LOCATION MARTEL FLEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, hyperthermic Umbric Endoaqualfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Martel sandy clay loam--forested.
A1--0 to 14 inches; black (10YR 2/1) sandy clay loam; moderate medium granular structure; friable; common fine and medium roots; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
A2--14 to 19 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy clay loam; moderate medium granular structure; friable; few fine roots, few medium faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) and few fine distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) organic matter depletions; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons range from 10 to 20 inches)
Btg1--19 to 36 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1); sandy clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; sticky, plastic; few fine and medium roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Btg2--36 to 57 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay; moderate medium subangular and angular blocky structure; very firm; sticky, plastic; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Btg horizons range from 30 to 76 inches).
Cg--57 to 72 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) sandy clay; massive; very firm, sticky, plastic; few medium prominent yellowish red (5YR 5/6) and few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of iron accumulation; very strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Marion County, Florida; approximately 0.5 mile north of S.R. 316; NW 1/4, NW 1/4, Sec. 16, T. 13 S., R. 23 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 40 to 72 inches. Clay content of the control section ranges from 35 to 55 percent. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 2 or less. Texture is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy clay loam.
The Btg horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 2 or less. Texture is sandy clay or clay.
The BCg horizon, where present, has the same range of colors and textures as the Btg horizon.
The Cg horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 2 or less. Texture is sandy clay loam, sandy clay, or clay.
COMPETING SERIES: The Fellowship series is the only known series in the same family. The very poorly and poorly drained Fellowship soils are on similar to higher positions and have more than 5 percent, by volume, coarse fragments in the profile.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Martel soils are in depressions and sloughs of central Peninsular Florida. Slopes are 1 percent or less. They formed in clayey marine sediments. The climate is humid semitropical. The average annual precipitation ranges from 54 to 64 inches and the average annual temperature ranges from 71 to 73 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bluff, Eaton, Emeralda, Eureka, and Paisley soils. Bluff soils are on similar positions, have less clay in the control section, have Calcic horizons, and are Mollisols. The very poorly and poorly drained Eaton soils are on similar to higher positions, have sandy surface and subsurface layers 20 to 40 inches in thickness, do not have an umbric epipedon, and have an albic horizon. The poorly drained Emeralda, Eureka, and Paisley soils are on slightly higher positions and do not have umbric epipedons. In addition, Emeralda soils have Mollic epipedons, while Eureka and Paisley soils have albic horizons and mixed mineralogy in the control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Very poorly drained; very slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas remain in native vegetation and are used for wildlife habitat. The native vegetation is dominated by cypress, sweetgum, pond pine, and water tupelo.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central Peninsular Florida. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Auburn, Alabama.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Marion County, Florida, 1974.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Umbric epipedon - the zone from 0 to 19 inches (A1 and A2 horizons).
Argillic horizon - the zone from 19 to 57 inches (Btg1 and Btg2 horizons).
The water table is at or above the surface for much of the year.