LOCATION CHARLEVOIX              MI+WI

Established Series
Rev. RWJ-WEF-MLK
08/2012

CHARLEVOIX SERIES

The Charlevoix series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy loam till on end moraines, drumlins, and ground moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 762 mm (30 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.1 degrees C (43 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, frigid Argic Endoaquods

TYPICAL PEDON: Charlevoix sandy loam, on an east-facing, 3 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 18 cm (7 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 23 cm (5 to 9 inches) thick]

E--18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam; weak thin platy structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. [0 to 13 cm (5 inches) thick]

Bs--25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 inches); brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common medium faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron depletions; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (3 to 9 inches thick)

E'--38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron; slightly acid; clear irregular boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)

Bt--46 to 76 cm (18 to 30 inches); reddish brown (5YR 4/4) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; thin and discontinuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay flows; common medium distinct brown (10YR 4/3) iron depletions; slightly acid in upper part, grading to neutral in lower part; abrupt irregular boundary. [10 to 46 cm (4 to 18 inches) thick]

C--76 to 152 cm (30 to 60 inches); light brown (7.5YR 6/4) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky fragments; friable; common medium faint brown (10YR 5/3) and distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; slightly effervescence; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Charlevoix County, Michigan; about 3 miles southwest of Charlevoix; 2500 feet east and 50 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 4, T. 33 N., R. 8 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: typically 51 to 81 cm (20 to 32 inches) but ranges from 41 to 102 cm (16 to 40 inches)
Reaction: extremely acid to moderately acid in the upper part; moderately acid to neutral in the lower part
Depth to bedrock: 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches) in some pedons
Rock fragment content: 0 to 10 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles in the solum

A horizon, where present:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 2, 2.5, or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2
Thickness: 5 to 13 cm (2 to 5 inches)

Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2, 2.5, or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loamy sand, loam, or cobbly loam

E horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loamy sand

Bs horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam

Bhs horizon, where present:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 3
Chroma: 3

E' horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: sandy loam or fine sandy loam; may occur as thick coatings on faces of peds and fills cracks and worm and root channels in the upper part of the Bt horizon (B/E)

Some pedons have B/E horizons.

Bt horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: sandy clay loam, loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam

Some pedons have BC horizons up to 25 cm (10 inches) thick.

C horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: commonly sandy loam and less commonly gravelly sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loamy sand; discontinuous lenses of sand or silt are in some pedons
Rock fragment content: 0 to 20 percent gravel and 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Coral and Richter series. Coral soils have an argillic horizon (Bt horizon) that is thicker than 46 cm (18 inches). Richter soils have textural stratification in the lower part of the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Charlevoix soils are on end moraines, drumlins, and end moraines of Wisconsinan age. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Charlevoix soils formed in sandy loam till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 838 mm (27 to 33 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 4.4 to 7.2 degrees C (40 to 45 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The moderately well drained or well drained Emmet soils and the poorly drained Ensley soils are in the same drainage sequence. The well drained or moderately well drained Omena and Onaway soils and the poorly drained or very poorly drained Angelica soils are in close association in some areas. Emmet, Omena, and Onaway soils are on higher positions in the landscape. Angelica and Ensley soils are in depressional areas and lower landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential surface runoff is negligible to medium. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: About half of these soils have been cleared and are used for pasture or cropped to small grain and hay. The remaining soils are in second growth woodland. Native vegetation is northern hardwood with some spruce and balsam fir.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 93B, 94A, 94B, 94C, 95A, and 96 in the northern part of the lower peninsula and south-central part of the upper peninsula of Michigan. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Delta County, Michigan, 1969.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 18 cm (7 inches) (Ap horizons).
Albic horizon: from a depth of 18 to 25 cm (7 to 10 inches) and from 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 inches) (E and E' horizons).
Spodic horizon: from a depth of 25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 inches) (Bs horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 46 to 76 cm (18 to 30 inches) (Bt horizon).

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.