LOCATION CERESCO MI+IL IN OH WI MNEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Fluvaquentic Hapludolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Ceresco sandy loam, on a slope of 1 percent, in an undisturbed area. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches); very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) dry; weak medium granular structure; friable; neutral; clear wavy boundary. [20 to 45 centimeters (8 to 18 inches) thick]
Bw--30 to 53 centimeters (12 to 21 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable; many medium distinct gray (10YR 5/1) and common medium distinct very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) redoximorphic depletions; slightly acid; clear wavy boundary. [0 to 30 centimeters (0 to 12 inches) thick]
Bg--53 to 76 centimeters (21 to 30 inches); grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; many coarse distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redoximorphic concentrations; neutral; gradual wavy boundary. [18 to 40 centimeters (7 to 16 inches) thick]
Cg--76 to 122 centimeters (30 to 48 inches); gray (10YR 5/1) sandy loam; massive; friable; common medium distinct brown (7.5YR 5/2) redoximorphic depletions; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Lapeer County, Michigan; about 1/2 mile north of the village of Almont; located about 1,320 feet east and 1,300 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 15, T. 6 N., R. 12 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the mollic epipedon ranges from 20 to 49 centimeters (8 to 19 inches) thick. The content of clay (weighted average) ranges from 10 to 18 percent. The reaction ranges from slightly acid to slightly alkaline to depths of 60 to 75 centimeters (24 to 30 inches) and from neutral to moderately alkaline below these depths.
The A horizon has value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, loamy fine sand, loamy sand, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silt loam. A1 and A2 horizons are present in some pedons. The A2 horizon has value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 to 3. Cultivated areas have Ap horizons with hue of 10YR, value of 3 to 5, and chroma of 2 or 3. Ab horizons are present in some pedons.
The B horizon has value of 4 or 5, and chroma of 2 to 6. It is loam, silt loam, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loamy fine sand, or very fine sandy loam.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is sandy loam, fine sandy loam, loam, very fine sandy loam, or silt loam. Some pedons have strata of very fine sand. Gravelly sand is within depths of 75 to 150 centimeters (30 to 60 inches) in some pedons.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ceresco soils are on nearly level flood plains at elevations slightly above the first bottom land in large flood plains or on first bottom positions on smaller streams in river valleys. Slope ranges from 0 to 3 percent. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 735 to 1,090 millimeters (29 to 43 inches). Mean annual air temperature ranges from 6 to 13 degrees C (42 to 56 degrees F). Elevation ranges from 130 to 400 meters (427 to 1,312 feet) above sea level. The frost-free period ranges from 145 to 220 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Algansee, Cohoctah, Landes, and Shoals soils. The Algansee soils are on landscape positions similar to those of the Ceresco soils and do not have a mollic epipedon. The poorly drained or very poorly drained Cohoctah soils and the well drained Landes soils form a drainage sequence with Ceresco soils. The Shoals soils are on landscape positions similar to those of the Ceresco soils and have a clay content that averages 18 to 33 percent in the particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat poorly drained. Saturated hydraulic conductivity 1.00 to 100.00 micrometers per second (moderately high or high). These soils are frequently or occasionally flooded for brief to long duration.
USE AND VEGETATION: Only a small part is under cultivation. Most of the cleared areas are used for permanent pasture. A large amount is in woods consisting of elm, ash, and cottonwood.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: LRRs L and M; MLRAs 98, 99, 105, 111D, 115C; Southern Michigan, northwestern Ohio, southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, and possibly northern Indiana. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ionia County, Michigan, 1965.
REMARKS:
Particle-size control section--the zone from a depth of 25 to 100 centimeters (10 to 40 inches);
series control section--the zone from the surface to a depth of 122 centimeters.
Diagnostic features and horizons in this pedon include:
mollic epipedon--the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 30 centimeters (12 inches) (A horizon);
cambic horizon--the zone from a depth of 30 to 76 centimeters (12 to 30 inches) (Bw and Bg horizons;
udic moisture regime.
Cation-exchange activity class is inferred from lab data from similar soils in the surrounding area.
Taxonomy version--Keys to Soil Taxonomy, tenth edition, 2006.