LOCATION MUSCATUNE IL

Established Series
Rev. JCD-SLE-RT
04/2015

MUSCATUNE SERIES

The Muscatune series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in loess on uplands and high stream benches. Slope ranges from 0 to 5 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 10.6 degrees C (51 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Aquic Argiudolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Muscatune silt loam on a north-facing, convex, 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 212 meters (697 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

Ap--0 to 18 cm (0 to 7 inches); black (10YR 2/1) silt loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--18 to 33 cm (7 to 13 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) silt loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; very friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

AB--33 to 51 cm (13 to 20 inches); mixed very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) and brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; common very fine roots throughout; few faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) organic coatings on faces of peds; few faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 50 cm (10 to 20 inches).]

Bt1--51 to 71 cm (20 to 28 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common few fine roots between peds; few faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common faint very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) organic coatings on faces of peds; common dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) manganese stains in the matrix; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--71 to 97 cm (28 to 38 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine roots between peds; common distinct dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; few fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and faint pale brown (10YR 6/3) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) iron-manganese stains in the matrix; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

Btg--97 to 127 cm (38 to 50 inches); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few very fine roots between peds; common prominent grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; common fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) iron-manganese stains in the matrix; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 43 to 112 cm (17 to 44 inches).]

BCg--127 to 152 cm (50 to 60 inches); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silt loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; common dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) iron-manganese oxide stains in the matrix; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [0 to 30 cm (0 to 12 inches) thick]

Cg--152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches); light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silt loam; massive; friable; many medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) and dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine round very dark brown (10YR 2/2) iron-manganese masses in the matrix; neutral.

TYPE LOCATION: Warren County, Illinois; about 1.5 miles north of Greenbush, 2,500 feet west and 2,240 feet north of the southeast corner of section 29, T. 9 N., R. 1 W., Warren County, Illinois; USGS Greenbush topographic quadrangle; Lat. 40 degrees 44 minutes 11.75 seconds N., and Long. 90 degrees 31 minutes 46.67 seconds W., NAD 83; UTM Zone 15T, 0708596 easting 4512453 northing, NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 102 to 163 cm (40 to 64 inches)
Thickness of loess: typically greater than 203 cm (80 inches)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 50 cm (10 to 20 inches)
Depth to carbonates: greater than 102 cm (40 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 27 to 35 percent clay
Series control section: content of sand is less than 5 percent throughout

Ap, A, and/or AB horizons:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 to 3
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

Bt and/or Btg horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 2 to 4, chroma of 2 or less is present as iron depletions or clay films in all subhorizons
Texture: silty clay loam with subhorizons of silt loam
Clay content: averages between 30 and 35 percent but ranges to 37 percent, the maximum clay layer is in the upper part of the horizon and decreases regularly with depth
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral

BC or BCg horizon (where present):
Hue: typically 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Other features: commonly contains iron concentrations with hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, and high value and chroma
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral

C horizon:
Hue: typically 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: typically silt loam, but ranges to silty clay loam
Other features: commonly contains iron concentrations with hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, and high value and chroma
Reaction: slightly acid to moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Arrowsmith, Bearpen, Brenton, Edwardsville, Elburn, Grundelein, Hacreek, Harco, Higginsville, Keller, Lafayette, Lawndale, Lisbon, Lismod, Loran, Mundelein, Nira, Raub, Rooks, Rowley, and Shannondale series. Arrowsmith soils have carbonates present within a depth of 102 cm (40 inches). Bearpen, Brenton, Elburn, Grundelein, Lafayette, Lawndale, Lisbon, Lismod, Mundelein, Raub, Rooks, Rowley, and Shannondale soils have more than 5 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Edwardsville, Hacreek, and Higginsville soils have a mean annual temperature above 12.2 degrees C (54 degrees F). Harco soils have more than 5 percent sand throughout the series control section. Keller and Loran soils have more than 30 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section. Also, Loran soils have a paralithic contact between 102 and 152 cm (40 and 60 inches). Nira soils do not have matrix hue range of 10YR or 2.5Y and matrix chroma range of 2 to 4 in the lower third of the series control section (see Remarks).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Muscatune soils are on moderately wide and wide upland ridges or divides and on high stream benches. In a few places, they occur on gently sloping head slopes of drainageways, but this is not the typical landscape. Slopes range from 0 to 5 percent. They formed in loess typically 1.8 to 3 meters (6 to 10 feet) thick, but extending to 6.1 meters (20 feet) in places. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 810 to 991 mm (32 to 39 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 8.9 to 13.3 degrees C (48 to 56 degrees F). Frost-free period ranges from 140 to 190 days. Elevation is 155 to 313 meters (508 to 1027 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Atterberry, Buckhart, Osco, Sable, Stronghurst and Tama soils. Well drained Osco and Tama soils are on both upslope and downslope positions. Moderately well drained Buckhart soils are on slightly higher positions. Poorly drained Sable soils are in lower positions and are typically surrounded by Muscatune soils. Muscatune soils form a hydrosequence with the Tama, Osco, Buckhart, and Sable soils. They form a biosequence with the Atterberry (intergrade) and Stronghurst (Alfisol) soils, which are on similar landforms.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The potential for surface runoff is low. Seasonal high water table is at depths of 30 to 61 cm (1.0 to 2.0 feet) during the months of November to July in normal years. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high to high (4.23 to 14.11 micrometers per second). Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Mainly used for cultivated crops. Corn and soybeans are usually grown and occasionally small grains and legume hay. Native vegetation is tall prairie grasses.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 95B, 105, 108A, 108B, 110, 114B, and 115C in Illinois. The series is of large extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Winnebago County, Illinois, 1994.

REMARKS: Formerly correlated as a taxadjunct of the Muscatine series (Aquic Hapludolls). Data indicates that most pedons of the Muscatine series in northwestern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin, and some pedons in eastern Iowa, have at least a 1.2 clay increase within the upper 31 cm (12 inches) of the argillic horizon.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from a depth of 0 to 51 cm (0 to 20 inches) (Ap, A, and AB horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 51 to 127 cm (20 to 50 inches (Bt1, Bt2, and Btg, horizons).

Differentia between Nira and Muscatune series needs further study.

ADDITIONAL DATA: An extensive data record, including for the above typical pedon (1986IL187100) is available from the Kellogg Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.