LOCATION ELKRIVER MN
Established Series
Rev. TCJ-ROP-AGG-KDS
02/2011
ELKRIVER SERIES
The Elkriver series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly and moderately well drained soils that formed in postglacial alluvium consisting of a coarse-loamy mantle and underlying sandy sediments on flood plains. These soils have moderate and moderately rapid permeability in the upper part and rapid permeability in the underlying material. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 30 inches. Mean annual air temperature is about 43 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Hapludolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Elkriver fine sandy loam, on a plane slope of 1 percent, in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; black (10YR 2/1) fine sandy loam; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine roots; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
A1--10 to 20 inches; black (10YR 2/1) fine sandy loam; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine roots; about 1 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
A2--20 to 30 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) very fine sandy loam; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine roots; about 1 percent gravel; neutral; gradual smooth boundary.
A3--30 to 35 inches; black (10YR 2/1) fine sandy loam; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizon is 16 to 50 inches.)
Bw--35 to 39 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) fine sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few dark brown (10YR 3/3) organic matter streaks on faces of peds; about 1 percent gravel; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. (3 to 15 inches)
2C1--39 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sand; few fine faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) Fe concentrations; single grain; loose; about 3 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
2C2--60 to 80 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sand with thin strata of dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) fine sandy loam; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) Fe concentrations; single grain; loose; about 7 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Sherburne County, Minnesota; about 4.5 miles south of St. Cloud, Minnesota; about 1,490 feet north and 850 feet west of the southeast corner of section 25, T. 35 N., R. 31 W.; USGS Saint Augusta quadrangle: lat. 45 degrees 29 minutes 26 seconds N and long. 94 degrees 8 minutes 02 seconds W., NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The coarse-loamy mantle is 25 to 44 inches thick. Depth to free carbonates is 27 to 80 inches or more. The loamy mantle has 0 to 10 percent by volume rock fragments. The underlying sediment has 0 to 20 percent rock fragments. The mollic epipedon is 16 to 50 inches thick.
The Ap or A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loam, or silt loam. It is neutral to strongly acid.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, or loam and includes subhorizons of loamy very fine sand or loamy fine sand. It is slightly alkaline to moderately acid.
A 2Bw horizon with texture of loamy coarse sand, loamy sand, or loamy fine sand are in some pedons.
The 2C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 4. It is coarse sand, sand, fine sand, loamy fine sand or loamy very fine sand and includes gravelly analogues. Thin strata of very fine sandy loam, loam, sandy loam or silt loam are in some pedons. It is moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: No other series are in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Elkriver soils have slightly concave to linear slopes on flood plains. They formed in postglacial alluvial sediments consisting of a coarse-loamy mantle and underlying sandy sediments. Slopes range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 24 to 33 inches. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 40 to 47 degrees F. Frost-free period ranges from 90 to 150 days. Elevation ranges from 900 to 1100 feet above sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Fordum,
Hubbard,
Sandberg,
Winterfield, and
Zimmerman soils. Fordum soils are very poorly drained and poorly drained and are lower lying on the floodplain. Winterfield soils are somewhat poorly drained and have a sandy particle size. Hubbard, Sandberg, and Zimmerman soils are excessively drained soils on nearby terraces or outwash plains that do not flood.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly and moderately well drained. Runoff potential is low. Permeability is moderate to moderately rapid in the upper part and rapid in lower part. The moderately well drained phase has an apparent water table at a depth of 3 to 5 feet from November to June in normal years. The somewhat poorly drained phase has an apparent water table at a depth of 1.5 to 3 feet from November to June in normal years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas of Elkriver soils are cultivated. Corn, soybeans and small grains are the principal crops; however, some areas are in hay and pasture. Native vegetation is mixed prairie grasses and mixed deciduous forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Minnesota. Inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sherburne County, Minnesota, 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon include: mollic epipedon (cumulic)- the zone from 0 to 35 inches; (Ap,A1,A2,A3 horizons) cambic horizon - the zone from 35 to 39 inches (Bw horizon); Udic moisture regime; irregular decrease in organic carbon-layer for 30 to 35 inches. 2/10/2011-TYPE LOCATION error was corrected.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to MAES Central File Code No. 4377 for results of lab analysis of the typical pedon. Soil interpretation Record numbers MN0736 and MN0737.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.