Analytical data for soil series representative of the five
dominant great groups of Alfisols in the GLCZ are provided
in Table 5.1. The key properties are the presence of an
argillic (Bt) horizon enriched in transported clay (shown in
bold face) and a base saturation within and below the argillic
horizon in excess of 35%. Many Alfisols in the Great Lakes
region are alkaline as evidenced by a pH in the C horizon
ranging from 7.7 to 8.5. The Miskoaki and Cuttre pedons
have argillic horizons enriched in calcium carbonate (Btk
horizons).
5.3
Spodosols
Spodosols are the second most dominant soil order in the
GLCZ and occur mainly around the shores of Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan; they occur to a limited extent
around Lake Ontario and are lacking around Lake Erie. The
well-drained Orthods comprise 73% of the Spodosols, and
the poorly drained Aquods comprise the remaining 27% (see
Table 4.1). The Haplorthods (61%) are the predominant
great group within the Spodosols, followed by Endoaquods
(13%), Fragiorthods (8.4%), and Epiaquods (7.3%).
The most commonly occurring Haplorthods in the GLCZ
are the Rubicon, Croswell, Kalkaska, Longrie, Deerton,
Manistee, Melita, Waiska, Covert, East Lake, Kellogg,
Keweenaw, Leelanau, Michigamme, and Rousseau soil
series. Figure 5.6 contains images of the Croswell (Oxyaquic), Kalkaska (Typic), Rubicon (Entic), Manistee (Alfic),
and Michigamme (Fragic) soil series. The Croswell soil
(Fig. 5.6a) is derived from sandy glaciofluvial materials and
has a black A horizon from 0 to 5 cm (the rule is in centimeters), a brown E horizon to 13 cm, and a dark reddish
brown spodic (Bs) horizon to 41 cm. The water table is at
70 cm. Derived from sandy outwash, the Kalkaska soil
series (Fig. 5.6b) is Michigan’s state soil. It contains a thin
a
b
Fig. 5.2 a The Sanborg soil series, an Oxyaquic Glossudalfs from
Lake County, MN. Photo courtesy of Larissa Hindman, Soil Scientist,
NRCS, Duluth, MN. b The Amnicon soil series, an Oxyaquic Vertic
Glossudalfs from Upper Michigan. Note cracking throughout the
pedon. Photo courtesy of Dwight Jerome, Resource Soil Scientist,
NRCS, Marquette, MI. The scales are in inches
5.2 Alfisols
61
dominant great groups of Alfisols in the GLCZ are provided
in Table 5.1. The key properties are the presence of an
argillic (Bt) horizon enriched in transported clay (shown in
bold face) and a base saturation within and below the argillic
horizon in excess of 35%. Many Alfisols in the Great Lakes
region are alkaline as evidenced by a pH in the C horizon
ranging from 7.7 to 8.5. The Miskoaki and Cuttre pedons
have argillic horizons enriched in calcium carbonate (Btk
horizons).
5.3
Spodosols
Spodosols are the second most dominant soil order in the
GLCZ and occur mainly around the shores of Lakes Superior, Huron, and Michigan; they occur to a limited extent
around Lake Ontario and are lacking around Lake Erie. The
well-drained Orthods comprise 73% of the Spodosols, and
the poorly drained Aquods comprise the remaining 27% (see
Table 4.1). The Haplorthods (61%) are the predominant
great group within the Spodosols, followed by Endoaquods
(13%), Fragiorthods (8.4%), and Epiaquods (7.3%).
The most commonly occurring Haplorthods in the GLCZ
are the Rubicon, Croswell, Kalkaska, Longrie, Deerton,
Manistee, Melita, Waiska, Covert, East Lake, Kellogg,
Keweenaw, Leelanau, Michigamme, and Rousseau soil
series. Figure 5.6 contains images of the Croswell (Oxyaquic), Kalkaska (Typic), Rubicon (Entic), Manistee (Alfic),
and Michigamme (Fragic) soil series. The Croswell soil
(Fig. 5.6a) is derived from sandy glaciofluvial materials and
has a black A horizon from 0 to 5 cm (the rule is in centimeters), a brown E horizon to 13 cm, and a dark reddish
brown spodic (Bs) horizon to 41 cm. The water table is at
70 cm. Derived from sandy outwash, the Kalkaska soil
series (Fig. 5.6b) is Michigan’s state soil. It contains a thin
a
b
Fig. 5.2 a The Sanborg soil series, an Oxyaquic Glossudalfs from
Lake County, MN. Photo courtesy of Larissa Hindman, Soil Scientist,
NRCS, Duluth, MN. b The Amnicon soil series, an Oxyaquic Vertic
Glossudalfs from Upper Michigan. Note cracking throughout the
pedon. Photo courtesy of Dwight Jerome, Resource Soil Scientist,
NRCS, Marquette, MI. The scales are in inches
5.2 Alfisols
61