LOCATION ROSELMS                 OH+MI

Established Series
Rev. RLC-DRM-JAG
09/2012

ROSELMS SERIES


The Roselms series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils formed in clayey lacustrine sediments. These soils are on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 838 mm (33 inches), and mean annual air temperature is about 11 degrees C (51 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Very-fine, illitic, mesic Aeric Epiaqualfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Roselms silty clay, on a 2 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 215 meters (705 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 23 cm (0 to 9 inches); dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silty clay, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [13 to 25 cm (5 to 10 inches) thick]

Bt1--23 to 43 cm (9 to 17 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) on exterior of peds; weak fine and medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few faint clay films on faces of peds; few faint clay depletions on vertical faces of peds; many fine distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--43 to 63 cm (17 to 25 inches); brown (10YR 4/3) clay, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) on exterior of peds; weak medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; few medium dark stains (iron and manganese oxides) on faces of peds; common fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix and dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) iron depletions in the matrix; neutral; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 28 to 63 cm (11 to 25 inches).]

Btg--63 to 81 cm (25 to 32 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) clay; moderate medium angular blocky structure; very firm; few faint clay films on vertical faces of peds; few distinct white (10YR 8/1) calcium carbonate coats on faces of peds; few medium dark stains (iron and manganese oxides); common fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [0 to 25 cm (10 inches) thick]

Cg--81 to 102 cm (32 to 40 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) clay; massive with vertical partings; very firm; common faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) coatings, few fine dark stains (iron and manganese oxides) and common distinct white (10YR 8/1) calcium carbonate coatings on faces of partings; common fine and medium distinct brown (10YR 5/3) and yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [13 to 25 cm (5 to 10 inches) thick]

C1--102 to 119 cm (40 to 47 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay; massive with vertical partings; very firm; common distinct gray (10YR 5/1) coatings, common fine dark stains (iron and manganese oxides) and many distinct white (10YR 8/1) calcium carbonate coatings on faces of partings; many fine distinct gray (10YR 5/1) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline; gradual smooth boundary.

C2--119 to 152 cm (47 to 60 inches); light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) clay; massive with vertical partings; very firm; many prominent gray (5Y 5/1) and greenish gray (5G 5/1) coatings on faces of partings; common fine prominent gray (5Y 5/1) iron depletions in the matrix; few gypsum crystals; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Defiance County, Ohio; about 3.75 miles east of Ney; 240 feet east and 300 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 19, T. 5 N., R. 4 E.; USGS Evansport, Ohio topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 22 minutes 58.9 seconds N. and long. 84 degrees 27 minutes 28.3 seconds W., NAD 27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 63 to 140 cm (25 to 55 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 46 to 89 cm (18 to 35 inches)

Ap horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 or 5 (6 or more dry)
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: commonly silty clay loam or silty clay, or less commonly clay, clay loam, loam, silt loam, or fine sandy loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

A horizon, where present:
Thickness: 2.5 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches)
Value: 3 to 5
Chroma: 1
Texture: commonly silty clay loam or silty clay, or less commonly clay, clay loam, loam, silt loam, or fine sandy loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

E or Eg horizon, where present:
Thickness: 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches)
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 to 7
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, loam, silt loam, or fine sandy loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral

Bt or Btg horizon:
Hue: commonly 10YR or 2.5Y, or less commonly 7.5YR in subhorizons of some pedons
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: clay
Clay content: averages 60 to 80 percent
Reaction: very strongly acid to neutral in the upper part and moderately acid to moderately alkaline in the lower part

Some pedons have a BC horizon.

C or Cg horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 4 to 6
Chroma: 1 to 4
Texture: clay
Clay content: 60 to 80 percent
Structure: laminated or has thin stratification in some pedons
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 14 to 25 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. Related soils are the Kingsbury series. Kingsbury soils have endosaturation.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Roselms soils are on slightly elevated areas that have a convex surface or are on gently sloping areas along drainageways. They are on lake plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in very fine-textured, calcareous lacustrine material. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 686 to 914 mm (27 to 36 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 7 to 11 degrees C (45 to 52 degrees F). Frost-free period is 140 to 165 days. Elevation is 175 to 244 meters (575 to 800 feet) above mean sea level.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Broughton and Paulding soils in a toposequence with Roselms soils and the Defiance and Wabasha soils. The moderately well drained Broughton soils are on gently sloping to steep dissected areas along drainageways. The very poorly drained Paulding soils are on broad, nearly level areas of the lake plain. Defiance and Wabasha soils are on nearby flood plains.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent perched high water table ranges from 15 to 30 cm (0.5 to 1.0 foot) between January and April in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is low to very high. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is low. Permeability is very slow.

USE AND VEGETATION: More than half of the Roselms soils have been cleared for cultivation with soybeans, small grain, some corn, and hay as principal crops. Native vegetation is hardwood forest with white oak, pin oak, and slippery elm as dominant species.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan; MLRAs 98 and 99. The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: AMHERST, MASSACHUSETTS

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Paulding County, Ohio, 1957.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 23 cm (Ap horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 23 to 81 cm (Bt, Btg horizons).
Aquic conditions: redox features visible in all horizons below a depth of 23 cm.

Additional work is needed to determine if the clay and silty clay surface phases of Roselms should be in the Aeric Vertic subgroup. The previously correlated surface phases of fine sandy loam, loam, silt loam, silty clay loam, and clay loam will need studied during update activities. It is likely that they will meet the criteria for an abrupt textural change and be reclassified into the Albaqualfs.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory characterization data from The Ohio State University Soil Characterization Laboratory is available for pedons DF-33 (the typical pedon), DF-25, DF-31, PD-7, PD-9, PD-42, and WL-13. This data should be evaluated in the future to determine if it supports the current series concept.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.