LOCATION RIDDLES IN+MI OH
Established Series
Rev. RAB-FF-SAL
06/2024
RIDDLES SERIES
The Riddles series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in loamy and sandy till on till plains and moraines. Slope ranges from 0 to 45 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 889 mm (35 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 10.0 degrees C (50 degrees F).
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, mesic Typic Hapludalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Riddles fine sandy loam, on a convex, 4 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 275 meters (902 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 20 cm (8 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; many fine and medium roots throughout; many very fine to medium interstitial and tubular pores; 7 percent gravel; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. [15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) thick]
Bt1--20 to 33 cm (8 to 13 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/3) sandy clay loam; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; common distinct brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; 8 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--33 to 51 cm (13 to 20 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) clay loam; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay films on faces of peds; common faint brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt3--51 to 84 cm (20 to 33 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; many faint brown (10YR 5/3) silt coatings on faces of peds; common medium prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt4--84 to 117 cm (33 to 46 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron depletions in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt5--117 to 140 cm (46 to 55 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) fine sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; few fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of oxidized iron in the matrix; few fine faint brown (10YR 5/3) iron depletions in the matrix; 7 percent gravel; 1 percent cobbles; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt6--140 to 160 cm (55 to 63 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few very fine roots throughout; many fine interstitial and tubular pores; many faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 76 to 152 cm (30 to 60 inches).]
2Bt and E--160 to 178 cm (63 to 70 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) sandy loam (2Bt) as lamellae 2 to 3 cm (1 to 1.25 inches) thick with a combined thickness of 10 cm (4 inches); weak thick platy structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay bridging between sand grains; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sand (2E); weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary.
2E and Bt--178 to 198 cm (70 to 78 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand (2E); weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid; brown (10YR 4/3) loamy sand (2Bt) as lamellae 2 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 inches) thick with a combined thickness of 5 cm (2 inches); weak thick platy structure; very friable; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay bridging between sand grains; 5 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary.
2B and BC--198 to 229 cm (78 to 90 inches); 85 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy sand (2B); weak thin platy structure; very friable; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; 15 percent light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand (2BC); single grain; loose; few very fine interstitial and tubular pores; 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt, or 2B and BC horizon is 10 to 102 cm (4 to 40 inches).]
3C--229 to 254 cm (90 to 100 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine sandy loam; weak thin platy structure; firm; pockets of sand; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Elkhart County, Indiana; about 1 mile northeast of Southwest, on the south side of Indiana Highway 119; 2,250 feet south and 500 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 26, T. 36 N., R. 5 E.; USGS Foraker, IN topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 32 minutes 39 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 55 minutes 23 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 589824 easting and 4599733 northing, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 102 to more than 203 cm (40 to more than 80 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 102 to more than 203 cm (40 to more than 80 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 20 to 30 percent clay and more than 40 percent sand
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3 to 5, 6 or more dry
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 14 percent
Reaction: moderately acid to neutral
E or EB horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 2 to 4
Texture: loam, silt loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral
Bt or BE horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: sandy clay loam, clay loam, or loam; the lower part of the Bt horizon may also include fine sandy loam or sandy loam
Rock fragment content: 1 to 14 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral
BC horizon: (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: loam, sandy clay loam, clay loam, or sandy loam
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline
C horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam or sandy loam
Rock fragment content: 7 to 14 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline; most pedons contain carbonates
2Bt, 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt, or 2B and BC horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR or 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 to 6
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand, or their gravelly analogues; the sand fraction of individual strata or subhorizons is well graded
Rock fragment content: averages less than 15 percent, but individual horizons can range up to 30 percent
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral
2C horizon: (where present)
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: sandy loam, loamy sand, or sand, or their gravelly analogues; the sand fraction of individual strata or subhorizons is well graded
Rock fragment content: averages less than 15 percent, but individual horizons can range up to 34 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
3C horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam, sandy loam, or fine sandy loam, with pockets of sand in some pedons
Rock fragment content: 1 to 10 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 10 to 35 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES:
Amanda,
Belmont,
Belmore,
Caprell,
Chili,
Cliftycreek,
Conestoga,
Crouse,
Gallman,
Greybrook,
Hickory,
High Gap,
Hollinger,
Kalamazoo,
Kanawha,
Kidder,
Kosciusko, LeRoy,
Lumberton,
Martinsville,
Military,
Mocksville,
Ockley,
Pignut,
Princeton,
Relay,
Richardville,
Senachwine,
Skelton,
Strawn,
Turnersburg,
Wawaka,
Wawasee, and
Woodbine series. Amanda, Crouse, and Hickory soils average less than 45 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Belmont, Hollinger, Kalamazoo, Kidder, LeRoy, Relay, Senachwine, Strawn, and Wawasee soils are less than 102 cm (40 inches) to the base of the argillic horizon. Belmore, Chili, Kosciusko, and Ockley soils average more than 15 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Caprell soils are less than 102 cm (40 inches) to carbonates. Cliftycreek, Greybrook, and Wawaka soils average less than 40 percent sand in the particle-size control section. Conestoga soils contain quartzite, chert, and schist rock fragments and mica flakes in the series control section. Gallman, Martinsville, Mocksville, Richardville, Skelton, and Turnersburg soils do not have lamellae in the lower part of the argillic horizon. High Gap, Lumberton, Military, Pignut, and Woodbine soils have a lithic contact within a depth of 152 cm (60 inches). Kanawha soils have gravel and channers derived from interbedded shale, siltstone, and sandstone within the series control section
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Riddle soils are on swells and knolls of till plains and on summits, shoulders, and backslopes of dissected till plains, ice-margin complexes, and moraines of Wisconsinan age. Slope ranges from 0 to 45 percent. Riddles soils formed in loamy and sandy till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 762 to 1067 mm (30 to 42 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 8.9 to 11.7 degrees C (48 to 53 degrees F). Frost-free period is 130 to 180 days. Elevation is 177 to 466 meters (580 to 1,530 feet) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Arkport,
Barry,
Blount,
Brookston,
Capac,
Crosier,
Hillsdale,
Locke,
Metea,
Miami,
Okee,
Oshtemo,
Rensselaer,
Sleeth,
Spinks,
Teasdale, and
Williamstown soils. The Riddles soils are in a drainage sequence with the moderately well drained Williamstown soils, the somewhat poorly drained Crosier soils, the poorly drained Barry and Brookston soils, and the poorly drained or very poorly drained Rensselaer soils on lower landform positions. The somewhat poorly drained Blount, Capac, Locke, Sleeth, and Teasdale soils also occur on lower landform positions. The well drained Arkport, Hillsdale, Metea, Okee, Oshtemo, and Spinks soils, and the moderately well drained Miami soils are also closely associated on similar landform positions. Arkport, Hillsdale, Oshtemo, and Spinks soils do not have as much clay in the argillic horizon. Metea soils have 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches) of sand or loamy sand in the surface layer.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained. Potential for surface runoff is negligible to high depending on slope gradient. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are cropped to corn, soybeans, and small grain. Most rolling areas are in permanent pasture or forest. Native vegetation is deciduous forest.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 97, 98, and 111 in northern Indiana, southern Michigan, and northwestern Ohio. The series is of large extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Morgantown, West Virginia
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Elkhart County, Indiana, 1971.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 20 cm (8 inches) (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 20 to 198 cm (8 to 78 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4, Bt5, Bt6, and the 2Bt part of the 2Bt and E, 2E and Bt horizons).
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 125311 represents the typical pedon in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 125310 represents the 0 to 1 percent slope phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401580 represents the 5 to 10 percent slope, eroded phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401781 represents the 10 to 18 percent slope, eroded phase of Riddles in complex with Oshtemo.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 155002 represents the 0 to 2 percent slope phase of Riddles.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 401581 represents Riddles in complex with Metea.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab characterization data is available for the typical pedon (S94IN-039-22) from the National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE. Additional lab data for other pedons is also available from the NSSL. Transect data (T94IN-039-016) is on file in MLRA project office, Plymouth., Indiana. Transect shows 80 percent Riddles soils and 20 percent Oshtemo soils.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.