LOCATION MASKELL NEEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Cumulic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Maskell loam - cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 7 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak very fine, granular structure, slightly hard, friable; neutral; abrupt, smooth boundary. (6 to 8 inches thick)
A1--7 to 12 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) moist; weak coarse, subangular blocky structure parting to weak, very fine, granular; slightly hard, friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
A2--12 to 17 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak, coarse, subangular blocky structure parting to weak, very fine, granular; slightly hard, friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)
Bw1--17 to 26 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) loam; dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak, coarse, subangular blocky structure parting to weak, very fine, subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable; thin films of organic matter on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)
Bw2--26 to 34 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) clay loam; dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak, coarse, subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable; thin films of organic matter on faces of peds; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
Ab--34 to 44 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak, coarse, subangular blocky structure parting to weak, very fine, granular; slightly hard, friable; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)
Bb--44 to 80 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silt loam; dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak, medium, subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable; neutral.
TYPE LOCATION: Dixon County, Nebraska; 2 miles north of Wakefield; 1640 feet north and 150 feet west of the southeast corner, sec. 20, T. 27 N., R. 5 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness and depth to calcium carbonates range from 40 to 60 or more inches. The mollic epipedon ranges from 30 to 60 inches or more in thickness.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is loam, clay loam or sandy loam. Reaction ranges from moderately acid to slightly alkaline.
The Bw horizon has crushed hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3. The upper part is sandy loam, loam, or clay loam while the lower part is loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam. Reaction is slightly acid to slightly alkaline. The average clay content in the control section ranges from 24 to 32 percent. Buried soils between a depth of 24 and 40 inches are typical where these soils are on terraces or alluvial fans. Buried soils are rare where these soils are on foot slopes along upland drains.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bon, Draper, Frazwell, Humbarger, Lynx, Manzano, Merrick, Pack, Shanta, St. Onge and Umbarg soils. Similar soils are the Alcester, Blendon, Judson, Hobbs, Olmitz and Spillville soils. The Bon, Humbarger, Manzano, Shanta, St. Onge and Umbarg soils are calcareous in some part of the control section. The Frazwell, Lynx, Manzano and Shanta soils are dry in the soil moisture conrol section for longer periods. The Draper and Pack soils are saturated with water within a depth of 40 inches. Merrick soils are saturated with water at a depth of 4 to 6 feet from November to June. The Alcester, Judson, and Hobbs soils are fine silty. The Blendon soils are coarse-loamy. The Olmitz and Spillville soils have a wetter climate.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Maskell soils are on nearly level to gently sloping terraces, alluvial fans, and in slightly concave foot slope positions along small drainageways that drain and dissect the adjacent uplands. The slope gradient is 0 to 6 percent. These soils formed in alluvial-colluvial material, derived from sandy glacial outwash and loess. The annual precipitation ranges from 24 to 28 inches, and the annual temperature ranges from 49 to 51 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the competing Alcester, Blendon, and Judson soils and the Kennebec, Ortello, and Thurman soils. Alcester, Blendon, and Judson soils are on similar landscapes. Kennebec soils are fine-silty and slightly lower on the landscape. Ortello soils are coarse-loamy and Thurman soils are sandy and both are higher on the landscape.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Surface runoff is low to moderately high. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. The principal crops are corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. Some areas are irrigated.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northeast Nebraska. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Dixon County, Nebraska, 1975.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon--the zone from 0 to 26 inches (Ap, A1, A2 and Bw1 horizon); cambic horizon--the zone from 17 to 34 inches (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons) and ustic moisture regime.