LOCATION MUDHEN ILEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Mudhen clay loam - on a 1/2 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; firm; common very fine roots; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.
A--9 to 12 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; about 1 percent fine gravel; few fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation with diffuse boundaries lining ped surfaces and pores; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the A horizons is 10 to 20 inches.)
Bg1--12 to 17 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; common distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coats on faces of peds and lining pores; common fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation with diffuse boundaries lining ped surfaces and pores; about 3 percent fine gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
Bg2--17 to 23 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coats on vertical faces of peds and lining pores; common fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation with diffuse boundaries lining ped surfaces and pores; about 5 percent fine and medium gravel, and 1 percent coarse gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bg horizons is 5 to 15 inches.)
2Bg3--23 to 28 inches; dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) gravelly clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coats lining pores; few fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation with diffuse boundaries lining ped surfaces and pores; about 15 percent fine and medium gravel, and 1 percent coarse gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches)
2C--28 to 41 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) gravelly loamy coarse sand; single grain; loose; about 25 percent fine and medium gravel, and 5 percent coarse gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 15 inches)
3Cr--41 to 60 inches; (60%) light gray (N 6/0) and light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2), and (40%) light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) clay shale; massive with horizontal planes of cleavage; very firm; few fine distinct dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) iron and manganese masses lining pores and cleavage planes; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Fulton County, Illinois; about 3 miles south of Banner, 1998 feet east and 333 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 34, T. 6 N., R. 5 E.; USGS Duck Island topographic quadrangle; lat. 40 degrees 27 minutes 55 seconds N. and long. 89 degrees 55 minutes 38 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to the base of the cambic horizon ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 20 inches thick and extends into the upper part of the Bg horizon in some pedons. Depth to a paralithic contact in shale ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Coarse fragments in the sand and gravel are primarily igneous. The particle size control section averages between 25 and 33 percent clay.
The upper part of the series control section (Ap, A and/or AB horizon) has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or is neutral, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 2. Redox concentrations are present as masses of iron accumulation lining ped surfaces and pores. Content of rock fragments ranges from 0 to 5 percent. Reaction is slightly acid or neutral.
The middle part of the series control section (BA, Bg, and/or 2Bg horizon) has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, or is neutral, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 0 to 2. It is clay loam in the upper part (Bg horizon) and gravelly clay loam, gravelly sandy clay loam or gravelly sandy loam in the lower part (2Bg horizon). Redox concentrations are present throughout, commonly as masses of iron accumulation lining ped surfaces and pores. Content of rock fragments ranges from 0 to 15 percent in the upper part and 15 to 35 percent in the lower part. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
The lower part of the series control section to a depth of 41 inches (2C horizon) has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, or is neutral, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 0 to 6. It commonly is gravelly loamy coarse sand but includes strata of gravel and sand. Content of rock fragments ranges from 15 to 35 percent. Sand content ranges from 75 to 95 percent. Gravel content ranges from 15 to 75 precent, but averages less than 35 percent. Some pedons contain cobbles and stones. The lower 10 inches of the series control section to a depth of 51 inches (3Cr horizon) is clay shale. Reaction ranges from slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Biscay, Marshan, Niwot, and Will series. These soils do not have a paralithic contact within a depth of 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Mudhen soils are on nearly level or depressional parts of strath terraces. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. These soils formed in 40 to 60 inches of loamy outwash and in the underlying calcareous gravel and sand. Cobbles, stones and a few boulders are evident on eroded risers. Mean annual temperature varies from 50 to 54 degrees F, and mean annual precipitation varies from 35 to 40 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the somewhat poorly drained Coot and well drained Dakota soils. Coot and Dakota soils are in positions on the landscape upslope from the Mudhen soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Surface runoff is very slow or ponded. Permeability is moderate in the upper and middle parts of the series control section and rapid in the lower part. Flooding from stream overflow is occasional during the spring. These soils have an apparent water table at a depth of .5 foot above the surface to 1.5 feet below during the spring in most years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans and small grains are the principal crops. The original vegetation was tall prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Western Illinois; MLRA 115. The soils of this series are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES PROPOSED: Fulton County, Illinois, 1995. Name coined from a site location, Duck Island.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of 12 inches (Ap and A horizons); cambic horizon - the zone from 12 to 28 inches (Bg1, Bg2, 2Bg3); contrasting particle size classes - the transition between gravelly clay loam and gravelly loamy coarse sand that occurs at approximately 28 inches; a paralithic contact at a depth of 41 inches; endosaturation; aquic conditions - chroma of 2 or less and redox concentrations in all layers below the Ap horizon.