LOCATION BRANCH MI+IN
Established Series
Rev. RWO-WEF
08/2012
BRANCH SERIES
The Branch series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils formed in sandy and loamy deposits on outwash plains, terraces, and beach ridges. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 813 mm (32 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 9.4 degrees C (49 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Aquic Arenic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Branch loamy sand, on a 2 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 23 cm (9 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [20 to 36 cm (8 to 14 inches) thick]
E1--23 to 38 cm (9 to 15 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) loamy sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
E2--38 to 71 cm (15 to 28 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the E horizon is 18 to 76 cm (7 to 30 inches).]
2Bt1--71 to 94 cm (28 to 37 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films; few fine prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
2Bt2--94 to 124 cm (37 to 49 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) clay films; common medium distinct light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
2Bt3--124 to 145 cm (49 to 57 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; many medium faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) and distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) iron depletions; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; slightly acid; gradual wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 20 to 91 cm (8 to 36 inches).]
3C--145 to 152 cm (57 to 60 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly sand; single grain; loose; about 20 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Branch County, Michigan; about 3 miles southwest of Bronson; 1,900 feet east and 1,580 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 28, T. 7 S., R. 8 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 102 to 203 cm (40 to 80 inches)
Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: loamy fine sand, loamy sand, fine sand, or sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
E horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loamy fine sand, loamy sand, fine sand, or sand
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
2Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 3 to 8
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy clay loam, or the gravelly or very gravelly analogues of these textures; some pedons have a loamy sand or gravelly loamy sand layer in the upper part
Clay content: averages between 10 and 25 percent
Rock fragment content: 10 to 40 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
Some pedons have a Bt horizon.
3C horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: sand, coarse sand, loamy coarse sand, gravelly sand, gravelly coarse sand, gravelly loamy coarse sand, or very gravelly loamy coarse sand; some pedons have thick strata of sand or coarse sand
Rock fragment content: 10 to 55 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline and contains carbonates
A loamy substratum phase is recognized.
Texture: clay loam or silty clay loam
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Riverdale series. Riverdale soils have sola thinner than 102 cm (40 inches).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Branch soils are on outwash plains, beach ridges, and stream terraces. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The Branch soils formed in sandy and loamy deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 940 mm (27 to 37 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 8.9 to 11.1 degrees C (48 to 52 degrees F).
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The well drained
Ormas, somewhat poorly drained
Brady, and very poorly drained
Gilford soils form a drainage sequence with Branch soils. The well drained
Boyer,
Fox, and
Oshtemo soils are also associated in some places. Boyer and Oshtemo soils do not have iron depletions and do not have sandy surface layers more than 51 cm (20 inches) thick. Fox soils have loamy surface layers, average more clay in the argillic horizons, are browner, and have thinner sola.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. The potential for surface runoff is negligible or very low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high. Permeability is moderately rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the Branch soils are cultivated. Corn and soybeans are the principal crops. A few areas are used for pasture.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 98, 99, and 111B in southern Michigan and northern Indiana. This series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fulton County, Indiana, 1984.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 23 cm (9 inches) (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 71 to 145 cm (28 to 57 inches) (2Bt horizon).
Aquic conditions: redoximorphic features present in the argillic horizon.
Arenic feature: loamy sand or sand to a depth of 71 cm (28 inches) (Ap, E horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.