LOCATION ORTONVILLE MN
Established Series
RCG-AGG
07/2014
ORTONVILLE SERIES
The Ortonville series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in calcareous loamy glacial till. Permeability is moderate. These soils are on ground moraines and till plains. They have slopes ranging from 1 to 6 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 43 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation is about 22 inches.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Aquic Calciudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ortonville loam with a convex 2 percent slope on the summit of a low knoll on a glacial moraine in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; black (10YR 2/1) loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; about 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
Bk1--8 to 15 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loam, weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; disseminated lime throughout; about 5 percent gravel; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Bk2--15 to 24 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) Fe depletions and few fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) Fe concentrations; disseminated lime throughout; about 2 percent gravel; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bk horizons is 10 to 40 inches)
C--24 to 80 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) loam; massive; friable; common fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) Fe concentrations and few fine distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) Fe depletions; about 4 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline;
TYPE LOCATION: Big Stone County, Minnesota; about 8 miles east of Ortonville; 1375 feet north and 2500 feet east of the southwest corner, Sec. 11, T. 121 N., R. 45 W., USGS Odessa quadrangle, 45 degrees 18 minutes 06.02 seconds N., longitude 96 degrees 16 minutes 20.52 seconds W., NAD27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mollic epipedon ranges from 7 to 18 inches in thickness. The soil contains 1 to 10 percent rock fragments, by volume, throughout. The clay content ranges from 8 to 18 percent, and the sand content ranges from 40 to 65 percent throughout. The reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline throughout.
A calcic horizon occurs within 16 inches of the surface. The calcic horizon(s) has less than 25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent.
The Ap, Apk or A horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or is neutral, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 0 through 2. It is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, very fine sandy loam, loam or silt loam.
The Bk horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam or in some geomorphic areas is stratified loam, silt loam and sandy loam. The calcium carbonate equivalent ranges from 15 to 25 percent. Some pedons have a BCk horizon.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 1 to 4. It is loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam or in some geormorphic areas is stratified loam, silt loam and sandy loam.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Malachy,
Skagen and
Wolverton series. Malachy soils have coarse textured material in the lower third of the series control section. Skagen soils have more than 25 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the calcic horizon. Wolverton soils do not have rock fragments in the upper third to upper half of the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Ortonville soils are on low knolls on ground moraines and till plains. Slopes are short with gradients of 1 to 6 percent. The soil is formed in calcareous loamy glacial till of the Wisconsin Age. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 45 degrees F., and mean annual precipitation ranges from 19 to 27 inches. The frost free days range from 120 to 170 days. The elevation above sea level ranges from 850 to 1950 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Emrick,
Esmond,
Fram,
Heimdal,
Parnell,
Tonka, and
Wyard soils. Fram soils are somewhat poorly drained and are on flats. Esmond and Heimdal are well drained and are on higher lying positions. Emrick soils are moderately well drained on landscape positions similar to Ortonville. Wyard soils are in somewhat poorly drained swales and shallow depressions. They do not have a calcic horizon within a depth of 16 inches. Parnell and Tonka soils are in deep depressions. They have argillic horizons.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Surface runoff is low. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid. The seasonal high water table is at a depth of 2.5 to 3.5 feet at some time during the period March through June.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are used for cropland. Corn, soybeans and small grains are the main crops. Native vegetation is tall grass prairie.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Eastern North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. The soils are extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Swift County, Minnesota, 2000.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 8 inches (Ap horizon); calcic horizon - the zone from 8 to 24 inches (Bk1 and Bk2 horizons); Aquic subgroup based on redox concentrations above a depth of 40 inches.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil Interpretation Record Number MN0821
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.