LOCATION MONTMORENCI IN

Established Series
Rev. JRB-WDH-TJE
11/2021

MONTMORENCI SERIES

The Montmorenci series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in as much as 51 cm (20 inches) of silty material and in the underlying loam till. Montmorenci soils are on till plains and moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 940 mm (37 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 10.6 degrees C (51 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Aquollic Hapludalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Montmorenci silt loam, eroded, on a northwest-facing, convex, 4 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 20 cm (8 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; some mixing of dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam subsoil; weak fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; common very fine roots; 2 percent gravel; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 inches) thick]

Bt1--20 to 30 cm (8 to 12 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; thin continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films and organic coatings on faces of peds; common very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) root and worm channels; 2 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.

Bt2--30 to 43 cm (12 to 17 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; thin continuous dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds; thin discontinuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on faces of peds; common very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) root and worm channels; 2 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.

Bt3--43 to 69 cm (17 to 27 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots; thin continuous dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; thin discontinuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on faces of peds; common very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) root and worm channels; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; common fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions; 4 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 46 to 86 cm (18 to 34 inches).]

BC--69 to 81 cm (27 to 32 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; thin discontinuous light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) clay films on faces of peds; common very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) root and worm channels; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron; common fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; 4 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [0 to 20 cm (0 to 8 inches) thick]

C--81 to 152 cm (32 to 60 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) loam; massive; firm; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; common fine faint light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Benton County, Indiana; about 7 miles northeast of Fowler; 2,050 feet west and 200 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 32, T. 26 N., R. 7 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)

Ap, A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam or loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 3 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral depending on liming history

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: dominantly clay loam or loam but ranges to silty clay loam where the silty material is at the maximum thickness
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral in the upper part and slightly acid or neutral in the lower part

BC horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 5 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 15 percent
Reaction: neutral or slightly alkaline

C or Cd horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 5 percent gravel, 0 to 3 percent cobbles
Moist bulk density: 1.70 to 2.00 g/cc
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 40 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Alida, Ashippun, Kibbie, Lourdes, Marker, and Symco series. Alida soils have sola more than 102 cm (40 inches) thick. Ashippun soils have shale fragments in the lower part of the series control section and are typically more alkaline in the solum. Kibbie soils have less than 1 percent rock fragments and are stratified in the lower part of the series control section. Lourdes soils have a calcium carbonate equivalent of less than 15 percent in the lower part of the series control section. Marker soils have horizons with more than 50 percent silt in the lower part of the series control section. Symco soils have hue redder than 10YR in the argillic horizon.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Montmorenci soils are on till plains and moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. The soils formed in as much as 51 cm (20 inches) of silty material and in the underlying loam till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 864 to 1016 mm (34 to 40 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 8.3 to 11.7 degrees C (47 to 53 degrees F). Frost-free period is 150 to 185 days. Elevation is 143 to 279 meters (470 to 915 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Conover, Corwin, Miami, Octagon, Odell, Parr, and Wolcott soils. The somewhat poorly drained Conover and Odell soils are on lower lying rises. The Corwin soils have mollic epipedons and are on similar landscape positions. The Miami, Octagon, and Parr soils are on nearby slopes and rises. The Miami soils have a lighter colored surface layer. The Octagon soils are slightly deeper to gray subsoil colors. The Parr soils have a mollic epipedon. The very poorly drained Wolcott soils are in depressions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Moderately well drained. Depth to the top of an intermittent perched high water table ranges from 46 to 91 cm (1.5 to 3.0 feet) between December and April in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is low to high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high in solum and low or moderately low in the substratum. Permeability is moderate in the upper part of the solum and moderately slow in the lower part, and slow or very slow in the substratum.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cropped to corn, soybeans, small grain, and hay. Native vegetation is mixed hardwoods and prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 110, 111C, and 111D in western Indiana. The type location is in MLRA 111D. The series is of moderate extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Tippecanoe County, Indiana, 1955.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon (mollic intergrade): from the surface to a depth of 20 cm (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 20 to 69 cm (Bt horizon).
Aquic conditions: iron depletions with chroma of 2 in all horizons below a depth of 43 cm.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.