LOCATION CERESCO                 MI+IL IN MN OH WI

Established Series
Rev. NWS-LWB-WEF
11/2021

CERESCO SERIES

The Ceresco series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in loamy alluvium on flood plains in river valleys. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 8.9 degrees C (48 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Fluvaquentic Hapludolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Ceresco sandy loam, on a 1 percent slope in an undisturbed area. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 30 cm (12 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; friable; neutral; clear wavy boundary. [20 to 45 cm (8 to 18 inches) thick]

Bw--30 to 53 cm (12 to 21 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many medium distinct gray (10YR 5/1) and common medium faint very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) iron depletions; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 30 cm (12 inches) thick]

Bg--53 to 76 cm (21 to 30 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; many coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of oxidized iron; neutral; gradual wavy boundary. [18 to 40 cm (7 to 16 inches) thick]

Cg--76 to 122 cm (30 to 48 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) sandy loam; massive; friable; common medium faint brown (7.5YR 5/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Lapeer County, Michigan; about 1/2 mile north of the village of Almont; 1,320 feet east and 1,300 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 15, T. 6 N., R. 12 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 20 to 49 cm (8 to 19 inches)
Particle-size control section: weighted average of clay is 10 to 18 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline to depths of 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30 inches) and neutral to moderately alkaline below these depths

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2; pedons with an A1 or A2 horizon have chroma of 1 to 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy fine sand, loamy sand, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silt loam

Ap horizon, where present:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy fine sand, loamy sand, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silt loam

Ab horizons are present in some pedons.

Bw or Bg horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, or very fine sandy loam

C horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silt loam; some pedons have strata of very fine sand; gravelly sand is within depths of 75 to 150 cm (30 to 60 inches) in some pedons

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ceresco soils are on nearly level flood plains at elevations slightly above the first bottom land in large flood plains or on first bottom positions on smaller streams in river valleys. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. These soils formed in loamy alluvium. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 737 to 1,092 mm (29 to 43 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 6 to 13 degrees C (42 to 56 degrees F). Frost-free period is 145 to 220 days. Elevation is 130 to 400 meters (427 to 1,312 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Algansee, Cohoctah, Landes, and Shoals soils. The Algansee soils are on landscape positions similar to those of the Ceresco soils and do not have a mollic epipedon. The poorly drained or very poorly drained Cohoctah soils and the well drained Landes soils form a drainage sequence with Ceresco soils. The Shoals soils are on landscape positions similar to those of the Ceresco soils and have more clay in the B horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high. These soils are frequently or occasionally flooded for brief to long duration.

USE AND VEGETATION: Only a small part is under cultivation. Most of the cleared areas are used for permanent pasture. A large amount is in woods consisting of elm, ash, and cottonwood.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 97, 98, 99, 105, 111D, 115C in southern Michigan, northwestern Ohio, southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and northern Indiana. The series is of moderate extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from the surface of the soil to a depth of 30 cm (12 inches) (A horizon).
Cambic horizon: from a depth of 30 to 76 cm (12 to 30 inches) (Bw and Bg horizons).

Cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.