LOCATION ELBURN                  IL+WI

Established Series
Rev. JCD-SES-RAT
03/2014

ELBURN SERIES

The Elburn series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils on outwash plains, stream terraces, and till plains. These soils formed in loess or other silty material and in the underlying loamy stratified outwash. Slope ranges from 0 to 5 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 940 mm (37 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 11 degrees C (51 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Elburn silt loam - on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of about 188 meters (617 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coats on faces of peds; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--15 to 41 cm (6 to 16 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Ap and A horizons is 25 to 48 cm (10 to 19 inches).]

Bt1--41 to 53 cm (16 to 21 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; many distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron and few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) masses of oxidized iron-manganese in the matrix; few fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--53 to 71 cm (21 to 28 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; common distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and common faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; few fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--71 to 91 cm (28 to 36 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; common distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; common fine faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions and common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt4--91 to 109 cm (36 to 43 inches); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few prominent very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and few distinct brown (10YR 5/3) clay films on faces of peds; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.

Btg--109 to 125 cm (43 to 49 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organo-clay films and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; many medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt and Btg horizons is 53 to 102 cm (21 to 40 inches).]

2BCtg--125 to 147 cm (49 to 58 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), stratified silt loam, loam, and sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; few distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organo-clay films and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on surfaces along pores; common medium prominent brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) and few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few very fine iron-manganese concretions throughout; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [15 to 64 cm (6 to 25 inches) thick]

2Cg--147 to 158 cm (58 to 62 inches); grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2), stratified sandy loam and loamy sand; massive; very friable; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and brownish yellow (10YR 6/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Christian County, Illinois on an outwash plain in front of the terminal moraine of the Wisconsin glacier; about 0.5 mile southwest of Moweaqua; 2,716 feet north and 1,300 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 36, T. 14 N., R. 1 E.; USGS Assumption, IL topographic quadrangle; lat. 39 degrees 37 minutes 4.6 seconds N., and long. 89 degrees 1 minute 46.2 seconds W., UTM Zone 16S, 0325795 easting and 4387321 northing, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 102 to 178 cm (40 to 70 inches)
Depth to carbonates: typically greater than 152 cm (60 inches), but as shallow as 102 cm (40 inches) in some pedons
Depth to horizons with more than 10 percent sand: 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches)
Average clay content of the particle-size control section: 27 and 35 percent clay
Average fine and coarser sand content of the particle-size control section: less than 10 percent

Ap and/or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3 (4 or 5 dry)
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam
Clay content: 22 to 27 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline

Some pedons have an AB or a BA horizon.

Bt and/or Btg horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y. Hue of 5Y is only in the lower subhorizons.
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 2 to 4. Redoximorphic features are present.
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Clay content: typically 25 to 35 percent, but individual subhorizons can range from 22 to 36 percent.
Reaction: moderately acid or slightly acid in the upper part, ranging to slightly alkaline in the lower part.

2Btg, 2Bt, 2BCg, 2BCtg, and/or 2BC horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 6. Some pedons have a subhorizon just above a calcareous 2C horizon that is enriched in clay and has darker value than the subhorizon above it.
Chroma: 2 to 8. Redoximorphic features are present.
Texture: sandy loam, clay loam, loam, silty clay loam, or silt loam and is typically stratified.
Clay content: 15 to 30 percent
Sand content: 15 to 70 percent
Coarse fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

2C or 2Cg horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 8
Texture: stratified sandy loam, loam, loamy sand, sand, and/or silt loam
Clay content: 2 to 20 percent
Sand content: 30 to 95 percent
Coarse fragment content: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arrowsmith, Bearpen, Brenton, Edwardsville, Grundelein, Hacreek, Harco, Higginsville, Keller, Lafayette, Lawndale, Lisbon, Lismod, Loran, Mundelein, Muscatune, Nira, Raub, Rooks, Rowley, and Shannondale series. Arrowsmith, Edwardsville, Higginsville, and Muscatune soils contain less than 7 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Bearpen and Rowley soils average between 18 and 27 percent clay in the particle-size control section. Brenton, Lafayette, Lisbon, Lismod, Mundelein, and Raub soils have horizons with more than 10 percent sand within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Grundelein soils contain more than 15 percent gravel in the lower part of the series control section. Hacreek, Harco, Nevin, and Rooks soils have less than 15 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Keller soils have more than 30 percent clay in the lower half of the series control section. Lawndale soils average about 80 percent sand and do not have coarse fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Loran soils have a paralithic contact within a depth of 152 cm (60 inches). Shannondale soils have mean annual soil temperature at 51 cm (20 inches) of more than 13 degrees C (53 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elburn soils are on outwash plains, stream terraces, or till plains of Wisconsinan Age. Slope ranges are 0 to 5 percent. These soils formed in 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches) of loess or other silty material and in the underlying stratified loamy outwash. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 8 to 12 degrees C (46 to 53 degrees F)., mean annual precipitation ranges from 813 to 1085 mm (32 to 43 inches), frost-free period ranges from 140 to 190 days, and elevation ranges from 131 to 311 meters (430 to 1020 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Drummer, Kendall, Plano, Thorp, and Virgil soils. The poorly drained Drummer soils and the well drained Plano soils form a hydro-sequence with Elburn soils. Drummer soils are on lower positions and Plano soils are on higher positions. The somewhat poorly drained Kendall and Virgil soils form a biosequence with Elburn soils and are on similar parts of the landscape nearby. Kendall soils have an ochric epipedon with moist color value of 4 or 5 and Virgil soils have an ochric epipedon less than 25 cm (10 inches) thick with moist color value of 2 or 3. The poorly drained Thorp soils have an albic horizon and are on nearly level to depressional parts of the landscape nearby.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. An apparent seasonal high water table is at a depth of 31 to 61 cm (1 to 2 feet) at some time between January and May in most years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high in the loess and moderately high to high in the outwash (4.23 to 14.11 micrometers per second in the loess and 4.23 to 42. 34 micrometers per second in the outwash). Permeability is moderate in the loess and moderate to moderately rapid in the outwash.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans, small grain, and pasture are the principal crops. Native vegetation is prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The extent is large in MLRAs' 95B, 108A, 108B, 110, and 115C.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kendall County, Illinois, 1941.

REMARKS: A gravelly substratum phase and an overwash phase are recognized. These soils are identified for study as part of the update MLRA update activities. These and similar soils that formed in loess/outwash or sandy loam till will be evaluated to determine what needs to be done to keep separate areas of outwash and areas of till. Possibly new series will be developed.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 41 cm (16 inches) (Ap and A horizons);
argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 41 to 125 cm (16 to 49 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4, and Btg horizons);
lithological discontinuity - at a depth of 125 cm (49 inches) (contact between the Btg and 2BCtg horizons).

The pedon number is 1985IL021002.
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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.