LOCATION SOL                     MN

Established Series
Rev. RER-AGG
02/2012

SOL SERIES


The Sol series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in loamy glacial till on moraines. They are on glaciated ground moraines and end moraines. The permeability is moderate. Slopes range from 1 to 50 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 24 inches. Mean annual air temperature is about 39 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Haplic Glossudalfs

TYPICAL PEDON: Sol fine sandy loam with a 2 percent convex slope in a forest. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 3 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) fine sandy loam; gray (10YR 5/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; about 3 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; moderately acid; clear smooth boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)

E--3 to 14 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable; about 3 percent gravel, 10 percent cobbles; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 16 inches thick)

B/E--14 to 24 inches; 70 percent dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy clay loam (Bt); 30 percent brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry (E); moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; few prominent very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) clay films on faces of peds; about 4 percent gravel; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (2 to 12 inches thick)

Bt--24 to 38 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sandy clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common distinct brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds and lining pores; about 4 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear smooth boundary. (6 to 30 inches thick)

C--38 to 60 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) fine sandy loam; massive parting to moderate fine and medium platy soil fragments; very friable; about 10 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Clearwater County, Minnesota; about 2 miles east and 2 miles south of Leonard, 1,700 feet west and 500 feet north of the southeast corner of sec. 23, T. 148 N., R. 36 W., USGS Solway quadrangle, lat. 47 degrees 37 minutes 01 seconds N., long. 95 degrees 12 minutes 46 seconds W., NAD27.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to free carbonates ranges from 30 to 60 inches. These soils typically have 2 to 15 percent pebble size rock fragments throughout and 0 to 35 percent cobbles. The cobbles are typically concentrated in the upper third of the series control section. A cobbly phase is recognized. The soil moisture control section is not dry for in any part for as long as 90 cumulative days in most years.

The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 to 4 and chroma of 1 to 3 The fine earth fraction is very fine sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or sandy loam. The reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid.

The E horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 2 or 3. The fine earth fraction is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy sand or loamy fine sand. The reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid.

The B/E or E/B has properties similar to the E and Bt horizon respectively.

The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 5 and chroma of 3 or 4. The fine earth fraction is loam or sandy clay loam with subhorizons of sandy loam or fine sandy loam. The clay content ranges from 18 to 27 percent and the sand content ranges from 45 to 65 percent. The reaction is moderately acid or slightly acid.

Some pedons have a Bk horizon that is similar to the C horizon but have appreciable evidence of secondary carbonate accumulation.

The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6 and chroma of 4 or 6. It is sandy loam or fine sandy loam. The clay content ranges from 8 to 18 percent and the sand content ranges from 45 to 70 percent. The reaction is mildly alkaline or moderately alkaline. It has 10 to 20 percent calcium carbonate equivalent.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bamfield, Cushing, Duluth, Lozeau and Warba series. Bamfield, Duluth and Warba soils have more than 18 percent clay in the lower third of the series control section. Cushing soils have less than 10 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the C horizon. (Cushing soils will need redifinition upon an MLRA-90 correlation). Lozeau soils have a paralithic contact above a depth of 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Sol soils are on convex and linear slopes with gradients of 1 to 50 percent. They formed in calcareous, loamy glacial till on ground moraines and end moraines in material of the Wisconsinan Age. This soil is associated with the Itasca Moraine in north central Minnesota. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 20 to 28 inches. Mean air annual temperature ranges from 37 to 43 degrees F. Frost free days range from 90 to 130 days. The elevation above sea level ranges from 1200 to 1650 feet.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the very poorly drained Cathro and Seelyeville soils in depressions and basins, the poorly drained Egglake soils in swales, and the moderately well drained Nary soils on slight rises.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Surface runoff is moderately high to very high. Permeability is moderate.

USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is forested or cultivated. Quaking aspen and northern red oak are the dominant species. Small grain, corn, and hay are the major cultivated crops.
Native vegetation is mixed deciduous and coniferous species.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North central Minnesota. Moderately extensive.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: St. Paul, Minnesota

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Beltrami County, Minnesota, 1991.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized are: ochric epipedon - zone from surface to a depth of 14 inches (A and E horizons); glossic horizon - the zone from 14 to 24 inches (B/E horizon); argillic horizon - the zone from 14 to 38 inches (B/E and Bt horizon).

The Type Location was originally proposed to be from Beltrami County. It was moved to Clearwater County to better reflect the series as it occurs in MLRA-57.

ADDITIONAL DATA: Refer to Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station CFC Numbers 3147, 4756 and 4281 for results of representative pedons. Soil Interpretation Record numbers MN0522 and MN0741.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.