LOCATION EPWORTH MI
Established Series
Rev. EPJ-WEF
08/2012
EPWORTH SERIES
The Epworth series consists of very deep, well drained and moderately well drained soils formed in fine sands on lake plains, beach ridges, outwash plains, and moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 787 mm (31 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 8.9 degrees C (48 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, siliceous, mesic Entic Haplorthods
TYPICAL PEDON: Epworth fine sand, on a 2 percent slope in a forested area. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Oa--0 to 2 cm (1 inch); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) well decomposed leaf litter; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [2.5 to 5 cm (1 or 2 inches) thick]
A--2 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches); black (10YR 2/1) fine sand, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; common fine and many medium roots; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [2 to 13 cm (1 to 5 inches) thick]
E--10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many fine and medium roots; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [2 to 13 cm (1 to 5 inches) thick]
Bs1--18 to 33 cm (7 to 13 inches): strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very friable; many medium roots; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bs2--33 to 79 cm (13 to 31 inches): strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) fine sand; single grain; loose; few coarse roots; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bs horizon is 38 to 71 cm (15 to 28 inches).]
C1--79 to 130 cm (31 to 51 inches); brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) fine sand; single grain; loose; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
C2--130 to 152 cm (51 to 60 inches); yellow (10YR 7/6) fine sand; single grain; loose; moderately acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Mason County, Michigan, about 1/4 mile west of the city of Ludington; 2500 feet north and 2300 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 11, T. 18 N., R. 18 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: (20 to 32 inches)
Reaction of the solum: very strongly acid to moderately acid
A horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR, or is neutral
Value: 2, 2.5, or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2
Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 2 or 3
In most cultivated areas the E horizon is absent.
Bs horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 3 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 8; value and chroma of 3 do not occur together in this horizon
C horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 4 to 7
Reaction: moderately acid or slightly acid
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Epworth soils are on lake plains, beach ridges, outwash plains, and moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 15 percent. The Epworth soils formed in fine sand. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 711 to 813 mm (28 to 32 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 7.8 to 10.0 degrees C (46 to 50 degrees F).
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Covert,
Grattan,
Kingsville,
Nordhouse,
Pipestone, and
Saugatuck soils. The somewhat poorly drained Pipestone and Saugatuck soils, the moderately well drained Covert, and the very poorly drained Kingsville soils are on lower landscape positions. The excessively drained Grattan soils are medium sand. The excessively drained Nordhouse soils are on younger sand dunes immediately adjacent to the Great Lakes shorelines.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained and moderately well drained. Potential for surface runoff is negligible or very low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are forested, but a few areas are used for specialty crops. Overstory vegetation is dominantly northern red oak, white oak, and red maple.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 96 and 98 in southern Michigan. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Mason County, Michigan, 1992.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 10 cm (4 inches) (Oa, A horizons).
Albic horizon: from a depth of 10 to 18 cm (4 to 7 inches) (E horizon).
Spodic horizon: from a depth of 18 to 79 cm (7 to 31 inches) (Bs1 and Bs2 horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: See sample numbers 88T7025-7028 from the NSSL for particle size analysis and mineralogy data for this series.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.