LOCATION BROOKSTON IN+MI OH WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Argiaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Brookston loam, on a concave, 1 percent slope in a cultivated field at an elevation of 264 meters (865 feet) above mean sea level. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap1--0 to 13 cm (0 to 5 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores with low continuity; 1 percent gravel; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
Ap2--13 to 23 cm (5 to 9 inches); very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak coarse granular structure; firm; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores with low continuity; 1 percent gravel; slightly acid; abrupt smooth boundary. [Combined thickness of the A horizon is 23 to 51 cm (9 to 20 inches).]
Btg1--23 to 41 cm (9 to 16 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay loam, dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; friable; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores with moderate continuity; common faint very dark gray (10YR 3/1) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Btg2--41 to 63 cm (16 to 25 inches); dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores with moderate continuity; many faint dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; common fine and medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; 1 percent gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Btg3--63 to 96 cm (25 to 38 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam; weak medium prismatic structure; firm; common very fine and fine roots between peds; common very fine and fine interstitial and tubular pores with moderate continuity; many distinct dark gray (10YR 4/1) clay films on faces of peds; many fine and medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; about 30 percent sand; 2 percent gravel; neutral; gradual wavy boundary.
Bt--96 to 122 cm (38 to 48 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; many distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on faces of peds; many fine and medium faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) masses of iron oxide accumulation in the matrix; about 47 percent sand; 2 percent gravel; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the Btg or Bt horizon is 51 to 129 cm (20 to 51 inches).]
BC1--122 to 147 cm (48 to 58 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; many distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of peds; many fine and medium distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; 1 percent gravel; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
BC2--147 to 173 cm (58 to 68 inches); dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam; moderate very coarse prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; firm; many distinct gray (10YR 5/1) clay films on vertical faces of peds; many fine and medium distinct grayish brown (10YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly effervescent on prism faces; slightly effervescent within prisms; 1 percent gravel; moderately alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. [Combined thickness of the BC horizon is 0 to 63 cm (25 inches).]
C--173 to 203 cm (68 to 80 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) loam; massive; firm; few distinct gray (10YR 6/1) carbonate coatings in cracks; 1 percent gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Elkhart County, Indiana; about 2 miles north and one-half mile east of Nappanee; 1,257 feet north and 2,238 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 18, T. 35 N., R. 5 E.; USGS Nappanee East, IN topographic quadrangle; lat. 41 degrees 28 minutes 57 seconds N. and long. 85 degrees 59 minutes 44 seconds W., NAD 27; UTM Zone 16, 583856 easting and 4592814 northing, NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: 76 to 178 cm (30 to 70 inches)
Depth to carbonates: 102 to 178 cm (40 to 70 inches)
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 51 cm (10 to 20 inches)
Thickness of the silty material: 0 to 51 cm (20 inches)
Particle-size control section: averages 25 to 35 percent clay and 15 to 40 percent fine sand or coarser; the sand fraction averages less 60 percent medium sand or coarser
Ap or A horizon:
Hue: 10YR
Value: 2 or 3
Chroma: 1 or 2
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, silt loam, mucky silt loam, or loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 5 percent
Reaction: slightly acid or neutral
BA or AB horizon: (where present)
Texture: silt loam
Btg or Bt horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y, or N
Value: 4 to 6; value of 3 may be present in the horizon immediately below the A horizon
Chroma: 0 to 6
Texture: silty clay loam, clay loam, or loam
Rock fragment content: 0 to 11 percent
Reaction: slightly acid to slightly alkaline
BC or BCg horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y, or N
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 0 to 4
Texture: loam or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 12 to 25 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 11 percent
Reaction: slightly acid in the upper part, ranging to moderately alkaline in the lower part; carbonates are present in the lower part
C or Cg horizon:
Hue: 10YR to 5Y, or N
Value: 4 to 7
Chroma: 0 to 4
Texture: loam or fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Sand content: averages less than 60 percent
Rock fragment content: 0 to 11 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 35 percent
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Barry, Clackamas, Cordova, Forestcity, Hamel, Jameston, Millgrove, Navan, Navunon, Nosoni, Radioville, Rensselaer, Tallmadge, and Westland series. Barry soils average less than 25 percent clay in the upper 51 cm (20 inches) of the argillic horizon. Forestcity, Hamel, and Nosoni soils have a mollic epipedon more than 51 cm (20 inches) thick. Clackamas and Millgrove soils average more than 11 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the control section. Cordova soils are in drier climates where the mean annual precipitation is about 711 mm (28 inches). Jameston, Navan, and Radioville soils have more than 20 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section. Navunon and Tallmadge soils have a lithic contact with a depth of 152 cm (60 inches). Rensselaer soils have strata with more than 80 percent sand in the lower part of the series control section. Westland soils have more than 15 percent gravel in the lower part of the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Brookston soils are in depressions on till plains and moraines. Slope gradients range from 0 to 3 percent. The soils formed in loamy till of Wisconsinan age. In some areas the upper part of the sola formed in as much as 51 cm (20 inches) of silty material. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 9 to 12 degrees C (48 to 53 degrees F). Mean annual precipitation ranges from 762 to 1067 mm (30 to 42 inches). Frost-free period ranges from 130 to 180 days. Elevation ranges from 177 to 466 meters (580 to 1,530 feet) above mean sea level.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Crosby, Crosier, Miami, Riddles, and Williamstown soils. The moderately well drained Miami and Williamstown soils and the well drained Riddles soils are on knolls of till plains and on narrow summits and backslopes of dissected till plains. The somewhat poorly drained Crosby and Crosier soils are on swells on till plains and moraines.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Poorly drained. The depth to the top of an intermittent apparent high water table ranges from 15 cm (0.5 foot) above the surface to 30 cm (1 foot) below the surface for some time in normal years. The potential for surface runoff is negligible to low. Saturated hydraulic conductivity is moderately high. Permeability is moderate in the subsoil and moderately slow in the underlying material.
USE AND VEGETATION: Soils are mostly used to grow corn, soybeans, oats, wheat, and hay. Small areas are in permanent pasture or woodlots. Native vegetation is deciduous forest, marsh grasses, and sedges.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRAs 95B, 97, 98, 99, 110, 111A, and 111C in Indiana, southern Michigan, western Ohio, and eastern Wisconsin. The series is of large extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: White County, Indiana, 1915.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon: from the surface to a depth of 41 cm (16 inches) (Ap1, Ap2, Btg1 horizons).
Argillic horizon: from a depth of 23 to 122 cm (9 to 48 inches) (Btg1, Btg2, Btg3, Bt horizons).
Aquic conditions: redoximorphic features present from 41 to 173 cm (16 to 68 inches) (Btg2, Btg3, Bt, BC1, BC2 horizons).
Drained and undrained phases are recognized.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 155039 represents the typical pedon.
NASIS Data Mapunit ID 154142 represents Brookston in complex with Navunon soils.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab characterization data is available for the typical pedon (S93IN-039-007) from the National Soil Survey Laboratory, Lincoln, NE. Transect data (T93IN-039-43) for the typical pedon is on file in MLRA project office, Plymouth, Indiana. Transect shows 100 percent Brookston and similar soils.