LOCATION GRATTAN            MI

GRATTAN SERIES

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy, mixed, mesic Entic Haplorthods

TYPICAL PEDON: Grattan sand on a 3 percent slope in a forested area. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)

A--0 to 3 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) sand; dark gray (10YR 4/1) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; common medium and fine roots; very strongly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 5 inches thick)

E--3 to 6 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) sand; single grain; loose; common fine roots; strongly acid; clear irregular boundary. (2 to 9 inches thick)

Bs1--6 to 18 inches; dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) sand; single grain; loose; few fine roots; strongly acid; clear wavy boundary.

Bs2--18 to 32 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) sand; single grain; loose; moderately acid; about 3 percent fine gravel; gradual wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bs horizon is 8 to 26 inches.)

C--32 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sand; single grain; loose; moderately acid; about 1 percent fine gravel.

TYPE LOCATION: Oceana County, Michigan; about 2 miles south of the village of Rothbury; 160 feet south and 2200 feet east of the northwest corner of sec. 32, T. 13 N., R. 17 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The thickness of the solum ranges from 20 to 50 inches. The reaction of the solum ranges from slightly acid to very strongly acid. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 5 percent throughout the pedon. The difference between mean annual summer and mean annual winter temperature varies from 43 to 59 degrees F.

Some pedons have O horizons of partially or well decomposed forest litter up to 3 inches thick.

The A or Ap horizon, where present, has hue of 7.5YR, 10YR, or is neutral, value of 2 to 4, and chroma of 0 to 3. The E horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value 5 or 6, and chroma of 1 or 2. The A and E horizons are sand or loamy sand.

The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 3 to 7, and chroma of 4 to 8. The amount of ortstein occurring as chunks in the Bs horizon ranges from 0 to 10 percent. The B horizons are sand or loamy sand.

Some pedons have a BC horizon with hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 or 6, and chroma of 4 to 7. It ranges up to 19 inches in thickness.

The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 to 7, and chroma of 3 to 6. It is sand or coarse sand. It ranges from neutral to strongly acid. Some pedons have loam or clay loam material at depths greater than 40 inches.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Lynnwood series. Lynnwood soils were formed under higher annual precipitation.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Grattan soils are on outwash plains, lake plains, or moraines. Slope gradients range from 0 to 70 percent. The mean annual precipitation is 20 to 36 inches, and the mean annual temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Chelsea, Covert, Granby, Kingsville, Oakville, Plainfield, and Pipestone soils. Covert, Granby, Kingsville, and Pipestone form a common drainage sequence with Grattan. Covert and Pipestone soils are on nearly level areas of the landscape while Kingsville and Granby soils are in depressional areas. Chelsea, Oakville, and Plainfield soils are common well drained associates and are on similar landscape positions.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Excessively drained. The potential surface rnuoffis negligible to medium depending on the slope. Permeability is rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: Much of the Grattan soil was cleared at one time and used for pasture or cropland. Much is idle or in pine plantations. Speciality crops are grown on intensively managed areas. The native vegetation is dominantly quaking aspen, eastern white pine, white oak, and black oaks.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Lower half of lower Michigan. The Grattan soils are of small extent.

MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kent County, Michigan, 1984.

REMARKS: The concept of some pedons having a Bhs horizon in the Grattan series has been changed. This is now the Kalava series.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
ochric epipedon the zone from the surface to 3 inches (A horizon);
albic horizon - the zone from 3 to 6 inches (E horizon);
spodic horizon - the zone from 6 to 18 inches (Bs1 horizon).