 1.5 miles west and .25 miles south of Maumee, in Monclova Township; 1,700 feet west and 400 feet south of the center of sec. 28, T. 2.; USGS Maumee, Ohio topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 35 minutes 11 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 43 minutes 10 seconds W., NAD 27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 71 to 140 cm (28 to 55 inches)
Thickness of the sandy material: 51 to 89 cm (20 to 35 inches)
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 56 to 127 cm (22 to 50 inches)
Rock fragments: glacial erratics, primarily of limestone, dolomite, and crystalline lithology

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 to 4 (6 or more, dry)
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: loamy fine sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

A horizon, where present:
Thickness: (2 to 4 inches)

E horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loamy fine sand, loamy sand, or fine sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

Btg or Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: fine sandy loam, loam, or sandy loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

2Btg, 2Bt, 2BC, or 2BCg horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 to 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam; commonly stratified
Silt content: 50 to 85 percent
Rock fragment content: none
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

2Cg or 2C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR to 5Y, or is neutral
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 0 to 6
Texture: silt loam, silt, very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, fine sand, very fine sand, or silty clay loam; commonly stratified; thickness or sequence of individual strata may change within short horizontal distances
Clay content: 5 to 32 percent in individual subhorizons or strata
Rock fragment content: none
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

Clayey substratum phase:
Texture: clay, silty clay, or silty clay loam below a depth of 152 cm (60 inches)
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are Leola, Markton, Rimer, and Selfridge series. Leola and Markton soils average less than 50 percent silt in the lower part of the argillic horizon. Rimer soils have rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Selfridge soils have an E horizon that is less than 38 cm (15 inches) thick.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Bixler soils are on ridges, low knolls, and backslopes on lake plains of late Wisconsinan age. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in sandy lacustrine materials over medium textured, stratified lacustrine sediments. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 914 mm (27 to 36 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 7 to 11 degrees C (45 to 52 degrees F). Frost-free period is 140 to 180 days. Elevation is 183 to 244 meters (600 to 800 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Colwood, Dixboro, Kibbie, Lamson, Oakville, Ottokee, Spinks, and Tedrow soils. Colwood and Lamson soils are poorly and very poorly drained and are on flats or in depressions. Dixboro and Kibbie soils do not have an arenic epipedon. Oakville soils are excessively drained, Ottokee soils are moderately well drained, and Spinks soils are well drained; in addition, these soils do not have 2B or 2C horizons of medium textured lacustrine sediments, and are on higher beach ridges and dunes. Tedrow soils do not have 2B or 2C horizons of medium textured lacustrine sediments.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent apparent high water table ranges from (0.5 to 1.5 feet) between November and May in normal years. The clayey substratum phase has a perched water table. The potential for surface runoff is negligible or very low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high in the sandy upper material and moderately high in the medium textured lacustrine sediments. Permeability is rapid in the sandy upper material and moderate in the medium textured lacustrine sediments.

USE AND VEGETATION: A large proportion is under cultivation, primarily corn, small grain, soybeans, and hay. Some areas are used for special crops such as cabbage, tomatoes, and potatoes. A few areas are in mixed hardwood forest. Native vegetation is mixed hardwood forests of beech, elm, hickory, maple, and oak.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwest Ohio and possibly southern Michigan; MLRA 99. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lucas County, Ohio, 1978.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 71 cm (Ap, E1, E2 horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 71 to 86 cm (Btg, 2Btg horizons).
Aquic conditions: redox features visible in all horizons below a depth of 25 cm.

A clayey substratum phase is recognized. It will need to be evaluated in future MLRA update activities.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Characterization data is available for pedons FT-25 and LS-6 (typical pedon) from The Ohio State University Soil Characterization Laboratory, Columbus, OH.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.