LOCATION CHALMERS INEstablished Series
The Chalmers series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in loess and silty till. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderately slow in the underlying till. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 35 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 57
degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Endoaquolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Chalmers silty clay loam - on a 0 percent slope in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 9 inches; black (l0YR 2/l) silty clay loam, very dark gray (l0YR 3/l) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; common fine roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to l2 inches thick)
A--9 to l3 inches; black (l0YR 2/l) silty clay loam, very dark gray (l0YR 3/l) dry; moderate medium granular structure; friable; common fine roots; few fine distinct grayish brown (l0YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; neutral; clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)
Bg1--l3 to l8 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine roots; thin patchy very dark gray (l0YR 3/l) organic coatings on faces of peds; thick continuous black (l0YR 2/l) material from A horizon in old root channels; common medium distinct gray (l0YR 5/l) iron depletions and yellowish brown (l0YR 5/4) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few fine gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary.
Bg2--l8 to 27 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) silty clay loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; thin continuous dark gray (l0YR 4/l) organic and silt coatings on faces of peds; common medium distinct gray (l0YR 5/l) iron depletions and common medium prominent yellowish brown (l0YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; few fine gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of B2g horizon is l0 to 25 inches.)
2Bg3--27 to 38 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loam; weak coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; firm; few fine roots; thin continuous dark gray (l0YR 4/l) organic and silt coatings on faces of peds; many medium prominent yellowish brown (l0YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; 2 percent fine gravel; neutral; clear wavy boundary. (l to l2 inches thick)
2BC--38 to 49 inches; yellowish brown (l0YR 5/6) silt loam; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; thin patchy dark gray (l0YR 4/l) organic and silt coatings on faces of peds and in old root channels; many medium distinct grayish brown (l0YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; 2 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (6 to l5 inches thick)
2C--49 to 60 inches; brown (l0YR 5/3) silt loam; massive; firm; common medium faint grayish brown (l0YR 5/2) iron depletions in the matrix; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: White County, Indiana; 500 feet north and 580 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 25, T. 25 N., R. 6 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to the base of the cambic horizon and solum thickness ranges from 40 to 60 inches. Thickness of loess is 20 to 40 inches.
The A horizon has hue of l0YR, value of 2 to 3, and chroma of l or 2. It is silty clay loam or silt loam and moderately acid to neutral.
The Bg horizon has hue of l0YR or 2.5Y, value of 3 to 6, and chroma of l or 2, or is N with value of 3 to 6. It is silty clay loam or silt loam and slightly acid to moderately alkaline.
The BC horizon has hue of l0YR or 2.5Y, value 4 to 6, and chroma l to 6. It is silty clay loam, loam, or silt loam.
The 2C horizon has hue of l0YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6, and chroma l to 4, or is N with value of 4 to 6. It is silt loam with a clay content of l2 to l8 percent.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Chetomba, Dolbee, Drummer, Dunham, Elpaso, Elvira, Garwin, Hartsburg, Madelia, Mascoutah, Maxcreek, Maxfield, Ossian, Patton, Pella, Rushmore, Sable, and Wacousta series in the same family. Chetomba, Hartsburg and Pella soils contain free carbonates within 40 inches of the surface. Dolbee soils formed in alluvium and average more than 18 percent clay in the lower part of the series control section. Drummer, Elpaso, Garwin, Mascoutah and Sable soils formed in more than 40 inches of loess. Dunham soils have more than 15 percent rock fragments in the lower part of the series control section. Elvira soils formed in alluvium, are high in free iron and have more sand in the lower part of the series control section. Madelia, Rushmore, and Wacousta soils have a solum thickness of less than 40 inches. Maxcreek and Maxfield soils have mean annual temperatures of less than 50 degrees F and are underlain with loam till. Ossian soils formed in silty alluvium and have hue of 5Y throughout the subsoil. Patton soils have a solum thickness of less than 42 inches and are stratified in the lower part of the series control section.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Chalmers soils are on nearly level to slightly depressed areas on till plains and moraines. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Chalmers soils formed in loess and silty glacial till. Mean annual precipitation is 32 to 38 inches, and mean annual temperature is 50 to 62 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Lisbon,
Saybrook,
Toronto, and
Wingate soils. Lisbon and Toronto soils have argillic horizons with chroma of 3 or more on nearby nearly level slopes. Saybrook and Wingate soils have argillic horizon and are on higher lying gently sloping and moderately sloping areas.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained. The potential for surface water runoff is low or negligible. Permeability is moderate in the solum and moderately slow in the underlying material.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most of the Chalmers soils are cultivated. Corn and soybeans are the principal row crops. Native vegetation is prairie grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Indiana. Series is of moderate extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Newton County, Indiana, l948.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons recognized in this pedon are: mollic epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 13 inches (Ap and A horizons); cambic horizon - the zone from 13 to 49 inches (Bg1, Bg2, 2Bg3 and 2BC horizons).