LOCATION BRETHREN MITentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, isotic, mesic Oxyaquic Haplorthods
TYPICAL PEDON: Brethren sand - on a south facing, convex, 2 percent slope in a forested area at an elevation of 240 meters. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated. When described on June 18, 1996, the soil was moist throughout.)
A--0 to 4 inches; black (N 2.5/0) sand, dark gray (N 4/0) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse and few very coarse roots throughout; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
E--4 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) sand, gray (7.5YR 6/1) dry; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; very strongly acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (4 to 7 inches thick)
Bhs--8 to 10 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; moderately acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
Bs--10 to 20 inches; strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) sand; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable; many very fine to coarse roots throughout; columns of very weakly cemented, dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) ortstein about 3 inches wide extending through the Bw into the BC; ortstein columns are about 35 inches apart; ortstein occupies about 8 percent of the horizon; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (10 to 15 inches thick)
Bw--20 to 27 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) sand; single grain; loose; common very fine to coarse roots throughout; columns of very weakly cemented, dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) ortstein about 5 inches wide extend through this horizon from the Bs into the BC; ortstein columns are about 35 inches apart; ortstein occupies about 20 percent of the horizon; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary. (0 to 9 inches thick)
BC--27 to 43 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) sand; single grain; loose; few very fine and fine roots throughout; columns of very weakly cemented, dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) ortstein about 5 inches wide extend from the Bs and Bw horizons; ortstein columns are about 35 inches apart; ortstein occupies about 20 percent of the horizon; common fine distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) masses of iron accumulation; about 3 percent gravel; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. (6 to 16 inches thick)
C--43 to 80 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sand; single grain; loose; few fine and very fine roots throughout; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) and yellowish red (5YR 4/6), and common medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron accumulation; few lenses of coarse sand and gravel; about 3 percent gravel; slightly acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Manistee County, Michigan; 3 miles southwest of the village of Copemish; 1550 feet south and 1790 feet west of the northeast corner of section 26, T. 24 N., R. 14 W., USGS Copemish topographic quadrangle; lat. 44 degrees 27 minutes 3 seconds N., and long. 85 degrees 57 minutes 59 seconds W., NAD83; Springdale township.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature is 47 to 49 degrees F. Ortstein occupies less than 40 percent of the profile and is found in less than half of the pedons. Depth to redoximorphic features is 20 to 40 inches. The gravel content ranges from 0 to 5 percent throughout the profile.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, or is neutral, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 0 to 2. Some pedons have an Ap horizon. It has the same colors and textures as the A horizon. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The E horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 3. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The Bhs horizon has hue of 2.5YR to 7.5YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 to 3. Reaction is very strongly acid to moderately acid.
The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR or 7.5YR, value of 3 or 4, and chroma of 4 to 6. The amount of ortstein occurring as columns or tongues ranges form 0 to 40 percent. Reaction is strongly acid or moderately acid.
The Bw horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 6 to 8. The amount of ortstein occurring as columns or tongues ranges form 0 to 40 percent. Reaction is strongly acid or moderately acid.
The BC horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5, and chroma of 6. The amount of ortstein occurring as columns or tongues ranges form 0 to 40 percent. Reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 6. Reaction is strongly acid to slightly acid.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. Similar series in closely related families are the Covert series. The Covert series does not have a Bhs horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Brethren soils are on outwash plains and lake plains. The soils formed in sandy deposits. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. Elevations ranges from 600 to 1000 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges form 30 to 32 inches. The mean annual temperature ranges form 47 to 49 degrees F. The frost-free period is 120 to 160 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: Grattan, Kaleva (T), Benzonia (T), Saugatuck, and Dair (T). The Grattan, Kaleva and Benzonia soils are on higher landform positions. The Saugatuck and Dair soils are wetter members of a drainage sequence with the Brethren soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. Surface runoff is very slow. Permeability is rapid. These soils have an apparent seasonal high water table at a depth of 2.5 to 3.5 feet for 1 month or more per year at sometime during the period September to May in 6 or more out of 10 years.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of the Brethren soils are forested or are idle. Some areas are planted to pine trees.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern lower peninsula of Michigan, MLRA 96. This soil is of minor extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES PROPOSED: Manistee County, Michigan, 1996. Source of the name is a village in the county.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - from a depth of 0 to 8 inches (A and E horizons);
albic horizon - from a depth of 4 to 8 inches (E horizon);
spodic horizon - from a depth of 8 to 20 inches (Bhs and Bs horizons); oxyaquic features - redox accumulations and saturation below the spodic horizon and within 40 inches.