LOCATION SIDELL                  IN+IL

Established Series
Rev TRZ-WDH-TJE
07/2011

SIDELL SERIES


The Sidell series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in silty material and the underlying loamy glaciofluvial material and till. These soils are on till plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 914 mm (36 inches), and mean annual temperature is about 10.0 degrees C (50 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiudolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Sidell silt loam, on a 1 percent slope in a cultivated field (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated).

Ap--0 to 23 cm (9 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary.

A--23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; common very fine pores; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 25 to 38 cm (10 to 15 inches).]

Bt1--30 to 43 cm (12 to 17 inches); dark brown (10YR 3/3) silt loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine pores; thin continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt2--43 to 56 cm (17 to 22 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many very fine pores; thin continuous very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--56 to 74 cm (22 to 29 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many very fine pores; thin continuous dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bt horizon is 25 to 76 cm (10 to 30 inches).]

2Bt4--74 to 86 cm (29 to 34 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; many very fine pores; thin continuous dark brown (10YR 3/3) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent gravel; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary.

2Bt5--86 to 99 cm (34 to 39 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common fine roots; many very fine pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary.

2Bt6--99 to 117 cm (39 to 46 inches); brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; many very fine pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the 2Bt horizon is 30 to 89 cm (12 to 35 inches).]

3Bt7--117 to 142 cm (46 to 56 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; common very fine pores; thin continuous dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; neutral; clear smooth boundary.

3Bt8--142 to 196 cm (56 to 77 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; thin discontinuous dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness at the 3Bt horizon is 8 to 51 cm (3 to 20 inches).]

3C--196 to 203 cm (77 to 80 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; massive; friable; 5 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Tippecanoe County, Indiana; 140 feet west and 175 feet north of the center of sec. 21, T. 22 N., R. 4 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Thickness of the solum: 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches)
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 152 to 203 cm (60 to 80 inches)
Thickness of the silty material: 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches)
Depth to the top of the 3Bt horizon: 114 to 152 cm (45 to 60 inches)

Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 3
Chroma: 1 or 2
Reaction: strongly acid to neutral depending on liming history

Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: silt loam or silty clay loam
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid

2Bt horizon:
Hue: 7.5YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: clay loam or sandy loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: very strongly acid to slightly acid

3Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: clay loam or loam
Rock fragment content: 2 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline

3C horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loam
Rock fragment content: 2 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Ashdale, Broadwell, Dinsdale, Douglas, Elkhart, Elmont, Gymer, Healing, Lycurgus, Malcolm, Meadowbank, Mendota, Mickle, Ogle, Osco, Parkway, Plano, Proctor, Richwood, Ripon, Sibley, Tama, Tecumseh, Toddville, Wakenda, and Waupecan series. Ashdale, Elmont, and Ripon soils have a paralithic or lithic contact within a depth of 203 cm (80 inches). Broadwell soils have sandy textures with more than 70 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Dinsdale sand Mickle oils have redoximorphic features in the lower part of the series control section. Douglas, Osco, Plano, Sibley, Tama, and Wakenda soils are deeper than 102 cm (40 inches) to horizons containing more than 20 percent sand. Elkhart, Malcolm, Mendota, and Parkway soils are less than 152 cm (60 inches) to the base of the argillic horizon. Gymer soils have hue redder than 10YR in the lower part of the series control section. Healing soils are in climates with a mean annual temperature greater than 11.1 degrees C (52 degrees F). Lycurgus soils do not have textures with more than 20 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Meadowbank soils have lamellae in the lower part of the argillic horizon. Ogle soils have hue redder than 7.5YR in subhorizons of the argillic horizon. Proctor soils do not have a lithologic discontinuity with till (3Bt horizon) in the lower part of the series control section. Richwood and Toddville soils have less than 2 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Tecumseh soils currently have overlapping series concept and ranges (see REMARKS). Waupecan soils have more than 10 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sidell soils are on till plains of Wisconsinan age. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. The Sidell soils formed in 61 to 102 cm (24 to 40 inches) of silty material and the underlying loamy glaciofluvial material and till. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 889 to 965 mm (35 to 38 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 9.4 to 11.1 degrees C (49 to 52 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Lauramie and Mellott soils. The well drained Lauramie and Mellott soils have dark colored surface layers less than 25 cm (10 inches) thick. Lauramie soils have more sand in the upper part of the sola and are on more sloping areas in the landscape. Mellott soils are on similar landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained. Potential for surface runoff is negligible to medium depending on the slope gradient. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas are cropped to corn, soybeans, or small grain. A few areas are used for legume hay or pasture. Native vegetation is tall prairie grasses, chiefly big bluestem.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 95B, 108A, and 111A in east-central Indiana and Illinois. The series is of small extent

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Vermillion County, Illinois, 1930.

REMARKS: Differentiae separating Tecumseh series and Sidell series are unclear based on current series concepts. The 6/87 revision of the Sidell Official Series Description indicated that Sidell series formed in loess and the underlying loamy glaciofluvium and till, same as Tecumseh series. Historical records indicate that Sidell series formed in loess and the underlying till, and it is believed that this is the correct series concept. This will need to be investigated and resolved during MLRA updating activities.

This soil is considered prime farmland.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 30 cm (12 inches) (Ap, A horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 30 to 196 cm (12 to 77 inches) (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, 2Bt4, 2Bt5, 2Bt6, 3Bt7, 3Bt8 horizons).
Lithologic discontinuities: at 74 cm (top of the 2B4t horizon); at 117 cm (top of the 3Bt7 horizon).


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.