LOCATION RICHTER MI+WIEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, semiactive, frigid Argic Endoaquods
TYPICAL PEDON: Richter sandy loam on a north-facing slope of 2 percent in a cultivated field. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 6 inches; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; weak fine granular structure; very friable; many roots; moderately acid; abrupt smooth boundary. (5 to 8 inches thick)
Bs--6 to 13 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loamy sand, common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; very weak coarse subangular blocky structure; very friable; many roots; moderately acid; abrupt irregular boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Bt/E--13 to 16 inches; reddish brown (5YR 4/3) sandy loam (Bt); occupies about 85 percent of the horizon surrounded by or penetrated by tongues of brown (10YR 5/3) loamy sand (E); few fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) mottles; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; slightly sticky; many roots; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bt--16 to 26 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) stratified sandy loam, sandy clay loam, loamy sand, and loamy fine sand, and thin layers of silty clay loam and sand; common medium distinct yellowish brown (10YR 5/8), light brownish gray (10YR 6/2), and light reddish brown (2.5YR 6/4) mottles; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; firm, slightly sticky; common fine roots; few faint clay films; slightly acid; abrupt boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)
C--26 to 50 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) stratified loamy sand, sandy loam and loamy fine sand, and thin layers of sand and silty clay loam; many medium prominent light brown (7.5YR 6/4), pinkish gray (5YR 6/2), and reddish yellow (5YR 6/6) mottles; massive; friable; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Osceola County, Michigan; 1,180 feet north and 250 feet west of center of sec. 3, T. 20 N., R. 7 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Solum thickness ranges from 22 to 40 inches. Depth to free carbonates ranges from 25 to 40 inches. The thickness and sequence of layers of sandy loam and loamy sand in the solum and C horizon varies within short horizontal distances. The thickness of sand and silty clay loam layer ranges from 1/2 to 3 inches. The solum ranges from moderately acid to neutral, except the A horizon which may be strongly acid. Coarse fragments range from 0 to 5 percent throughout the profile.
Where the soil has not been cultivated it has an A horizon, 1 to 8 inches thick, with a hue of 10YR, value of 2 or 3, and chroma of 1 or 2. Some pedons have an E horizon, 1 to 8 inches thick with a hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 6 or 7, and chroma of 1 to 3. The A and E horizons are sandy loam, loamy fine sand, loamy sand, fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam.
The Bs horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 4 to 6. It is sandy loam, loamy fine sand or loamy sand.
The Bt part of the Bt/E horizon has colors and textures similar to that of the Bt horizon. The E part of the Bt/E horizon has similar colors and texture to the E horizon.
The Bt horizon has hue of 5YR to 10YR, value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 3 to 6. The Bt is primarily stratified with textures of sandy loam to silty clay loam. Clay loam and silty clay loam strata are thin. Clay content of the argillic horizon ranges from 10 to 22 percent.
The C horizon has hue of 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR, value of 5 or 6 and chroma of 2 to 4. Reaction ranges from neutral to moderately alkaline. Texture is stratified sand to silt loam, with thin bands of silty clay loam. Sandy substratum phases are recognized.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Assinins, Belding, Charlevoix, Coral, Gaastra, Riggsville, and Zeba series. Assinins, Charlevoix, Coral and Riggsville soils do not have stratification. Belding soils contain between 27 and 35 percent clay in the argillic horizon. Gaastra soils do not contain free carbonates within 60 inches.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Richter soils are on lake and outwash plains and glacial drainageways. Slopes range from 0 to 6 percent. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 27 to 33 inches, and the mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 47 degrees F.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: The well drained Alcona and the poorly or very poorly drained Tonkey soils are in a drainage sequence with Richter soils. The Brimley and Gladwin soils are nearby in some areas.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained. The soil has a seasonal high water table that ranges from 0.5 to 1.5 feet below the surface from October to June. Surface runoff is slow. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: A large part of this soil is used for forest or permanent pasture. Forested areas are chiefly in swamp oak, alder and willow and shrubs and grasses. Some small areas of this soil are under cultivation to small grain, sugar beets, beans, hay and corn.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Michigan and northern Wisconsin. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Sanilac County, Michigan, 1955.
REMARKS: Classification changed to agree with ST Issue #17 on 2 Sept 94 by CLG. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 6 inches (Ap horizon); spodic horizon - the zone from 6 to 13 inches (Bs horizon); argillic horizon - the zone from 13 to 26 inches (Bt part of Bt/E and Bt horizon).