LOCATION FULDA              MN+ND+SD
Established Series
Rev. RCG-AGG
08/2006

FULDA SERIES


The Fulda series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in lacustrine or local alluvial sediments on glacial lake plains and moraines. They have slopes of 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 56 centimeters (22 inches). Mean annual air temperature is about 6 degrees C (43 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Vertic Epiaquolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Fulda silty clay loam with a plane slope on an ice-walled lake plain in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)

Ap--0 to 20 centimeters (0 to 8 inches); black (N 2/0) silty clay loam; dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak very fine angular blocky structure; sticky; many roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--20 to 33 centimeters (8 to 13 inches); black (N 2/0) silty clay; dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate very fine angular blocky structure; sticky, plastic; common roots; neutral; gradual smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 61 centimeters (10 to 24 inches)].

Bg1--33 to 71 centimeters (13 to 28 inches); dark gray (5Y 4/1) silty clay, moderate very fine angular blocky structure; sticky; few roots; few fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

Bg2--71 to 84 centimeters (28 to 33 inches); dark gray (5Y 4/1) silty clay; moderate very fine angular blocky structure; sticky; many fine faint olive gray (5Y 5/2) redox depletions and common fine prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of Bg horizon is 15 to 81 centimeters (6 to 32 inches)].

Bkg--84 to 102 centimeters (33 to 40 inches); olive gray (5Y 5/2) silty clay; moderate very fine angular blocky structure; slightly sticky; common medium prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 25 centimeters(0 to 10 inches thick)]

Cg1--102 to 152 centimeters (40 to 60 inches); light olive gray (5Y 6/2) silty clay loam; massive; slightly sticky, few masses of gypsum crystals and few soft white bodies of lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

Cg2--152 to 203 centimeters (60-80 inches); olive gray (5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; massive; common medium prominent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) redox concentrations; slightly sticky; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Lincoln County, Minnesota; 5 kilometers (3 miles) east and 8 kilometers (5 miles north) of Tyler; 683 meters (2,240 feet) north and 27 meters (90 feet) west of the southeast corner, Sec. 12, T. 110 N., R. 44 W. USGS Dead Coon Lake quadrangle; latitude 44 degrees 20 minutes 54 seconds N; longitude 96 degrees 4 minutes 47 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to free carbonates ranges from 51 to 107 centimeters (20 to 42 inches). These soils do not have rock fragments. The mollic epipedon ranges from 30 to 61 centimeters (12 to 24 inches) in thickness.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR to 5Y or is neutral, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or less. It has redox features in some pedons. It is silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay. It is neutral. In some pedons, few through many tongues of the A horizon extend into the B horizon, but typically the boundary between the A and B horizons is smooth. An AB horizon is in some pedons.

The Bg and Bkg horizons have hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 or 2. They commonly have distinct or prominent redox features. They are silty clay, clay, silty clay loam, or clay loam. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

The Cg horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay loam. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Dimmick and Foxlake series. There is currently not a clear differentiae with the Dimmick series at this time but seem to be less saturated for periods following the summer solstice. The Foxlake soils have rock fragments in the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: These soils have plane or slightly concave slopes with gradient of 0 to 2 percent on glacial
moraines and lake plains. They formed in calcareous clayey glacial lacustrine or local alluvial sediments. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 4 to 7 degrees C (40 to 44 degrees F). Mean annual precipitation ranges from 51 to 69 centimeters (20 to 27 inches). Frost-free days range from 120 to 172. Elevation above sea level ranges from 302 to 594 meters (990 to 1950 feet).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Fulda soils are associated with the well drained Nutley soils, the moderately well drained Sinai soils, and the very poorly drained Dovray soils, which are members of a hydrosequence with the Fulda soils. In places Fulda soils are associated with Audubon, Boyerlake, Foxlake, and Hattie soils. All these soils formed in glacial till and are higher lying.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Poorly drained. Surface runoff is low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity, expressed in inches per hour, is .06 to .2. A perched water table occurs in most years at depths of 15 to 46 centimeters (.5 to 1.5 feet) from March to June in normal years.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans, and small grains are the main crops. A small acreage is in hay and pasture. Native vegetation is prairie.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Minnesota and the eastern parts of South Dakota and North Dakota. Fulda soils are moderately extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Lincoln County, Minnesota, 1966.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 33 centimeters (13 inches) (Ap and A horizons); cambic horizon - the zone from 33 to 102 centimeters (13 to 40 inches) (Bg1,Bg2 and Bkg horizons) calcic horizon- the zone from 84 to 102 centimeters (33 to 40 inches)(Bk horizon); Vertic subgroup based on clay content, mineralogy and lab results of similar material.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station Central File Code No. 1142 for results of some analysis of a pedon of this series.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.