LOCATION WHITTEMORE MI

Established Series
Rev. EPJ-JDR-MLK
08/2012

WHITTEMORE SERIES

The Whittemore series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that are shallow to ortstein. Whittemore soils formed in sandy glaciofluvial deposits and in the underlying clayey lacustrine deposits on lake plains and outwash plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 737 mm (29 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 6.7 degrees C (44 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, frigid, shallow, ortstein Typic Duraquods

TYPICAL PEDON: Whittemore sand, from an area of Whittemore-Springport complex, 0 to 3 percent slopes. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

Ap--0 to 23 cm (9 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sand, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [8 to 23 cm (3 to 9 inches) thick]

E--23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 inches); light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) and light gray (10YR 7/2) sand, white (10YR 8/1) and light gray (10YR 7/1) dry; single grain; loose; pockets of very dark gray (10YR 3/1) Ap material and black (N 2.5/) burned roots; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [8 to 28 cm (3 to 11 inches) thick]

Bhsm--30 to 43 cm (12 to 17 inches); dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2 and 5YR 3/3) sand; strong medium and thick platy structure; firm; ortstein occupies 90 percent of the horizon and is strongly cemented; ortstein occurs as a nearly continuous layer; few fine prominent light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) iron depletions; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [0 to 13 cm (5 inches) thick]

Bw1--43 to 58 cm (17 to 23 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; loose; many coarse distinct yellowish red (5YR 4/6) and common medium distinct light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) masses of oxidized iron; few fine prominent grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) iron depletions; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. [13 to 30 cm (5 to 12 inches) thick]

Bw2--58 to 74 cm (23 to 29 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; few fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) masses of oxidized iron; slightly alkaline; abrupt wavy boundary.

Bw3--74 to 89 cm (29 to 35 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loamy sand; single grain; loose; thin strata 3 to 6 mm (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of brown (10YR 5/3) silt; common fine distinct strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Bw2 and Bw3 horizons is 0 to 28 cm (11 inches).]

2Bt--89 to 112 cm (35 to 44 inches); light reddish brown (5YR 6/3) silty clay; strong coarse angular blocky structure parting to strong medium and fine angular blocky; firm; common distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay films; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; many fine and medium prominent greenish gray (5GY 6/1) iron depletions; about 1 percent rock fragments; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [15 to 23 cm (6 to 9 inches) thick]

2C--112 to 203 cm (44 to 80 inches); reddish brown (5YR 5/3) silty clay; massive with widely spaced vertical fractures; firm; few fine white (10YR 8/1) carbonate coatings; common coarse prominent light olive brown (2.5Y 5/6) masses of oxidized iron; many medium prominent gray (N 6/) iron depletions; about 1 percent rock fragments; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline.

TYPE LOCATION: Iosco County, Michigan, about 10 miles west of Tawas City; 900 feet east and 550 feet south of the northwest corner of sec. 36, T. 22 N., R. 6 E.; USGS Floyd Lake, Michigan topographic quadrangle; lat. 44 degrees 15 minutes 41 seconds N. and long. 83 degrees 39 minutes 38 seconds W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the ortstein layer: 15 to 51 cm (6 to 20 inches)
Thickness of the sandy material: 46 to 99 cm (18 to 39 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 46 to 99 cm (18 to 39 inches)
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent gravel throughout

Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR or is neutral
Value: 3
Chroma: 0 or 1

E horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 6 or 7
Chroma: 2
Reaction: moderately acid

Bhsm horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 2, 2.5, or 3
Chroma: 2 or 3
Ortstein content: greater than 90 percent of the horizon is weakly to strongly cemented
Reaction: moderately acid

Bsm horizon, where present:
Hue: 5YR to 10YR
Value: 2 to 5
Chroma: 2 to 6

Bw1 horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 4 to 6
Texture: sand
Reaction: moderately acid

Bw2 and Bw3 horizons:
Hue: 10YR or 2.5Y
Value: 5 or 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: loamy sand or sand
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly alkaline

2Bt horizon:
Hue: 5YR
Value: 3 to 6
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silty clay or clay
Reaction: moderately alkaline

2C horizon:
Hue: 5YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5
Chroma: 3
Texture: silty clay
Reaction: moderately alkaline

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Finch, McIvor, and Spot series. Finch and McIvor soils have more than 99 cm (39 inches) of sandy material in the upper part of the series control section. Spot soils have a seasonal high water table within a foot of the surface.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Whittemore soils are on lake plains and outwash plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 6 percent. The soils formed in sandy glaciofluvial deposits 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches) thick and in the underlying clayey lacustrine deposits. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 711 to 762 mm (28 to 30 inches). Mean annual temperature ranges from 6.1 to 7.2 degrees C (43 to 45 degrees F).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Whittemore soils are associated with the poorly drained Springport and Wakeley soils, the somewhat poorly drained Manary soils, and the competing McIvor soils. Manary soils do not have spodic horizons.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Depth to the top of a perched seasonal high water table ranges from 30 to 91 cm (1 to 3 feet) between October and May in normal years. Potential for surface runoff is negligible to high depending on slope gradient and depth to the clayey material. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is high or very high in the sandy material; moderately high or high in the ortstein material; and low in the clayey material. Permeability is rapid in the upper sandy material, moderate or moderately rapid in the ortstein material and very slow in the underlying clayey material.

USE AND VEGETATION: Only a small portion of this soil has been cleared. It is used mainly for woodland. Woodlands consist of mixed northern hardwoods, pines, and eastern hemlock.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 94A in northeastern lower Michigan. The series is of small extent.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Iosco County, Michigan, 1994.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 30 cm (12 inches) (A and E horizons).
Albic horizon: from a depth of 23 to 30 cm (9 to 12 inches) (E horizon).
Spodic horizon: from a depth of 30 to 43 cm (12 to 17 inches) (Bhsm horizon).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 89 to 112 cm (35 to 44 inches) (2Bt horizon).
Aquic conditions: iron depletions present between 30 and 58 cm (12 to 23 inches) (Bhsm and Bw1 horizons) and between 89 and 203 cm (35 and 80 inches) (2Bt and 2C horizons).

ADDITIONAL DATA: For laboratory data see NSSL S93MI-069-001. Soil Interpretation Record No.: MI0725.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.