LOCATION KNEFF MI
Established Series
Rev. LWB-WEF-MLK
08/2012
KNEFF SERIES
The Kneff series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in stratified loamy and silty lacustrine deposits on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 762 mm (30 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, semiactive, frigid Oxyaquic Glossudalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Kneff very fine sandy loam, on a 3 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 20 cm (8 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; many very fine and fine roots; about 5 percent fine and medium gravel; strongly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 inches) thick]
B/E--20 to 36 cm (8 to 14 inches); about 60 percent brown (7.5YR 4/4) silty clay loam (Bt); moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; surrounded by brown (10YR 5/3) very fine sandy loam (E), light gray (10YR 7/2) dry; many very fine and fine roots; common faint dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels; about 3 percent fine and medium gravel; strongly acid; clear irregular boundary. [5 to 20 cm (2 to 8 inches) thick]
Bt1--36 to 58 cm (14 to 23 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) silty clay loam; strong coarse angular blocky structure; firm; common very fine and fine roots; many faint dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--58 to 74 cm (23 to 29 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) silty clay loam; strong coarse angular blocky structure; firm; common very fine and fine roots; many faint dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds and in root channels; common medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron throughout; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 20 to 61 cm (8 to 24 inches).]
C--74 to 155 cm (29 to 61 inches); stratified brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam, silt loam, silty clay, and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) very fine sandy loam; massive; few fine roots in the upper 30 cm (12 inches); common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron throughout; few fine prominent gray (5Y 6/1) and gray (5YR 6/1) iron depletions throughout; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline. [76 to 140 cm (30 to 55 inches) thick]
2C--155 to 203 cm (61 to 80 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand with strata 6 mm to 15 cm (1/4 to 6 inches) thick of brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam and pale brown (10YR 6/3) silt loam; single grain; loose; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized throughout; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Crawford County, Michigan; about 6 miles west of the southeast corner of Crawford County; 1,900 feet north and 1,050 feet west of the southeast corner of sec. 31, T. 25 N., R. 1 W., South Branch Township; USGS Eldorado MI 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle; lat. 44 degrees 30 minutes 58 seconds N. and long. 84 degrees 28 minutes 31 seconds W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)
Depth to the sandy substratum: 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 51 to 86 cm (20 to 34 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 18 to 35 percent clay and less than 15 percent fine sand or coarser
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent gravel throughout
Ap horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: very fine sandy loam or silt loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
A horizon, where present:
Thickness: 8 to 15 cm (3 to 6 inches)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 2 to 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: very fine sandy loam or silt loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral
E part of the B/E horizon, or E horizon where present:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: very fine sandy loam, loam, or silt loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid
Bt part of the B/E horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid
Bt horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 4
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silty clay loam or silt loam
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
Some pedons have a BC horizon.
C horizon:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 6
Texture: stratified silty clay loam, silt loam, and very fine sandy loam with occasional thin strata of silty clay or very fine sand
Reaction: neutral to moderately alkaline
2C horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: dominantly sand with thin strata of silt loam or silty clay loam
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in the same family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Kneff soils are on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in stratified loamy and silty lacustrine deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 711 to 813 mm (28 to 32 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 6.1 to 7.2 degrees C (43 to 45 degrees F). Frost-free period is 100 to 150 days. Elevation is 183 to 366 meters (600 to 1,200 feet) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the somewhat poorly drained
Bowers soils and the poorly drained or very poorly drained
Deerheart soils which form a drainage sequence with the Kneff soils.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. This soil has a seasonal high water table that is perched at the interface of the stratified material. Depth to the top of the perched seasonal high water table ranges from 61 to 107 cm (2 to 3.5 feet) between October and May in normal years. The soil is saturated in one or more layers within 30 inches of the surface, for one month or more in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is low or medium. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for cropland, pasture and woodland. Native vegetation includes sugar maple, yellow birch, eastern hemlock, American basswood, paper birch, white spruce, and balsam fir.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 94A in northeastern lower Michigan. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Crawford County, Michigan, 1993.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 20 cm (8 inches) (Ap horizon).
Glossic horizon: from a depth of 20 to 36 cm (8 to 14 inches) (B/E horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 20 to 74 cm (8 to 29 inches) (Bt part of B/E, Bt1 and Bt2
horizons).
Aquic conditions: iron depletions present in the C horizon from 74 to 155 cm (29 to 61 inches).
This soil was formerly considered a moderately wet phase of the Nunica series.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.