Muscatatuck soil series

Correlation Note:

These soils are marginal in taxonomic placement. They typically have fragic soil properties starting at 64 cm. This layer (64 to 91 cm) is described as 60 percent 2Btx material. Soils with 60 percent or more fragic soil properties qualify as a fragipan if 15 cm or more thick. The typical pedon meets this requirement within a depth of 100cm, indicating a "Fragiudult" great group placement.

 

They are moderately well drained and thought to have aquic properties (episaturation), however, the depth requirements to 2 chroma depletions are not met with the required occurrence (within the upper 25 cm of the argillic horizon) to be in an aquic subgroup for Fragiudults. This requirement is met in the upper 44 cm of the argillic (at 64 cm). The depth to aquic features are too deep for Typic or Aeric Fragiaquults (within 50 cm of the mineral soil surface) and to shallow for the central concept of well drained Typic Fragiudults.

 

The pedon best fits the concept of a "Oxyaquic" subgroup. However, the "Oxyaquic" subgroup is not currently established in the Fragiudults greatgroup. Oxyaquic soils in Udults are in normal years--saturated with water in one or more layers within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface for either or both 20 or more consecutive days; or 30 or more cumulative days. Depth and months of the highest perched seasonal high water table in Muscatatuck soils is about 50 cm in the months of January, February, March, April, and December. Fragiaquic Paleudults have aquic conditions within 75 cm of the mineral soil surface.

 

If the taxonomic placement is correct--and range for the depth to the 2Btx layer and depth to aquic conditions are accurate; the quantity of fragic soil properties should be limited to a range of 30 to "less" than 60 percent to meet the current classification.

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The Muscatatuck series consists of very deep, moderately well drained soils that formed in loess, pedisediment, drift and the underlying residuum from limestone. These soils are on dissected till plains. Slope ranges from 0 to 12 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 1067 mm (42 inches) and mean annual temperature is about 13 degrees C (55 degrees F).

 

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, active, mesic Fragiaquic Paleudults

 

USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of nearly level and gently sloping. Muscatatuck soils are used for growing corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. The steeper slopes generally are in pasture or forest. Native vegetation is deciduous mixed hardwoods.

 

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: MLRA 114A in Indiana. The series is of small extent.

 

Depth to the base of the argillic horizon: more than 203 cm (80 inches)

Depth to a layer with fragic soil properties: 51 to 91 cm (20 to 36 inches)

Thickness of the loess: 51 to 102 cm (20 to 40 inches)

Depth to a lithic contact: more than 203 cm (80 inches)

Depth and months of the highest perched seasonal high water table: 1.7 feet (January,

February, March, April, December)

 

 

For additional information about the survey area, visit:

www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MANUSCRIPTS/indiana/jennin...

 

For a detailed soil description, visit:

soilseries.sc.egov.usda.gov/OSD_Docs/M/MUSCATATUCK.html

 

For acreage and geographic distribution, visit:

casoilresource.lawr.ucdavis.edu/see/#muscatatuck

 

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