LOCATION LANGHEI MN+ND SDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Eutrudepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Langhei loam with a 14 percent convex slope on a glacial moraine in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; mixed grayish brown (10YR 4/2) and very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry and rubbed; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; about 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bk--6 to 15 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loam; white (2.5Y 8/2) dry; moderate coarse platy structure parting to weak fine subangular blocky; friable; about 5 percent gravel; few light gray soft lime masses; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)
C1--15 to 60 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; few fine distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) and prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) mottles; massive; friable; about 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
C2--60 to 80 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; common medium distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) mottles; massive; friable; about 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Pope County, Minnesota; about 3 miles south and 2 1/2 miles west of Starbuck, about 2,250 feet west and 100 feet south of the northeast corner of Sec. 8, T. 124 N., R. 39 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Carbonates are typically in all parts of the profile but in some uncultivated areas the A horizon may be leached. The particle size control section typically averages between 18 and 25 percent clay, with an extreme range 18 to 30 percent. It averages 15 to 40 percent fine sand and coarser. It typically has about 2 to 10 percent by volume of rock fragments of mixed lithology.
The Ap horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 1 or 2. The A horizon in noncultivated areas has 10YR hue, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 1 or 2, and ranges from 2 to 4 inches in thickness. After mixing the upper 7 inches, moist values exceed 3 and/or dry values exceed 5. The A horizon is loam or clay loam. It ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is loam or clay loam. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 30 percent.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 7, and chroma of 2 to 4. The C horizon is loam or clay loam. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline. Calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from about 10 to 20 percent.
Mottles are common in this horizon but are believed to be relict and not representative of current soil moisture.
COMPETING SERIES: No other series is in this family.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Langhei soils are on slightly to strongly convex positions on undulating to hilly or steep slopes on glacial moraines. Slope ranges from 2 to 55 percent. The Langhei soils formed in calcareous loam or clay loam glacial till that is Late Wisconsinan in age. The mean annual air temperature ranges from about 38 to 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation ranges from about 16 to 27 inches. Frost-free days range from 90 to 150. Elevation above sea level ranges from 1000 to 2000 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The Langhei soils are associated with the well drained Buse, Barnes, Doland, and Waukon soils on less convex slopes, the moderately well drained Svea and Balaton soils on lower lying concave slopes, the poorly drained Vallers and Flom soils in drainageways, and the very poorly drained Parnell soils in depressions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium to very rapid. Permeability is moderate or moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Mostly cultivated to soybeans, small grain, and alfalfa on slopes less than 15 percent. On slopes greater than 15 percent the main use is pasture. Native vegetation is prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Minnesota and eastern
North Dakota and South Dakota. Series is of large extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Richland County, North Dakota, 1970.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: Ochric epipedon from 0 to 6 inches (Ap horizon); calcic horizon - the zone from 6 to 15 inches (Bk horizon).
The mottles in the C horizons are not considered as redoximorphic features associated with present day saturation. They are most likely relic from a much wetter climatic period.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Results of some laboratory analysis on the typical pedon are recorded under Minn. Ag. Exp. Station Central File Code 770. See also MAES, CFC number 3173 for lab data for a representative pedon.