LOCATION BRANDSVOLD MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Brandsvold loam,on a northeast facing, concave, .5 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 1200 feet MSL. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).
Ap--0 to 10 inches; black (10YR 2/1) loam; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common fine roots in cracks; about 2 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 16 inches thick).
Btg--10 to 19 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy clay loam; common fine distinct olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) Fe concentrations; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; friable; few fine roots in cracks; few faint very dark grayish brown (2.5Y 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; about 5 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 36 inches thick).
Bkg--19 to 36 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam; common medium prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) and few medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) Fe concentrations; weak thin platy structure; friable; few fine roots in cracks; few distinct light gray (10YR 7/2) carbonate coats on horizontal faces of peds; about 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick).
Cg1--36 to 52 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) fine sandy loam; common fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) and common prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) Fe concentrations; weak medium platy soil fragments; friable; few very fine roots in cracks; few distinct light gray (10YR 7/1) carbonate coats on horizontal faces of soil fragments; about 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Cg2--52 to 68 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) fine sandy loam; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) Fe concentrations; weak fine to medium platy parting to weak fine subangular blocky soil fragments; firm; few distinct light gray (10YR 7/1) carbonate coats on horizontal faces of soil fragments; about 4 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Cg3--68 to 80 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) fine sandy loam; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) Fe concentrations; moderate medium platy parting to weak fine subangular blocky soil fragments; firm; few distinct light gray (10YR 7/1) carbonate coats on horizontal faces of soil fragments; about 4 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Polk County, Minnesota, about 3 miles south and 2 miles west of Mentor, 1320 feet west and 1450 feet south of the northeast corner of section.18, T.148 N., R.43 W; USGS Mentor, MN. topographic quadrangle; latitude 47 degrees 38 minutes 22 seconds N. and longitude 96 degrees 10 minutes 41 seconds W., NAD27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the argillic horizon is commonly ranges from 11 to 36 inches. A thick solum phase is recognized where the depth to carbonates and the base of the argillic ranges up to 54 inches. The mollic epipedon ranges from 7 to 16 inches in thickness. The argillic horizon has 18 to 27 percent clay and 45 to 65 percent fine sand or coarser. Rock fragments of mixed lithology make up 2 to 12 percent by volume of the B and C horizons.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or neutral, value of 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 0 to 2 moist. It is loam, fine sandy loam or sandy loam. The clay content ranges from 10 to 20 percent and the sand content ranges from 45 to 65 percent. The reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
Some pedons have an E horizon 2 to 6 inches thick.
The Btg horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y or neutral, value of 3 to 6 moist and chroma of 0 to 3 moist. It is sandy clay loam, loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. The clay content ranges from 18 to 27 percent and the sand content ranges from 45 to 65 percent. Clay films range from few to many and from faint to prominent. Reaction is typically moderately acid to neutral but may be mildly alkaline in the lower part.
The Bkg horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y or neutral, value of 4 to 6 moist and chroma of 0 to 3 moist. It is fine sandy loam, loam and sandy loam. The non-carbonate clay content ranges from 10 to 18 percent and the sand content ranges from 45 to 65 percent. Carbonates are disseminated throughout or are in the form of common to many threads and masses. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
Some pedons have a BC horizon.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 to 6 moist and chroma of 1 to 4 moist. It is fine sandy loam, loam or sandy loam. The C horizon has 10 to 18 percent non-carbonate clay and 45 to 65 percent sand. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alamosa, Friberg and Smiley series. Alamosa soils have less than 45 percent fine sand or coarser in the argillic horizon. Friberg soils have a mollic epipedon greater than 16 inches thick and have more than 27 percent clay in the upper part of the argillic horizon. Smiley soils have more than 27 percent clay and less than 45 percent sand in the argillic horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Brandsvold soils are on plane to concave positions on ground and end moraines of the Wadena Lobe of the Wisconsinan Age glaciation. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. Elevation ranges from 950 to 1600 feet. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 43 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 27 inches. Frost-free period ranges from 95 to 130 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the well drained Chapett and Esmond soils on plane to convex upland slopes, and the moderately well drained Knute and Wykeham soils on slightly convex rises. The very poorly drained Cathro and Hamre soils are in closed depressions and formed in organic material.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Surface runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate in the upper part and moderate or moderately slow in the lower part. Some areas of this soil have occasional brief periods of surface ponding during late winter and spring. The seasonal high water table is at a depth of 0.5 to 1.5 feet during March to June in most years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Much of this soil is cropped to small grain, hay, corn and soybeans. Some areas are in woodland or pasture. Native vegetation is mixed prairie grasses and hardwoods.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwest and west central Minnesota. Minor extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Polk County Minnesota, 1996.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Mollic epipedon - 0 to 10 inches (Ap), Argillic horizon - 10 to 19 inches (Btg), Calcic horizon - 19 to 36 inches (Bkg), Aquic suborder - based on 2 chroma colors with distinct redoximorphic features.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data for a representative pedon is from the MAES CFC# 3858. Soil Interpretation Records are: MN0625 and thick solum phase, MN0746.