LOCATION REGAL MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Typic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Regal loam on a nearly level outwash plain in a cornfield at an elevation of 1,158 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 10 inches; black (N 2/0) loam, very dark gray (10YR 3/1) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to weak fine granular; friable; many roots; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary.
A--10 to 14 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; friable; few roots; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of A horizon is 10 to 20 inches thick.)
Bg--14 to 18 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) sandy clay loam; common medium distinct olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) mottles; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 6 inches thick)
2Cg1--18 to 27 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) gravelly loamy sand; few fine distinct light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) mottles; single grain; loose; 25 percent gravel; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
2Cg2--27 to 60 inches; olive gray (5Y 5/2) gravelly coarse sand with thin strata of sand; single grain; loose; 20 percent gravel; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Kandiyohi County, Minnesota; about 8.5 miles north and 1 mile west of Atwater; 280 feet east and 1,500 feet north of the southwest corner Sec. 26, T. 121 N., R. 33 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 10 to 20 inches. The thickness of the fine-loamy mantle ranges from 15 to 20 inches. Typically, free carbonates occur throughout the upper 10 inches, however some pedons are noneffervescent. The upper loamy mantle averages between 18 and 30 percent clay and 35 to 60 percent fine sand and coarser. Rock fragments of mixed lithology comprise up to 10 percent (by volume) of the upper mantle and 10 to 45 percent of the underlying material.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or is neutral with value of 2 or 3. It is loam, clay loam, or sandy clay loam. Reaction is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bg horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 1 or 2 with distinct 4 to 6 chroma mottles. It is loam, sandy clay loam, or sandy loam. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The 2C horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is stratified with textures of loamy sand, sand, coarse sand, or their gravelly analogues. Reaction is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Mayer and Talcot series. Both of these series have more than 18 percent clay at depths greater than 20 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Regal soils are on nearly level outwash plains and stream terraces with slightly concave to slightly convex slopes typically less than 2 percent. They formed in a fine-loamy upper mantle 15 to 20 inches thick overlying calcareous sandy and gravelly outwash. The mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 52 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 22 to 28 inches.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Biscay, Estherville, Hawick and various organic soils. The very poorly drained Biscay soils are in closed depressions. Estherville and Hawick soils are in higher lying positions with better drainage. The organic soils are in large post-glacial basins.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. Runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate in the upper part and rapid in the underlying sand and gravel.
USE AND VEGETATION: Where artifically drained, most of the Regal soils are cultivated to corn, soybeans, or small grains. Some is used for pasture. Native vegetation was a mixture of water-tolerant tall grass prairie.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: South central Minnesota. This series is inextensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Stearns County, Minnesota, 1981.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - zone from surface to 14 inches (Ap and A horizons); calcareous family - free carbonates at 10 to 20 inches; aquic moisture regime - low chroma immediately below the A horizons. Dual particle size class- abrupt textural change at about 18 inches.
Classification only was changed 5/94. Competing series and other updates will be made later.