LOCATION CARLOW MO+IA
Established Series
Rev. GEK-KDV-RJB
06/2015
CARLOW SERIES
The Carlow series consists of very deep, poorly drained, very slowly permeable soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on flood plains and have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual temperature is 52 degrees F., and the mean annual precipitation is 36 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, mesic Vertic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Carlow silty clay - on a nearly level area in a cultivated field at an elevation of 670 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap1--0 to 4 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silty clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; friable; few fine and very fine roots; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--4 to 11 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silty clay, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 10 to 24 inches.)
Bg1--11 to 17 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) and dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; few fine distinct brown (10YR 4/3) masses of iron; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bg2--17 to 27 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) silty clay; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; few pressure faces; many fine prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) and many fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron; few fine black stains and concretions (oxides); strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bg3--27 to 44 inches; dark gray (5Y 4/1) clay; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; many pressure faces; common fine olive (5Y 5/3) and common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron; few fine black stains and concretions (oxides); strongly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
Bg4--44 to 60 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) and dark gray (5Y 4/1) clay; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; firm; few very fine roots; common pressure faces; many fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron; few fine black stains and concretions (oxides); slightly acid; gradual smooth boundary.
Bg5--60 to 80 inches; gray (5Y 5/1) clay; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few pressure faces; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron; few fine black concretions (oxides); neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Livingston County, Missouri; about 5 miles southeast of the town of Chillicothe; 2,400 feet west and 2,600 feet north of the southeast corner, sec. 34, T. 57 N., R. 23 W.; Avalon quadrangle, lat. 39 degrees 42 minutes 37 seconds N. and long. 93 degrees 28 minutes 14 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon is 10 to 24 inches thick. These soils have deep wide cracks during dry seasons, usually the summer months.
The Ap and A horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, or is neutral, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. It commonly is silty clay but some pedons are silty clay loam. Reaction is strongly acid or moderately acid unless limed.
The Bg horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 to 6 and chroma of 1 or 2 or is neutral. Iron masses have hue of 10YR to 5Y, value of 3 to 6 and chroma of 3 to 8. The particle size control section commonly is silty clay or clay, but may include individual horizons of silty clay loam. It averages between 45 and 60 percent clay. Thin clay depletions are present in the upper part in some pedons and shiny pressure faces are on faces of peds. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid in the upper part and slightly acid or neutral in the lower part.
The Cg horizon, if present, is silty clay or clay with similar color and reaction to the lower part of the Bg horizon.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Chequest,
Darwin,
Kings,
Luton,
Marcus,
Rantoul,
Peotone,
Titus and
Woodbury soils. Chequest and Titus soils average less than 45 percent clay in the particle size control section. Darwin, Kings, Luton, Marcus, Rantoul, Peotone and Woodbury soils have reaction class higher than moderately acid in the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Carlow soils formed in alluvium on flood plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 2 percent. The mean annual temperature ranges from 51 to 57 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation ranges from 31 to 41 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Chequest,
Humeston,
Kampville,
Kennebec,
Nodaway and
Wabash soils. Chequest soils are on similar landscapes. Humeston and Kampville soils contain less clay in the particle size control section and are on similar landscapes. Kennebec and Nodaway soils are fine-silty and are on adjacent higher flood plains. Wabash have a mollic epipedon of 36 inches or more and are on similar landscapes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Permeability is very slow. Runoff is very slow. In undisturbed areas, an apparent water table has an upper limit of 0 to 1.0 foot from November to April in most years. These soils are subject to flooding.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used to grow corn and soybeans where drainage is adequate. Some areas are used for pasture. Native vegetation is marsh grasses and some deciduous trees. See Additional Data section for native vegetative cover in Iowa.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Missouri and southern Iowa. Carlow soils have moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Livingston County, Missouri, 1952.
REMARKS: The type location for this series has been moved because the previous site could not be recovered. Missouri Characterization Sample No. M9011708; diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this series are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 11 inches (Ap horizon); cambic horizon - the zone from approximately 11 to 80 inches or more (Bg horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: In Iowa, the native vegetative cover is a herbaceous wetland community commonly inhabited with Bluejoint Grasses, White Cutgrasses, Fox Sedges, Oval Sedges, Inland Rushes, Torreys Rushes, Dark Green Bulrushes, Flatstem Spikerushes, Blue Vervains, Indian Hemps, Winged Loosestrifes, Wild Mints, and Water Horehounds. Source: Iowa State Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Des Moines, IA.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.