LOCATION PARMALEE MITentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, active, frigid Oxyaquic Glossudalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: PARMALEE fine sandy loam - on a 6 percent northeast-facing convex slope in a formerly cultivated field at an elevation of approximately 1,100 feet. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise stated.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; black (10YR 2/1) fine sandy loam; gray (10YR 5/1) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; friable; many fine and medium, and few coarse roots; many fine vesicular pores; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (6 to 9 inches thick)
E/B--8 to 18 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) dry (E), occupies about 80 percent of the horizon surrounding brown (7.5YR 4/4) loam (Bt); moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; friable; few fine and medium roots; many fine vesicular pores; common black (10YR 2/1) organic coatings in root channels and krotovinas; few faint brown (7.5YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)
Bt1--18 to 22 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) loam; strong coarse subangular blocky structure; firm; few fine and medium roots; common fine vesicular pores; common black (10YR 2/1) organic coatings in root channels and krotovinas; common faint brown (7.5YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; 1 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--22 to 33 inches; dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) silty clay loam; strong coarse angular blocky structure; very firm; few fine roots; few fine vesicular pores; common faint brown (10YR 4/3) clay films on faces of peds; many fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 4/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; 2 percent fine gravel; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (Combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 8 to 20 inches)
BC--33 to 51 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silty clay loam; moderate coarse angular blocky structure; very firm; few fine roots; few fine vesicular pores; few faint grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay films on faces of peds; many fine prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation; few fine prominent light bluish gray (5PB 7/1) iron depletions in the matrix; few varves of very fine sandy loam and loamy very fine sand; 2 percent fine gravel; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline; clear wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
C--51 to 80 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam; massive; very firm; many medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) masses of iron accumulation in the matrix; common medium prominent light bluish gray (5B 7/1) iron depletions; 1 percent fine gravel; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Oscoda County, Michigan; about 1 1/2 miles northeast of Luzerne; 100 feet north and 2700 feet west of the southeast corner of section 18, T.26 N., R.2 E., Big Creek Township. USGS Mio, Michigan topographic quadrangle, lat. 44 degrees 38 minutes 17.67 seconds N. and long. 84 degrees 14 minutes 30.03 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Depth to carbonates ranges from 20 to 35 inches. Gravel content ranges from 0 to 3 percent throughout the profile. Depth to redox concentrations is 18 to 30 inches. The particle size control section averages between 18 to 35 percent clay.
The Ap horizon has value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. It is fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam. Forested areas have an A horizon 3 to 6 inches thick with textures and colors similar to those of the Ap horizon.
The E part of the E/B horizon has value of 5 and chroma of 2 or 3. It is fine sandy loam or very fine sandy loam. Some pedons have a B/E horizon that has color and texture similar to those of the E/B horizon.
The Bt part of the E/B horizon has colors and textures similar to those of the Bt horizon. Reaction of the E/B horizon ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 4 and chroma of 3 or 4. It is loam or silty clay loam. Reaction of the Bt horizons ranges from neutral to slightly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 7.5YR or 10YR, value of 5 and chroma of 3 or 4. Some pedons have strata with chroma of 2. It is silty clay loam or stratified silty clay loam and silt loam. Reaction is slightly or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Durkeelake(T), Ellwood, Keshena, Perecheney, and Woodman soils. The Durkeelake and Perecheney soils have sandy mantles in the upper part of the profile. In addition, Perecheny and Woodman soils have a sandy substratum within 60 inches of the mineral soil surface. The Ellwood and Keshena soils formed in loamy calcareous till on moraines.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Parmalee soils formed in loamy and silty lacustrine deposits on lake plains of Wisconsin age. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. Elevations are 1,000 to 1,200 feet. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 24 to 30 inches and mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free period is 100 to 120 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Islandlake, Graycalm, Kellogg, Bowers, Deerheart, and Wakeley series. The poorly drained Wakeley soils have sandy upper sola and are in nearby drainways and depressions. The poorly drained Deerheart and somewhat poorly drained Bowers soils are on lower landscape positions and are in the same drainage sequence. The moderately well drained Kellogg soils have sandy upper sola and are on similar landscape positions. The somewhat excessively drained Islandlake and Graycalm soils formed in sandy outwash material on nearby outwash plains.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained. The potential for surface runoff is medium to high. Permeability is slow. These soils have a perched seasonal high water table at a depth of 1.5 to 3.5 feet at some time between October and May.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of this soil are idle or forested. Common tree species include white pine, sugar maple, American beech, American basswood, northern red oak, white ash, and red pine.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern Lower Michigan, MLRA 94A. The series is of small extent.
MLRA OFFICE RESPONSIBLE: Indianapolis, Indiana
SERIES PROPOSED: Oscoda County, Michigan, 2002. Source of name is a bridge in Oscoda County.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface to 8 inches (Ap horizon).
Glossic horizon - the zone from 8 to 18 inches (E/B horizon).
Argillic horizon - the zone from 8 to 33 inches (the B part of the E/B, Bt1,
and Bt2 horizons).
Oxyaquic subgroup - soils are saturated with water in one or more layers
within 100 cm of the mineral soil surface for 1 month or more per year in
6 or more out of 10 years.
Particle-size control section - the zone from 8 to 33 inches (Bt part of the E/B and Bt1 and Bt2 horizons).
ADDITIONAL DATA: Lab data available - Sampled as Kneff, NSSL laboratory sample number S98MI-135-001.