LOCATION PIERZ MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Argiudolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Pierz sandy loam on a convex north-facing slope of 2 percent in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless other stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; black (10YR 2/1) sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure, friable; about 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizons is 8 to 16 inches.)
AB--10 to 14 inches; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; about 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 7 inches)
Bt--14 to 23 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay films on faces of peds; about 8 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 17 inches)
BC--23 to 28 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; about 10 percent gravel; strongly acid; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 8 inches)
2C--28 to 60 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) very gravelly coarse sand; single grain; loose; about 40 percent gravel; strongly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Morrison County Minnesota; about 2 miles north and 2 miles west of Pierz; 1200 feet south and 800 feet west of northeast corner of sec. 29, T. 41 N., R. 30 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the gravelly underlying sediments ranges from 22 to 40 inches. The upper part in the series control section contains 0 to 15 percent gravel by volume and the underlying sediments contain 15 to 60 percent gravel. The series control section average is greater than 8 percent rock fragments. The mollic epipedon is 8 to 16 inches thick.
The A or AB horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR with value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. It typically is sandy loam or loam, but includes fine sandy loam. It is slightly acid to strongly acid.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR with value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 3 to 6. It is sandy loam, loam, fine sandy loam, and coarse sandy loam. Few to many clay films are on faces of peds. It is slightly acid to strongly acid. Some pedons have 2Bt or 2BC horizons.
The 2C horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 5YR, or 10YR with value of 3 to 5 and chroma of 3 to 6. It typically is very gravelly coarse sand, but includes gravelly coarse sand and gravelly sand. Some pedons have subhorizons of coarse sand, and sand. It is slightly acid to strongly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: This is the Verndale series. The Verndale soils have 8 percent or less gravel in the series control section and less than 15 percent gravel in the 2C horizons.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Pierz soils are on nearly level stream terraces, valley benches and gently rolling outwash plains glacial moraines. Slope gradients range from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in a loamy mantle overlying sandy and gravelly sediments. The mean annual air temperature ranges from 37 to 45 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 24 to 30 inches. Frost-free days range from 90 to 150. Elevation above sea level ranges from 670 to 1450 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are Chetek, Mahtomedi, and Oesterle soils. Chetek soils are on similar landscapes and do not have a mollic epipedon. Mahtomedi soils are on more sloping landscapes and have a sandier texture. Oesterle soils are on similar landscapes but have a silty mantle and lack a mollic surface layer.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is slow to medium. Permeability is moderate or moderately rapid in the upper loamy mantle and rapid or very rapid in the underlying material.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are used to grow corn or small grain and hay. Native vegetation was grass prairie, later succeeded by mixed deciduous and coniferous forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Central and eastern Minnesota. This series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Morrison County, Minnesota, 1987.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface to a depth of approximately 14 inches (Ap and AB horizons); argillic horizon - the zone from approximately 14 to 23 inches (Bt horizon); udic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to MN Agricultural Experiment Station Central File Code No. 3846 for results of some laboratory data on a similar pedon.