LOCATION MILLSDALE OH+IL IN MI
Established Series
Rev. RAR-RMG-KEM
11/2021
MILLSDALE SERIES
The Millsdale series consists of moderately deep, very poorly drained soils formed in till overlying limestone or dolostone. They are on till plains, lake plains, and terraces. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 11 degrees C (51 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, active, mesic Typic Argiaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Millsdale silty clay loam, on a planar surface in a cultivated field at an elevation of 253 meters (830 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 23 cm (0 to 9 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine and medium granular structure; firm; common fine and few medium roots; 1 percent rock fragments; neutral; clear smooth boundary.
A--23 to 33 cm (9 to 13 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine and few medium roots; few medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few fine faint dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moderately cemented iron and manganese oxide concretions in the matrix; 1 percent rock fragments; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 58 cm (10 to 23 inches).]
Btg1--33 to 61 cm (13 to 24 inches); dark gray (10YR 4/1) silty clay; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine and medium roots; common faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; few faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings lining worm and old root channels; common fine faint gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions in the matrix; common fine and medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) and few medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few very dark gray (10YR 3/1) krotovinas; 2 percent rock fragments; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
Btg2--61 to 69 cm (24 to 27 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) silty clay; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; common fine and few medium roots; common faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings lining worm and old root channels; few medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and common fine and medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few very dark gray (10YR 3/1) krotovinas; 2 percent rock fragments; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Btg3--69 to 89 cm (27 to 35 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium and coarse subangular blocky; firm; common fine and few medium roots; common faint gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; few distinct very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings lining worm channels; common fine faint gray (10YR 6/1) iron depletions in the matrix; few medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) and many medium and coarse prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few very dark gray (10YR 3/1) krotovinas; 3 percent rock fragments; neutral; abrupt wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Btg horizon is 13 to 76 cm (5 to 30 inches).]
2R--89 cm (35 inches); light gray (10YR 7/2) limestone.
TYPE LOCATION: Hancock County, Ohio; about 3.5 miles northeast of Vanlue, in Biglick Township; about 2,500 feet west and 460 feet south of the northeast corner of sec. 36, T. 1 N., R. 12 E.; USGS Alvada, Ohio topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 00 minutes 18 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 25 minutes 47 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 58 cm (10 to 23 inches)
Thickness of the solum, depth to the base of the argillic horizon, and depth to the lithic contact: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 35 to 45 percent clay
Rock fragments: glacial erratics, primarily of limestone, dolostone, and crystalline lithology
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or is neutral
Value: 2, 2.5 or 3 (5 or less dry)
Chroma: 0 to 2
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, or silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
BA horizon, where present:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or is neutral
Value: 2, 2.5 or 3 (5 or less dry)
Chroma: 0 to 2
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, or silt loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
Btg or Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, 5Y, or is neutral
Value: 3 to 6
Chroma: 0 to 2, with chroma of 3 or 4 allowed in the lower part
Texture: clay loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay
Rock fragment content: 1 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral in the upper part and neutral to moderately alkaline in the lower part
Some pedons have a BC or BCg horizon.
2Btg, 2Bt, 2BCg, or 2BC horizon, where present:
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: clay loam, silty clay loam, silty clay, or clay
Rock fragment content: 2 to 14 percent, primarily limestone or dolostone
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral in the upper part and neutral to moderately alkaline in the lower part
2C or 2Cg horizon, where present:
Thickness: less than 1/5 the thickness of the solum
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: loam or clay loam
Rock fragment content: 2 to 14 percent, primarily limestone or dolostone
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Pewamo series. Pewamo soils do not have a lithic contact within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches).
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Millsdale soils are on till plains, lake plains, and low terraces of late Wisconsin age. In some areas, they are on monadnocks on till plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 2 percent. Millsdale soils formed in till overlying limestone or dolostone. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 1067 mm (27 to 42 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 7 to 13 degrees C (45 to 55 degrees F). Frost-free period is 140 to 180 days. Elevation is 213 to 305 meters (700 to 1000 feet) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the well drained
Milton soils and the somewhat poorly drained
Randolph soils that form a toposequence with the Millsdale soils.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Very poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent apparent high water table ranges from 30 cm (1 foot) above the surface to 30 cm (1 foot) below the surface between November and May in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderately slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cultivated. Corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay are the principal crops. Some areas are used as permanent pasture or as woodland. Native vegetation is deciduous forest, primarily ash, beech, elm, and maple, or was wet prairie.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Millsdale soils occur primarily in MLRA 111B in western and central Ohio and in central and northern Indiana, and to a lesser extent in MLRA 99 in northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan and in MLRAs 108A and 110 in northern Illinois. The series is of moderate extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Will County, Illinois, 1912.
REMARKS: In the past, Millsdale soils have ranged to include soils that are outside the current concept represented by the type location description. In Illinois, soils lacking argillic horizons have been included in the series; in Indiana, the series has ranged to include soils that are in the fine-loamy particle-size family.
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 33 cm (Ap, A horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 33 to 89 cm (Btg horizon).
Lithic contact: at 89 cm (top of the 2R layer).
Aquic conditions: redox features visible in lower part of the mollic epipedon and throughout the argillic horizon.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory characterization data from The Ohio State University Soil Characterization Laboratory is available for HK-40, the previous typical pedon.
Representative data mapunit is DMU ID 130016 in MO 11.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.