LOCATION CANALOU                 MO

Established Series
Rev. BLB-RLT
10/2018

CANALOU SERIES


The Canalou series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils formed in sandy alluvium on level to nearly level or slightly undulating terraces or old natural levees. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is 60 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation is 50 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Aquic Dystric Eutrudepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Canalou loamy sand on a plane slope - cultivated at an elevation of 305 feet. (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 13 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) loamy sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; weak fine and medium granular structure; very friable; common fine and very fine roots; few fine pores; very strongly acid (ph 4.7); abrupt wavy boundary. (6 to 14 inches thick)

Bw1--13 to 20 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy sand; common medium faint brown (7.5YR 4/4) and few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) mottles; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; common fine roots and pores; moderately acid (pH 5.9); clear wavy boundary.

Bw2--20 to 40 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few fine and medium dark brown manganese concretions; many medium faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; common medium faint brown (10YR 5/3) masses of iron accumulation; few fine roots; common fine pores; moderately acid (pH 6.0); clear wavy boundary.

Bw3--40 to 48 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few fine roots; many medium faint to prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6), brown (10YR 5/3) masses of iron accumulation; gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions; common fine pores; strongly acid (pH 5.3); abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bw horizon is 20 to 50 inches.)

C--48 to 63 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy fine sand; single grained, very friable; few fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; moderately acid (pH 5.7); gradual wavy boundary.

TYPE LOCATION: New Madrid County, Missouri; about 5 miles southeast of the city of Sikeston across the road in front of Little Vine Church; 100 feet west and 50 feet south of the northeast corner, sec. 22, T. 25 N., R. 14 E.; Sikeston South quadrangle, lat. 36 degrees 48 minutes 12 seconds N. and long. 89 degrees 31 minutes 15 seconds W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness commonly ranges from about 36 to 60 inches. The reaction in the Ap horizon and upper Bw horizon ranges from very strongly acid to slightly acid. The lower Bw horizon ranges from strongly acid to slightly acid and the C horizon ranges from medium acid to neutral.

The Ap horizon and A horizon, if present, have hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 3, and chroma of 2 or 3. Dry colors have values of 5.5 or higher. It is loamy sand or loamy fine sand.

The upper Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 3 or 4. It commonly has mottles of 10YR or 7.5YR hue, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 6. The lower Bw horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. Mottling is present with hues of 10YR, 7.5YR, or 5YR; values of 3 to 6; and chroma of 1 to 6. Texture is sandy loam averaging from 8 to about 14 percent clay.

The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 to 4. Mottles have hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 3 or are neutral. It is sand or loamy fine sand. Reaction is moderately acid to neutral.

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family. Similar series in other families are Bruno, Buncombe, Clana, Crevasse, Robinsonville, and Steele series. Bruno, Buncombe, and Crevasse soils are sandy and lack mottles with chroma of 2 or less in the upper 24 inches. Clana soils are sandy throughout the control section. Robinsonville soils have an irregular decrease in content of organic carbon with depth and commonly lack mottles with chroma of 2 or less in the upper 24 inches. Steele soils are sandy over clayey.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Canalou soils are on level to nearly level or slightly undulating terraces or old natural levees in the northern part of the Mississippi River Delta. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in sandy alluvium of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers under the influence of a fluctuating water table. The lower part of the solum is saturated with water for short periods of time each year. The mean annual temperature ranges from 59 to 63 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation ranges from 45 to 55 inches.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bosket, Broseley, Crevasse, Farrenburg, Gideon, Lilbourn, Malden, Scotco, and Sikeston series. Bosket and Broseley soils have argillic horizons and lack mottles with chroma of 2 or less and are on slightly higher positions on the landscape. Farrenburg soils have an argillic horizon and are on similar landscapes. Gideon and Sikeston soils are fine-loamy and are wetter. Lilbourn soils are grayer throughout. These soils are in depressions or other lower areas that are wetter. Malden and Scotco soils are sandy throughout the series control section and are on higher landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Runoff is negligible. Permeability is moderately rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas are cleared and cultivated. Soybeans, corn, cotton, small grains, grain sorghums, vegetables, and tree fruits are the principal crops. The native vegetation was mixed hardwoods and undergrowth of vines, canes, and native grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Mississippi River Delta (MLRA 131) in southeast Missouri. These soils are of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AUBURN, ALABAMA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: New Madrid County, Missouri, 1974.

REMARKS: Soils that were coarser textured, which were formerly included in the Canalou series, are now within the range of characteristics of the Clana series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this series are:
ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 13 inches (Ap horizon);
cambic horizon - the zone from a approximately 13 to 38 inches (Bw1, Bw2, and Bw3 horizons);
udic moisture regime.

ADDITIONAL DATA: University of Missouri Soil Characterization Laboratory reference number 9214301.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.