LOCATION BENZONIA MITentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, isotic, mesic Lamellic Haplorthods
TYPICAL PEDON: Benzonia sand, on a west facing, convex, 2 percent slope in a forested area at an elevation of 845 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated. When described on June 30, 1996, the soil was moist throughout.)
A--0 to 5 inches; (50%) black (5YR 2.5/1) and (50%) dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) sand, dark gray (N 4/0) dry; weak medium granular structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; very strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
E--5 to 11 inches; reddish gray (5YR 5/2) sand, pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Bhs1--11 to 15 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; strongly acid; clear irregular boundary.
Bhs2--15 to 20 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; strongly acid; clear irregular boundary. (Total thickness of the Bhs horizons is 5 to 9 inches)
Bs1--20 to 27 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bs2--27 to 35 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) sand; massive; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary. (Total thickness of the Bs horizons is 5 to 19 inches)
E and Bt--35 to 112 inches; about 95 percent brown (7.5YR 5/4) sand (E); single grain; loose; about 5 percent brown (7.5YR 4/4) loamy sand (Bt) consisting of several wavy and discontinuous lamellae 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick (total thickness equals 3 inches); massive; friable; few fine roots throughout; common discontinuous faint brown clay bridges between sand grains (Bt); moderately acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Benzie County, Michigan; 3 miles north of the village of Thompsonville; 1100 feet north and 1100 feet west of the southeast corner of section 14, T. 25 N., R. 14 W., USGS Thompsonville topographic quadrangle; lat. 44 degrees 33 minutes 35 seconds N., and long. 85 degrees 57 minutes 46 seconds W., NAD 83; Weldon township.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 49 degrees F. Gravel content ranges form 0 to 10 percent. Depth to the first lamellae is 30 to 55 inches. Total thickness of lamellae is less than 6 inches within a depth of 60 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 2.5, and chroma of 1 or 2. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid.
The E horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2. Reaction is very strongly acid or strongly acid.
The Bhs horizons have a hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 2.5 or 3, and chroma of 2 or 3. Reaction is strongly acid.
The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 4 to 6. Some pedons have a Bw horizon. It has hue of 10YR, value of 5 and chroma of 6. Reaction of the Bs and Bw horizons are strongly acid or moderately acid.
The E portion of the E and Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4. Some pedons have an E' horizon above the E and Bt horizon. It has the same color and texture as the E portion of the E and Bt horizon. Reaction of the E' and E and Bt horizons are moderately acid.
The Bt portion of the E and Bt has hue of 7.5YR, and value and chroma of 4.
COMPETING SERIES:
There are no other series in this family. Similar soils in closely related families are the
Benona series. The Benona series do not have have a Bhs horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Benzonia soils are on outwash plains, lake plains, and moraines. The soils formed is sandy deposits. Slopes range from 0 to 50 percent. Elevations ranges from 600 to 1000 feet. The mean annual temperature ranges from 47 to 49 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 32 inches. Frost free period is 120 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brethren (T), Coloma, Dair (T), Grattan, Kaleva (T), Kalkaska, and Saugatuck soils. The Brethren, Dair and Saugatuck soils are wetter members of a drainage sequence with the Benzonia soils The Coloma, Grattan and Kaleva soils are on similar landscape positions to the Benzonia soils.. Kalkaska is in adjoining areas mapped in the frigid temperature regime.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. The potential for surface runoff is low. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of the Benzonia soils are forested or are idle. Some areas are used for orchard crops.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan. This soil is of minor extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES PROPOSED: Benzie County, Michigan, 1996, MLRA 96. Source of the name is a town in the county.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - from a depth of 0 to 11 inches (A and E horizons); albic horizon - from a depth of 5 to 11 inches (E horizon); spodic horizon - from a depth of 11 to 27 inches (Bhs and Bs1 horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Site of Typical Pedon: Reference Soil No. S96MI-019-002, National Soil Survey Laboratory Pedon No. 97P 134, Sample No. 97P 894-900.