LOCATION MARKTON IN

Established Series
Rev. JWH-JRB-HRS-DAG
11/2021

MARKTON SERIES

The Markton series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in sandy deposits and the underlying loamy till on moraines and till plains. Permeability is rapid in the sandy deposits and moderate in the loamy till. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 37 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 51 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, active, mesic Aquic Arenic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Markton sand, on a concave, gentle slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 740 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 11 inches; dark brown (10YR 3/3) sand, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; many fine and very fine roots; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 11 inches thick)

Bw--11 to 26 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; common dark brown (10YR 3/3) soil material in root channels; many medium distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron oxide accumulation; common fine and very fine roots; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (8 to 18 inches thick)

2Bt--26 to 30 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; many medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron oxide accumulation; many medium faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; 5 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt wavy boundary.

2Btg--30 to 36 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) clay films on faces of peds; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and faint brown (10YR 4/3) masses of iron oxide accumulation; 5 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 10 to 20 inches.)

2Cg1--36 to 40 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) loam; massive; friable; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron oxide accumulation; 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear irregular boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)

2Cg2--40 to 55 inches; gray (10YR 6/1) loam; massive; friable; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron oxide accumulation; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)

2C--55 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam; massive; friable; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) masses of iron oxide accumulation; many medium distinct gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Starke County, Indiana; about 1 1/2 miles north and 3 1/2 miles east of Ora; 200 feet north and 150 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 24, T. 32 N., R. 1 W.; U.S.G.S. Culver, IN topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 12 minutes 3.9 seconds N. and long. 86 degrees 29 minutes 8.4 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 543125 easting and 4561213 northing, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 24 to 40 inches
Particle-size control section: averages 12 to 20 percent clay and less than 50 percent silt

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 or 4
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: sand or loamy sand
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

Bw horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: sand or loamy sand
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

2Bt or 2Btg horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 to 6
Texture: sandy loam or loam
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent gravel

2C or 2Cg horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent gravel

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bixler, Branch, Leola, Rimer, Riverdale, and Selfridge series. Bixler soils have more than 50 percent silt in the lower part of the argillic horizon. Branch and Riverdale soils have more than 5 percent rock fragments in the lower parts of the series control section. Leola soils are more acid than slightly alkaline in the lower part of the series control section. Rimer soils have a densic contact with till within a depth of 60 inches. Selfridge soils average more than 20 percent clay in the lower part of the argillic horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Markton soils formed in sandy deposits and the underlying loamy till and are on broad low-lying areas and on low ridges and knolls on moraines and till plains. Slope gradients range from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual temperature ranges from 49 to 53 degrees F., mean annual precipitation ranges from 35 to 39 inches, frost-free period ranges from 130 to 180 days, and elevation ranges from 580 to 1,530 feet above sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brems, Crosier, Gilford, Metea, Morocco, Plainfield, and Wawasee soils. Brems, Metea, Plainfield, and Wawasee soils are on higher-lying areas and are better drained. Brems and Plainfield soils are sandy, and Wawasee soils are loamy throughout the profile. Crosier soils are in the same setting as Markton soils and have more clay in the upper part of the solum. Gilford soils are in lower-lying areas, are grayer throughout, and are sandy in the lower part. Morocco soils are in the same setting as Markton soils and are sandy throughout the profile.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to low. Permeability is rapid in the sandy deposits and moderate in the loamy till.

USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are mostly cultivated. Corn and soybeans are the principal crops. A few areas are used for hay and pasture. Native vegetation is mixed hardwoods with black oak, white oak, red oak, elm, and maple the major species.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 98 and 111 in northern Indiana and possibly southern Michigan. The soils are of moderate extent.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Starke County, Indiana, 1980.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to 26 inches (Ap, Bw horizons)
Argillic horizon: from 26 to 36 inches (2Bt, 2Btg horizons)

The Markton series includes soils previously mapped as the Aubbeenaubbee series in northern Indiana.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab characterization data is available for the typical pedon (SR7709) from the Purdue University Soil Characterization Lab, AES Bulletin No. 222, Vol. 4, Pg. 121. Transect data for the typical pedon (T03IN-149-001) is on file at the MLRA project office in Plymouth, Indiana. Transect shows 80 percent Markton and similar soils and 20 percent Crosier and similar soils.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.