LOCATION HOMEN ILEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Fragic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Homen silt loam on a convex-linear southwest facing gently sloping 2 percent slope, in a cultivated field at an elevation of about 171 meters (560 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap1--0 to 9 cm (0 to 4 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam, crushed; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and very fine roots throughout; few fine distinct spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 15 percent clay; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
Ap2--9 to 24 cm (4 to 9 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silt loam, crushed; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and very fine roots throughout; few fine distinct spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 15 percent clay; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Ap horizons is 15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches)]
E--24 to 36 cm (9 to 14 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam, broken face; moderate medium platy structure; friable; common fine roots throughout; few fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 17 percent clay; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 25 cm (0 to 10 inches) thick]
Bt1--36 to 50 cm (14 to 20 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silty clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm; common fine roots between peds; few faint yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 28 percent clay; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--50 to 76 cm (20 to 30 inches); 10 percent brown (10YR 5/3) and 60 percent yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm; common fine roots between peds; many distinct light gray (10YR 7/1) (dry) silt coats and common distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) clay films on faces of peds; common fine faint irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries throughout; common medium faint irregular brown (7.5YR 4/4) and common fine prominent irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries throughout; few fine distinct irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine distinct spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 34 percent clay; very strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--76 to 106 cm (30 to 42 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium angular blocky; firm; common fine roots between peds; common faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common fine faint irregular grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions with clear boundaries throughout; common medium prominent irregular strong brown (7.5YR 4/6), common medium distinct irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and common medium faint irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries throughout; few fine distinct irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine distinct spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 30 percent clay; very strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches)]
Btx1--106 to 150 cm (42 to 59 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam; weak coarse prismatic structure; firm; common fine roots in cracks; few prominent light gray (10YR 7/1) (dry) silt coats and common distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common medium distinct irregular yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron with clear boundaries throughout; common fine distinct irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine distinct spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; brittle in 60 percent of matrix; about 25 percent clay; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary.
2Btx2--150 to 196 cm (59 to 77 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam; weak medium prismatic structure; firm; few distinct dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common fine prominent irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; brittle in 60 percent of matrix; about 22 percent clay; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of Btx or 2Btx horizons is 50 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)]
2Bt1--196 to 224 cm (77 to 88 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silt loam; weak medium prismatic structure; firm; few distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; common fine prominent irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 25 percent clay; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
2Bt2--224 to 234 cm (88 to 92 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) silty clay loam; strong medium prismatic structure; firm; few distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common fine prominent irregular black (10YR 2/1) manganese coatings on faces of peds; few fine prominent spherical weakly cemented black (10YR 2/1) iron-manganese concretions with sharp boundaries throughout; about 30 percent clay; slightly acid. [Combined thickness of 2Bt or B't horizons is 0 to 76 cm (0 to 30 inches)]
TYPE LOCATION: Randolph County, Illinois; about 4 miles south of Coulterville; approximately 1,919 feet north and 2,583 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 1, T. 5 S., R. 5 W. USGS Percy, Illinois topographic quadrangle; lat. 38 degrees, 07 minutes, 21 seconds N. and long. 89 degrees, 36 minutes, 06 seconds W.; UTM Zone 16, 271952 easting and 4222620 northing; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to redoximorphic iron depletions: less than 102 cm (40 inches)
Depth to fragic soil properties: 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches), except severely eroded pedons range from 76 to 127 cm (30 to 50 inches)
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 102 to more than 203 cm (40 to more than 80 inches)
Thickness of Peoria loess: 127 to 203 cm (50 to 80 inches), except severely eroded pedons range from 102 to 152 cm (40 to 60 inches)
Depth to the base of soil development: greater than 203 cm (80 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 27 to 35 percent clay and less than 7 percent sand
Series control section: contains less than 15 percent by volume rock fragments in all layers
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 (6 or 7 dry); undisturbed A horizon has value of 3 (5 or 6 dry)
Chroma: 2 to 4; undisturbed A horizon has chroma of 1 or 2
Texture: silt loam, except in severely eroded pedons is silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 32 percent
Sand content: 1 to 7 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.3 to 1.5 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 1
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral, depending on the liming history
E horizon, where present:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 (6 or 7 dry)
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silt loam
Clay content: 15 to 27 percent
Sand content: 1 to 7 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.3 to 1.5 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 1
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid
Some pedons have EB, BE, EBt or a Bt/E horizons of silt loam or silty clay loam
Bt horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam
Clay content: 28 to 35 percent
Sand content: 1 to 7 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.4 to 1.6 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: very strongly acid to moderately acid
Bt/E horizon, where present:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Other characteristics: Many gray to white silt coats are on faces of peds and filling voids between peds; horizon thickness is 2 to 4 inches
Btx and 2Btx horizons:
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Moist consistence: firm or very firm, brittle in 60 percent or more of volume
Clay content: 20 to 32 percent
Sand content: 1 to 15 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.45 to 1.65 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid, but ranges to moderately acid
B't, where present:
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Sand content: 1 to 15 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.45 to 1.65 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: very strongly acid or strongly acid, but ranges to moderately acid
2Bt and 3Btb, where present:
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR, or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: silt loam, loam, clay loam and silty clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Sand content: 5 to 30 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Moist bulk density: 1.45 to 1.65 g/cc
Sodium absorption ratio: 0 to 2
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series for Homen in the same family classification. Rend soils are in a closely related classification and have a (Btx) horizon with fragic soil properties, but have lower clay activity in the control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Homen soils are on gently sloping to strongly sloping convex summits, shoulders, and backslopes on till plains or ground moraines. Slope ranges from 2 to 18 percent. These soils formed in either Peoria loess, Peoria and Roxana loess (also called Roxana Silt), or in loess and the underlying mix of Roxana loess and glacial drift. Mean annual temperature is 12 to 14 degrees C (54 to 57 degrees F), mean annual precipitation is 91 to 107 cm (36 to 42 inches), frost-free period is 170 to 200 days, and elevation is 107 to 244 meters (350 to 800 feet) above sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bunkum, Marine, Oconee, Pierron, and Ruma soils. The somewhat poorly drained Bunkum soils are on slopes of upland drainage ways below the Homen soils. The somewhat poorly drained, fine-textured Marine soils are on less sloping summits. The somewhat poorly drained Oconee soils have a dark surface layer, are fine-textured, and are farther from the drainage ways. The poorly drained, fine-textured Pierron soils are on nearly level interfluves or in slight depressions. The well drained Ruma soils are on convex slopes above the Homen soils.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained; A perched, seasonal water table is at a depth of 46 to 107 centimeters (1.5 to 3.5 feet) from January through April in most years. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high or high (1.41 to 14.11 micrometers/sec) above horizons with fragic soil properties and moderately low to moderately high (0.42 to 4.23 micrometers/sec) in and below horizons with fragic soil properties. Permeability is moderate or moderately slow above horizons with fragic soil properties and is slow within horizons with fragic soil properties and moderately slow below. The potential for surface runoff is medium to high.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cropped to corn, soybeans, and wheat. A few areas are pastured or wooded. Native vegetation is deciduous trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Illinois. Extent is large, mainly in MLRA 114B and to a lesser extent in MLRAs 108B and 115C.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Randolph County, Illinois, 1997.
REMARKS: During the initial soil surveys (1970s thru 1990s) of Bond, Jackson, Madison, Monroe, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington Counties, Homen soils were correlated as either the Hosmer series (Oxyaquic Fragiudalfs), the Muren series (Aquic Hapludalfs), or the Rozetta series (Oxyaquic Hapludalfs).
1997-1998 (RAL-GRS) Homen series was established and classified as (Oxyaquic Hapludalfs) in Randolph County.
In 2009, because of brittleness described in Hosmer typical pedons from Madison, Perry, Randolph and Washington Counties initial soil survey reports and in a 2007 description of the OSD site, classification is revised to (Fragic Oxyaquic Hapludalfs).
Brittleness was also described as an inclusion in the Rozetta 279B (Madison Co. Soil Survey Report 1986) and Muren 453B map unit descriptions (Monroe Co. Soil survey Report 1987)
In addition to typical pedons in county soil survey reports other pedons previously described as Hosmer which are located within the Homen geographical extent include:
Udic moisture regime.
59IL117001 80IL145009 80IL157129
59IL135002 80IL157128
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 36 cm (14 inches), Ap1, Ap2 and E horizons.
Argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 36 to 234 cm (14 to 92 inches), Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Btx1, 2Btx2, 2Bt'1 and 2Bt'2 horizons.
Fragic Soil Properties 106 to 196 cm (42 to 77 inches), Btx1 and 2Btx2 horizons.
Udic moisture regime.