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SOILS OF JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN

Thesis for Degree of M.S.

Frank Willis Trull

1928

The writer wishes to express his thanks to
Dr. H.fi. HcCool and ?r0fessor J.C. Veateh for

their aid and advice in the preparation of this

work. .%a/,.~f

SOILS OF JACKSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN

By Frank W. Trull

Description.gf the Area

 

 

Location - Jackson County is situated in the south central
part of the Southern Peninsula of Michigan. It is in the

second tier of counties north of the Ohio line and about

65 miles west of Detroit. The area includes 720 square

miles, or 460,800 acres.

Topography - The topography of the area is diversified
without having strong relief. The surface features are

of glacial origin and comprise moraines, smooth till plains,
outwash plains, and old Glacial drainage valleys. The south
eastern part of the county is a dry sandy plain which is
pitted and dotted with lakes and interspersed with swamps.
This plain extends from the eastern line of the county to

the city of Jackson and occupies about five townships. Thence

here are valley~like arms extending westward and southward.

The greater part of the County is rolling or moderately
hilly, although slapes are generally smooth and local dif-
ferences in altitude are in most places not more than 100
or 150 feet. Prospect and Sackrider hills near the eastern
edge of the County are in the most hilly areas. The rolling

and hilly areas are also interspersed with lakes and swamps

and dry sandy valleys.

The elevation ranges from about 800 feet to nearly 1200
feet above sea level and about 220 feet to 620 feet above the
level of Lake Michigan.

Jackson County is, in general, well-drained although
about 15 per cent of the area is comprised in swamps and
lakes. Three large river systems of the State have their
source within the area. The Grand River with its source
Just south of Grand Lake runs north and west through the
area and drains better than half of the County. The Kala-
mazoo River rises south of Farewell Lake and drains the west
tier of townships through what is called Rice Creek. These
two rivers empty into Lake Michigan at Grand Haven and Sau-
gatuck. The river Raisin has its source in Columbia and
Grass Lake Townships and drains to the southeast, emptying

into Lake Erie near Monroe.

Native Vegetation - This area was originally forested with
the exception of a small amount of marsh which was covered
with sedge and grass. All of the virgin timber has been
cut and at present only woodlots of second growth timber
are common. The trees were oaks, hickory, and some beech
and sugar maple on the well~drained areas, while elm, black
ash, soft maple, swamp white oak, willow, and basswood ap-
peared on the wet mineral soils. Tamarack was the abundant

species in the peaty swamps.

Water Supply - There is a generous supply of healthful water

in Jackson County. Along Spring Brook are many springs of

clear cold water. Some of the farm homes have water piped
from these springs. In several parts of the county there
are artesian wells. Excellent water comes from wells of
various depths, ranging from 30 feet to 150 feet. The most
of the small streams are spring fed and carry cold clear

water.

POpulation and Industries - The first white settlers came
into Jackson County in 1829 and the present boundaries of
the county were established shortly after. The census of
1880 shows 41,515 white and 518 colored people in the county.
16,105 lived in towns and 25,926 were rural population. In
1920 there were £8,347 urban and 24,374 rural population.
Although there has been a large increase in total population,
there has been a decrease of those living on the farms. The
larger part of the population is native American although a
number of foreign born are found in the city of Jackson.
Agriculture and manufacturing are the principal indus-
tries. The manufacturing is practically all in the city of
Jackson and includes automobile wheels, cushion springs,
radios, steel products, wire fence, candy, clothing, tools,
etc. The Michigan Central Railroad shops are also located
othere. The value of agricultural products as given in the
census of 1920 was $11,528,932. The farming communities

are scattered well over the county.

Markets and Transportation - Jackson is the only city in

the area and is the most important local market. Grass

Lake, Springport, Hanover, Rives Junction, Parma, and Brook-
lyn are small towns that serve as shipping points. Detroit
and Chicago are the most important outside markets for farm
produce.

Transportation facilities are exceptionally good. The
main line of the Michigan Central R.R. goes through the cen-
ter of the county from east to west, with branch lines run-
ning north and northwest. The Grand Trunk Railroad runs
from Jackson through the nOrtheast corner of the county.

The southern half of the county is cut by the Eew Ybrk Cen-
tral Lines and also by the Cincinnati and Northern Railroad.
Paved trunk lines extend each way across the county and a
net work of good gravel roads connect the farming communi-
ties with the main lines. much of the produce is trucked

to market.

Climate - Jackson county lies between 42 degrees and 42 de—
grees 50 minutes north latitude. It has a mean temperature
of about 48 degrees, and an average precipitation, including
snowfall, of about 32 inches. The temperature varies from
-21 degrees to 104 degrees during the year. The average
temperature for January is about 23 degrees and for July is
74 degrees.

About nineteen inches of rain falls during the growing
season, and it is seldom that droughts of long duration
occur. There are some short droughty periods when crops
on the light porous soils suffer because of insufficient

moisture. The snowfall averages about 85 inches and this

forms a cover for a part of the cold months, somewhat pro-
tecting fall planted grains.

The average date of killing frosts in the spring is
May 4th and the average date of earliest frost in the fall
is October 10th. This gives a growing season of about 160
days. There are about 154 days of sunshine during the year
and about 85 of these occur during the growing season.

The general wind direction is west to northwest. High
winds occur at intervals in connection with thunderstorms,
but no appreciable damage usually results. Michigan is in
the path of frequency of cyclones and tornadoes, but they
seldom occur becauSe of the cooling effect of the Great

Lakes which checks the required convection.

Agriculture - Agriculture in Jackson County dates back to
about 1829 when the first white settlers came into the
county. Corn had been raised in a small way by the Indians
prior to this time. The first soils to be planted were
those most easily cleared, which in thisarea was on the Fox
types because the tree growth was scattering. It was what
the settlers called "oak Openings".

In 1830 wheat, corn, marsh hay, and buckwheat were the
principal crops. The first apple orchard was set the same
year. The following table gives the principal crops and

their acreage for 1880 and those for 1924 from the Agri-
cultural census for 1925.

as as.
Wheat 17,789 76,533
Hay 58,502 48,161
Corn 45,040 33,093
Oats 26,030 13,002
Potatoes 3,827 3,342
Rye 26,619 167
Barley 1,089 888
Buckwheat 2,068 1,111
Beans 8,734 0

The greatest change in crop acreage in the 44 years
time is the dropping off in wheat and the increase in rye.
The growing of beans has also become an important crop.

Other crops not grown on a large basis are popcorn,
sweetcorn, cucumbers, and tomatoes for seed, melons, and
Special muck crops of celery, cabbage and onions. Alfalfa
and sweet clover are increasing in importance each year
on practically all types of soil.

The U.S. census for 1925 shows the livestock consist-
ing of 10,059 horses, 242 mules, 27,122 cattle, 47,046
sheep, 148 goats and 26,019 swine. The value of dairy
products for 1924 was $1,069,016. The value of wool was
$141,713.

Fruits can be grown successfully and in some sections
is quite an important branch of agriculture. Following are
the number of fruit trees in the county as given in the U.S.

census for 1925.

Variety

No. Trees

 

Apple 126,187
Peach 38,363
Pear 9,678
Plum 6,564
Cherry 9,323
Grape vines 38,444
Raspberry 117 acres
Strawberry 115 acres

Huckleberries are not cultivated, but many grow wild in
the swamps.

Poultry and eggs are also important products. The
value of eggs produced in the county in 1924 was $411,556
and the value of chickens raised was $254,036 (U.S. census
1925).

The greatest influence of soils and topography on the
kinds of crops grown is shown on the muck soils. These soils
are low and inclined to be somewhat frosty, therefore, spe-
cial crops such as celery, cabbage, and onions are better
suited then the general farm crops. Due to the nature of
the muck soil, the special crops bring much greater returns
than do the general crops.

Genera farming is practiced on nearly all of the soil
types with a great variation in the yields obtained. Rye
takes the place of wheat and barley on many of the lighter
types. Melons, cucumbers, tomatoes, and small fruits are

found mostly on the lighter types where they are better

adapted than are the general farm crops. Alfalfa and sweet
clover grow on nearly all of the types where drainage is
sufficient and lime is present.

Crop rotation and the use of barnyard manure and some
commercial fertilizer are the general methods practiced in
keeping the soils in a state of productiveness. The use of
lime is fast becoming an important factor in the improvement
of the soil. A common rotation is corn, oats, wheat, and
hay. The use of commercial fertilizers has been rather lim-
ited, but is now on the increase. In 1924 $32,287 was spent
for lime and fertilizers, reported on 565 farms. (U.S. cen-
sus 1925)

In general, the farm buildings in Jackson County are
well kept and denote a measure of prosperity. Practically
all of the farms are equipped with modern machinery.

Good draft horses are common, and the tendency in
cattle is toward higher grades or pure bred herds.

Labor, at present is not very plentiful and a reliable
experienced farm hand is hard to find. {any of the farmers
are farming only what they can care for without hired help.

There are 3550 farms in the county. They are divided
as follows, according to size:

398 less than 20 acres each

474 between 20 and 50 acres each

906 " 50 " lOO " "
1130 " 100 " 175 " "
439 " 175 " 260 " "

190 " 260 " 500 " n

There are 2810 farm owners, 20 managers, and 720 tenants.
The number of tenants and managers has decreased during the
last five years, while the number of farm owners has increased.
(U.S. census 1925)

The several soils of the county may be divided into three
classes based on the general agricultural value. In the first
class are the following types which have the highest value:
Miami loam, Brookston loam and clay loam, Hillsdale loam, Fox
loam, and Conover loam. The second class includes Hillsdale
sandy loam, Bellefontaine sandy loam, Fox sandy loam, Brody
sandy loam, Berrien loamy sand, and Newton sandy loam. The
Third class includes the soils of lowest agricultural value,
namely: Plainfield loamy sand, Coloma loamy sand, Genesee
sandy loam, and Griffin sandy loam and loam. The mucks may
have a high value for truck crops when properly drained and
intensively cultivated, but only a low value for general
farming purpose. They rank as follows, beginning with the
one of highest value: Carlisle, Rifle, Houghton, and Green-
wood.

Recommendations for the better use and the improvement
of soils would include the following: The lighter soils of
the well-drained types are better adapted to the growing of
fruit, melons, cucumbers, and tomatoes than to the growing
of general farm crops. In general, the lighter soils of the
area are deficient in organic matter and in lime. Practica-
lly all of the mineral soils are low in phosphorus and the

mucks are low inpotash. The following points in improving

10

the soils are listed in the order of importance:
1. Drainage, if needed.
2. Lime, if needed.

3. Organic matter (Plowing down of green crops
or use of plenty of barnyard manure).

4. The Judicial use of the proper commercial
fertilizers.

On the lighter soils, especially, cover crops should
be used to retard or prevent erosion which is very damaging

on the rolling and hilly types.

Soils - For the purpose of mapping and for correlation, soils
are grouped into separate groups or what is called "series".
This is based on differences in color, chemical nature, tex-
ture, thickness, consistency and structure. The separate
layers of soil are called "horizons" and all of these together
are called the soil profile. All of these separate layers are
considered in determining the series to which a soil belongs.
One important thing to consider in classifying the soil is
whether it was developed under poor, or good drainage con-
ditions. The other important thing is the arrangement and
peculiar characteristics of the different layers. It is

these peculiar characteristics by which we distinguish one
series from another. The unit of mapping is what is called
the "soil type". This is based on differences in texture

of the surface layer. Thus there may be several types in

one series, such as a loam, a sandy loam, a fine sandy

loam, and a loamy sand. By texture is meant the relative

11

size of the particles composing the surface soils. The small-
est size is called clay and in order toward the coarser parti-
cles are silt, very fine sand, fine sand, sand, medium sand,
coarse sand, and gravel.

For the sake of convenience and easy reference each ser-
ies is given a name. The names are usually local geographic
names near where the series is first mapped. The different
types of the series will also carry the series name, e.g.
Plainfield sandy loam, the series name is Plainfield and the
type is sandy loam.

It must be remembered that where two separate types or
series join each other there is bound to be a grading to-
gether of the two. There are often small inclusions of other
types in the area mapped as a certain type.

In Jackson County there are 14 series and 18 types of
mineral soil mapped, also four separate kinds of organic
soil. The distinguishing characteristic of each series
follows: there are two main classes of soils in the county
(1) Those developed under conditions of good drainage, and
(2) those developed under conditions of poor drainage or
excessive moisture. I

In the first group are the Miami, Hillsdale, Fox,
Bellefontaine, Plainfield, Coloia, and Parma series. In
the poorly drained group are the Brookston, Berrien, Newton,
Brady, and Conover series. The mucks were develOped in
lakes and permanently wet situations. The Genesee and

Griffin series are recent alluvial soils subject to accre-

12

tion from stream overflow.

The Miami series is characterized by a brownish-gray
surface, light gray upper subsoil, and then a few feet of
yellowish-brown compact, but friable and granular clay. The
lime content is high at a depth of 2 or 3 feet. Scattering
boulders are found on the surface and in the substratum.

The Hillsdale types are characterized by a light brown
surface followed by a pale yellow layer. Below this is a
yellow sandy clay or clay loam which passes into pale yellow
sand, gravel and clay mixture. The profile is acid throughr
out and fragments of sandstone are numerous on the surface
and in the subsoil.

The Plainfield series is grayish-brown on the surface,
followed by yellow sandy material becoming lighter colored
With depth. Loose sand characterizes the whole profile.

It is low in lime and acid in reaction and no rock fragments
of stone or boulder size occur on surface or in subsoil.

The Fox series is sandy in the surface horizons, but is
characterized by a compact sandy and gravelly reddish clay
subsoil at a depth of 18 inches to 20 inches. Beneath this
there is a layer of unconsolidated sand and gravelly mater-
ial containing a high percentage of lime.

The Coloma series has a brownish-gray surface, a yel-
low subsoil, and a lighter yellow substratum. The soil is
a loose sand to a depth of three or four feet or more, but
thesubstratum may contain gravel, clay and bowlders. This

type is low in lime and is typically acid to a depth of

13

three or four feet.

The Bellefontaine series has a brown surface, a yellow-
ish sandy subsoil, followed by a layer of reddish-brown clayey
material which is friable and moderately pervious. Underneath
this layer is a gravelly calcareous drift in the form of a
confused mass of bowlders, sand, gravel, and clay.

The Parma series is a new one found near Parma. It has
a brown surface ofiine nut-structured soil, followed by a
stiff reddish-brown clay. Next is a layer of yellowish gritty
calcareous sandy clay loam. This rests on limestone rock at
a depth of 3 feet.

The Brookston types were developed under conditions of
poor drainage and are characterized as follows: dark gray sur-
face, light gray subsoil, and a substratum of gray or drab
compact calcareous clay mottled with yellow and rusty brown.

The Berrien series is distinguished by a brown surface
soil, a subsoil of compact sandy material mottled yellow or
yellowish brown, and a substratum of yellow sandy material,
saturated and stained with gray and rusty brown. Clay is
found at a few feet depth.

The Newton series has a dark gray surface soil under-
lain by a dingy gray sandy material somewhat mottled with
rusty spots in the heavier types. The substratum is sand or
sandy clay of grayish color with brown and yellow mottlings.
The substratum is generally saturated at a depth of 2 or 3
feet.

The Brady series has the following characteristics:

14

grayish-brown surface soils, a yellowish upper subsoil mot-
tled gray and brown, and a mottled and more compact lower sub-
soil which is underlain by loose, gravelly, calcareous mater-
ial.

The Griffin and Genesee series are made up of the recent
alluyium of the stream bottoms. The surface soil is brown
and the subsoil is brown mottled with gray and drab. Griffin
is the wetter and the Genesee the better drained of the two.

The organic soils are differentiated into four types,

Carlisle, Rifle, Houghton, and Greenwood.

Miami Loam

The Miami loam furnishes probably the best farm land in
Jackson County. The profile of the virgin soil is as follows:
A surface layer of about 2 or 3 inches of forest mold and loam.
From 2 inches to 7 inches is a light brown silty loam. From
7 inches to 12 inches is a light gray silt. In cultivated
areas the plow soil is a light brown or grayish brown color.
From 12 inches to 36 inches is a yellowish brown clay of gran-
ular structure under normal moisture conditions, but plastic
when wet. Below 36 inches is a drab, jointed, calcareous
clay.

The upper layers of the profile are usually slightly
to strongly acid, but the clay layers are alkaline. Due to
the rather impervious nature of the subsoil, quite a high
percent of the moisture is retained in the soil. There is
not over ten square miles of Miami loam in the county. The

largest area is in the northwest corner of the county. Two

15.

or three small areas are found along the north boundary and
one area along the south boundary where Jackson, Hillsdale,
and Lenawee counties join each other.

The topography of this type is gently rolling to hilly
and in practically all of it the natural drainage is suffi-
cient. Very few of the slopes are so steep that the run-off
of the rainfall causes rapid erosion.

The native vegetation consisted of oaks, hickory, beech,
hard maple and elm. Practically none of the original forest
is now standing, only a few woodlots of second growth timber
of the same species.

General farming, including dairying and stock raising is
practiced on most of the Miami loam. The most common crops
are corn, beans, wheat, oats, barley, clover, and alfalfa.
,This type of soil is well adapted to power farming and trac-
tors are found on several farms. This is a very durable
soil when properly handled. There are no particular pro-
blems in the reclaiming of the virgin land, for the stumps
quickly decay and the stones are not numerous. This type
is very productive and high yields are obtained. Thirty
bushels of wheat per acre is not uncommon and corn will
yield as high as 100 to 125 bushels per acre. Beans range
from 10 to 25 bushels per acre. This soil gives good re-

sponse to fertilizers,especially phosphorus.

l6

Hillsdale Loam.

The Hillsdale loam comprises an area of about 36 scuare
miles. It is found mostly in Blackman, Spring Arbor, and
Summit townships with several small areas along the north
line of the county.

The following profile is typical: the upper three in—
ches consists of a light brown humus loam which is mellow
and friable. From 3 to 12 inches is a pale yellow loam.

In the cultivated soil these two layers are mixed and the.
result is a lighter color of the surface soil. From 12 to
40 inches is a yellOW, gritty, sticky clay loam underlain
to a depth of 5 feet by a mixture of pale yellow sand, gra-
vel, and clay.

This soil is rolling and the natural drainage is us-
ually good. About 95% of this land is cleared and general
farming or dairying is practiced. Corn, wheat, barley, oats‘
and hay are the general crops and good yields are obtained.
Fertilizers, aside from barnyard manure, have not been used
to any great extent, but the usage is increasing. Quick
response is shown to the use of superphosphate or complete
fertilizers carrying small percentage of nitrogen and potash.
Phosphorus is usually the most deficient of the three plant
foods.

This type of soil is not hard to reclaim, the removal
of stone causing the greatest labor. This type is adapted
to power farming.

This type as mapped may include some small areas of

l7

Hillsdale sandy loam that are too small to map out on the

scale used.

Hillsdale Sandy Loam.

This is a very important type in Jackson county. Nearly
EOfl of the county is Hillsdale sandy loam. The profile of
the virgin soil is as follows: the surface 2 inches consists
of a brown sandy humus and mold. Below this is about 5 in-
ches of light brownish sandy loam. From 7 inches to 24 inches
is a pale yellow sandy loam. 24 inches to 36 inches is a yel-
low sand and clay a little lighter in texture than the preceed-
ing layer.

This type is rolling to hilly and is well drained. It is
used chiefly for general farming with corn, oats, wheat, beans,
potatoes, and hay as the principal crops. Alfalfa is grown
very successfully after an application of lime.has been made.
Liming is necessary for the profile is acid throughout. The
natural fertility ranges from low to moderate, but where good
farming practices are carried on, very good yields are obtained.

The use of commercial fertilizers, which has been very
little, is increasing and excellent returns are received from
the use of a complete fertilizer.

The native vegetation on the Hillsdale sandy loam was
mostly oak anl hickory and there are many woodlots of second
growth oak and some hickory. This type of soil is fairly
easily reclaimed. The removal of stones is the greatest pro-
blem as this soil is quite stony. Power farming is used on

several of the farms. Onlv a small part of the area is too

0

18

hilly for power farming.
In the improvement of this soil, lime, organic matter,
and fertilizers are the three important things to consider

and are listed in the order of their importance.

Fox Loam

The Fox loam does not occupy more than about 10 square
miles in Jackson county. It has the following profile: the
first 7 inches is a brown coarse loam underlain to a depth
of 12 inches by a yellow coarse loam or heavy sandy loam.
From 12 inches to 40 inches is a reddish sticky clay full of
grit anC gravel. From 40 inches to 60 inches is an uncon-
solidated calcareous gravel and coarse sand. A samll per-
centage of limestone is found in the gravel.

About 95% of this type is und

(‘3

r cultivation. The topo-
graphy is level, the drainage good, and the general fertility
iedium to high. General farming is practiced with corn, oats,
wheat, and hay the main crops. Alfalfa is commonly grown.
Liming of the soil is generally advisable for this crop.

The native timber was oak and hickory and a few second
growth woodlots of the same species are found.

This soil is easily reclaimed and is adapted to power
farming. Very little commercial fertilizer is used althoug
a complete fertilizer gives profitable returns. This type

is found associated with the Fox sandy loam and may include

small areas of that type.

Fox Stony Loam

This is one of the main types of 8011 in Jackson county.

19

It has the following profile: the upper three inches consists
of a light brown friable sandy loam. From three to twenty in-
ches is a pale yellow sandy loam. In cultivated fields these
two horizons become mixed, giving the surface a lighter color.
From twenty inches to thirty-six inches is a sand, gravel, and
reddish sticky clay mixed together forming a compact layer.
Beneath this layer to a depth of several feet is sand and gra-
vel moderately calcareous.

The topography of the Fox sandy loam is generally level
to undulating. The drainage is good and in a few instances is
excessive.

The larger part of this area has been cleared and put
under cultivation. General farming and some raising of small
fruits is the usual type of farming. The yields are about
medium, potatoes, corn, oats, wheat, alfalfa, popcorn, melons,
cucumbers, and berries are the main crops. The fertility is
low to medium and care is necessary to keep the soil in a
productive state. Organic matter, lime, and fertilizers are
necessary in improving the soil. The profile is usually acid
to depths of 20 to 36 inches. A quick response is shown to
the use of complete fertilizers. This type is adapted to
power farming and several tractors are found throughout the
area. The Fox sandy loam is easily tilled as there are no
stones and the plow soil is friable and dries quickly.

This type as mapped may include small areas of Fox

loam.

Bellefontaine Sandy Loam .

The Bellefontaine sandy loam occupies a total area of
about 36 square miles distributed over the county in small
bodies. The profile is as follows: the upper 6 inches of
cultivated areas is a light brown stony sandy loam under-
lain to a depth of 18 inches by a yellowish sandy loam.
From 18 inches to 40 inches is a reddish clay intermixed
with gravel, cobble stones, and bowlders. Below 40 inches
depth is sand, gravel and bowlders containing a small per-
cent of limestone.

This type of soil is found in ridges and hilly areas.
The larger part of it is used for pasture and woodlots. A
small part is used for general farming with corn, oats, and
hay as the chief crops. Alfalfa grows very nicely if there
is enough lime present.

The drainage is good, but some slopes are so steep that
the run-off of water causes the formation of gullies. The
surface layers of this soil are usually acid, but some of
the gravelly areas contain enough lime for the successful
growing of alfalfa and sweet clover. The fertility is only
fair and large yields are not common.

This type of soil, due to the topography, is not gen-
erally adapted to power farming. Very little fertilizer is
used, altho the use of a complete fertilizer is practical.
Green manure crops and cover crops are essential to increase

the fertility and also to retard erosion.

Brookston Loam.

This is not an important type in Jackson county as there
is not over six square miles of this soil. The largest area
is Just north of Puddleford. The profile is as follows: the
first 5 inches is a dark gray mellow loam followed to a depth
of 12 inches by a gray lomn. In cultivated areas these two
layers become mixed, giving the surface soil a lighter color.
From 12 inches to 40 inches is a drab and rusty to pale lemon
yellow, wet, gritty clay.

This soil has been formed under conditions of poor drain-
age. It occurs in small low areas. A small part of it is
under cultivation. Corn, oats, wheat, barley and hay are the
principal crops. Some is in pasture and some still timbered
with elm, ash, soft maple, and some basswood aid willow.

The fertility is high and excellent yields of grain and
hay are obtained. The use of phosphate and potash fertilizers
give good returns.

Drainage is the greatest problem in reclaiming this type
of soil. The profile is alkaline and alfalfa grows well if
drainage is sufficient. The moisture holding capacity is

high. This soil is level and is adapted to power farming.

Brookston Clay Loam.
There is about one sruare mile of this soil in Jackson.
county. It is along the Grand River about six miles north
of Jackson. The profile is as follows: the first 7 inches

is composed of a dark gray clay loam underlain to a depth of

‘3 9
TO

12 inches by a drab to dark gray heavy plastic clay. Farmers
often call this a buckshot soil when it breaks up and is dry.
From 12 inches to 18 inches is a dark bluish-gray ant yellow-
ish-brown plastic clay followed by a light bluish
yellowish-brown heavy plastic clay.

This soil is level and because of the impervious nature

of the soil artificial drainage is necessary. Some general

H:
3

I‘.
n

:rmin: is practiced on this soil, but the larger part of it

..J

s in pasture. Hay and small grains are the principal crops

H.

and high yields are common. The profile is alkaline through-
out. Power farming is practical. The fertility is generally
high but nevertheless response is shown to the use of phos-

phate and potash fertilizers.

Parma Loam.

This type occurs only in a small area near the village
of Farma. It has the following profile: the upper four in-
ches is a dark brown humus loam of fine nut structure, be-
coming a lighter brown when under cultivation. From four to
eight inches is a light brown loam, followed to a depth of
twenty-four inches by a stiff reddish brown, coarse crumb-
structured cla . From twenty-four to thirty-six inches is
a yellowish gritty, calcareous, sandy clay loam resting'upon
limestone rock.

This type is generally level except for two low limestone
ridges and is used for general farm crops. It is cuite fertile

and good yields are obtained. This soil is well drained and

‘7 fr
.20

is alkaline. There is some second growth timber consisting

chiefly of oak with a little hickory.

Conover Loam.

The Conover loam occupies an area of less than a square
mile. It is located near the Grand River north of Jackson.
It has the following profile: the upper 8 inches is a grayish—
brown loam underlain by a yellowish-gray loam. At a depth
ranging from 12 to 84 inches this changes into a mottled yel-
low, brown, and gray firable sandy clay loam. This type is
situated on gentle slopes and is fairly well drained. A part
of the area is used for general erOp: of hay, corn, wheat,
barley, and oats, but the major portion is in pasture land.
The lime content is fairly high. The fertility is moderately
high. Response is shown to fertilizers, particularly phos-

phate.

Brady Loam and Sandy Loam.

This type of soil consists of the following profile:
the upper six inches is a gray humus soil which is black
when wet. From 6 inches to 20 inches is a gray bleached
loam, followed by a gray and rusty yellow sandy clay to a
depth of 40 inches. Form 40 inches to 00 inches is a sat-
urated sand and gravel.

This type of soil is level and poorly drained. It oc-
cupies flat valley areas through which streams flow and is
sometimes overflowed in the spring of the year. This type

has a textural profile similar to the Fox type, but exists

under conditions of poor drainage.

The most of the area is not under cultivation, but is '
sparsely covered with a growth of elm, black ash, soft maple,
and basswood, and is generally used for pasture land. Gen-
eral farming is practiced on parts of the area where corn,
oats, and hay are the principal crops. The fertility is gen-
erally high and good yields are produced. The profile is
usually alkaline throughout. Artificial drainage is necessary
in reclaiming much of this soil and in some cases this would
necessitate the lowering of the stream bed which would be too

costly to warrant it.

Plainfield Loamy Sand.

This type of soil is small areal extent in Jackson county
and occurs in small bodies widely separated. The largest area
is northeast from Norvell. In the virgin state the following
profile is typical: 2 inches to 3 inches of brown loamy sand
and humus underlain by a half inch of gray loamy sand. From
4 inches to 6 inches is yellow-brown sand. In cultivated
areas these layers are mixed, giving the surface soil a light
brown color. From 6 inches to 13 inches is a dull yellow
loamy sand. At about 15 inches this changes to pale yellow
sand and continues to a depth of 40 inches where it changes
to a yellow incoherent sand. One area near Portage Marsh is
underlain by bed rock at a depth of about 40 inches.

Thenatural drainage of this soil is good to excessive.
The larger part of the areas has been cleared and have been

under cultivation. This soil is not particularly adapted

to general farming on account of the low moisture holding cap-
acity. It is better adapted to fruit. Organic matter is
needed in large amounts in this soil. The profile is acid to
3 to 4 feet and lime is needed to help build it up. -Very
little fertilizer is used, but a quick response is shown to

the use of a complete fertilizer.

Coloma Loamy Sand

This type occurs only in small scattered areas in this
county. The following profile is typical: the first three
inches is a light brown loamy sand, followed to a depth of
twenty inches by a dull yellow, loamy sand. From twenty to
thirty-six inches is a pale yellow sand underlain to a depth
of forty-eight inches by grayish loose sand, laminae and chunks
of clay.

This type is hilly and has good natural drainage. Very
little of it is farmed because of the low fertility unfavora-
ble topography, and low water holding capacity. The profile
is acid to depths of 5 or 4 feet. There is some second growth

timber, chiefly oak on this type.

Berrien Loamy Sand
The Berrien loamy sand is a minor type in Jackson county.
It occurs in small areas, the largest one being near the Grand
River north of Jackson. The profile is characterized as fol-
lows: the first 8 inches on the surface is a brown loamy sand,
a little darker than Plainfield or Fox types. From 8 inches

to 20 inches (the depth varies) is a dull yellow sandy loam

26

slightly heavier in texture than the surface soil. This is
underlain by gray, pale yellow, and rusty mottled sandy loam.
Clay is sometimes found within the 40 inch depth. The water
table is high, causing the mottled condition.

This soil is level to gently rolling and the drainage is
poor due to the water table being so near the surface. It is
moderately fertile and about SOfi is cropped, the remainder be-
ing used for pasture. General farming is practiced with hay,
oats, wheat, and corn as the principal crops. It is moderately

acid to depths of SO :0 40 inches and is Lenefitted by liming.

Complete fertilizers are also recommended on this soil.

Granby Sandy Loam.

The Granhy sandy loam type of soil appears in small
scattered areas throughout the county. It has the following
profile: the first 8 inches is a dark gray mellow sandy loam,
becoming black when wet. From 8 inches to 20 inches is a gray
bleached sandy loam. Below 20 inches and continu ng to a
depth of 40 inches is a pale vell W sand or sandy loam con-
taining mottlings of gray and rust color.

.This profile is usually alkaline throughout. The topo-
graphy is level and the natural drainage is usually poor.

The fertility is moderate to high. The native timber con-
sisted mainly of elm, black ash, and basswood. This type
is mostly used for pasture. Where farmed, general crops
such as corn, oats and hay are grown. This soil is easily

reclaimed, but artificial drainage is necessary.

27

Griffin Loam and Sandy Loam.

These types are alluvial soils and occur on the flood
plains of existing streams. The largest areas are found along
the Grand River. Following is the profile; the surface 10
inches is a dark gray and rust colored mixture of sand and
organic matter. From 10 inches to 40 inches is a gray wet
sand mixed with mucky organic matter. This is not an impor-
tant type in Jackson county. The water table is shallow, in
places within 18 inches of the surface.

This soil is alkaline and a high percent of the mois-
ture is retained due to the organic matter and small muck
spots are included in the area. The fertility is relatively
high. The topography is level. Very little of this type is
under cultivation since it is frosty and is sometimes covered
with overflow water from the streams. The larger part of the
area is used for pasture. It is fairly well timbered with
elm, soft maple, and Willow.

Better drainage would be necessary to improve this type
and in many cases that would require the lowering of the
stream bed, which is too costly an operation. No lime is
needed and probably the response to fertilizers would be

small 0

Genesee Sandy Loam and Loam.
These types represent the better drained alluvial soils.
Practically none of it is under cultivation. The following
profile is typical: the upper 10 inches is a brown, mellow,

nut structure loam. From 10 inches to 40 inches is a yellow

sand and clay. This soil is found only along the bed of the
Grand River for a few miles before it leaves Jackson courty.
It is alkaline throughout the profile. Not a large percent
of the moisture is held in the surface, but the water table
is usually within three or four feet of the surface. Small
spots of muck may be included in parts of the area. The top—
ography is level. The timber growth is elm, soft maple,
willow, and butternut. No crops were found growing on this
type in Jackson county. ‘art of the area is used for pas-
ture. Crops are more susceptible to injury from frost than

on the adjacent uplands.

Carlisle Muck.

The Carlisle muck is a black loamy muck to a depth of
three to five inches. Bel w this to a depth of about twelve
inches is a layer that is cheese-like when wet and hard and
horny when dry. The thickness of the blackish decomposed
material depends upon the age of the soil and the depth of
the water table and generally extends to depths of 2 to 20
inches. Below this layer it grades into woody or fibrous
more peatyless decomposed organic matter. This type of muck
is very fertile. It needs drainage, but care must be taken
not to lower the water table too much. The profile is us-
ually alkaline or high in lime throughout. It contains
hvery little inorganic matter.

The timber growth consists of elm, black ash, soft
maple, aJfl some basswood. The part of this area under cul-

tivation is used mainly for special crops, mainly onions,

29

celery and cabbage: large yields are obtained. It is the
best type of muck for farming purposes because it is further
decomposed than the other types. Some areas are used for
general farming but the frosty nature of the soil is against
this practice. The larger part of the Kalamazoo type is not
under cultivation, but is left idle or used for pasture. Po-
tash is the fertilizer which gives the greatest benefit on

this type of soil.

Rifle Peat

The Rifle peat is intermediate, in stage and depth of
decomposition, between the Carlisle muck and Greenwood peat.
At the surface there is generally 6 or 8 inches of dark brown
to black finely fibrous or woody muck. Below this is a less
decomposed fibrous and woody peaty matter. The water table
is usually one to two feet below the surface.

The vegetation on this type is composed of sedge, blue-
Joint grass, winterberry, red osier dogwood, and tamarack
trees. Some places a few soft maple, elm, and aspen trees
are present, but are not common.

Some of this muck has been drained and is used in pro-
ducing special crops such as onions, cabbage, and cauliflower;
high yields are obtained. The surface is usually slightly to
medium acid. Drainage is most important in reclaiming this

land. It responds to fertilizers of high ptash content.

Houghton Muck

The profile of the Koughton muck is as follows: the upper
twelve inches or surface layer is a dark brown to nearly black
finely fibrous muck. From twleve to twenty-four inches is
black very finely fibrous muck, below which is a wet mushy
black muck. There is a very little mineral matter in the pro-
file. The water table is high. The surface soil is sometimes
slightly acid, but more often is alkaline throughout the pro-
file. The vegetation is a coarse sedge grass. Very little
of this type of muck is under cultivation in Jackson county
but if used at all, it is for pasture. A small part of the
area is drained and is now used for the production of special
crops such as onions, cab age, or cauliflower. Response is
shown to the use of commercial fertilizer in the form of

potash. The fertility is medium for this class of soil.

Greenwood Feat

The Greenwood peat consists of a brownish or yellowish
coarse, fibrous peaty material. The water table is near or
at the surface except during ieriods of drought. The peat
is uncompacted, highly acid, and contains only a very small
percentage of inorganic minerals. It is characterized by a
growth of cassan ra, moss, and huckleberries. hone of this
type is under cultivation. The deposits are scattered thru-
out the county. The depth of this material ranges from '
about 7 feet to more than l5feet. This type of muck may
possibly come into use for the production of huckleberries

and cranberries.

Taxonomy and Origin of the Soils.

Jackson County lies within the glaciated area of Kichigan.
The las glacier to cover this area was the Late Wisconsin. The
soils are gray-brown, formed under forest conditions and, al-
though not true Podsols, belong to that group and are known as
Podsolic soils. The genesis of the Podsol soils is believed to
stand in intinate relation with the existence of forests, al-
though Podsol develOpment has been known to take place Without
the influence of forest vegetation. The name Podsol was given
to the soils of this group by the Russian pedologists and means
"ash soils“. The surface horizon of the Podsols is "Rohhumus"
or simply forest litter and mold, under which is a horizon of
highly leached ashy gray soil; thence a brownish horizon of
humic coloring and iron oxide concentration in the nature of
a hardpan; this is followed by parent material only slightly
altered.

The Jackson County soils are not, therefore, true Podsols.
The surface horizon of the Jackson County soils consists of a
thin layer of mold b heath which there is an appreciable light
brown humus soil, thence instead of an ashy-gray horizon the
soil is a yellowish color. The B horizon is a faintly reddish
color and is a horizon of clay concentration. Here are found
oxides, silicates, and carbonates that have leached from the
upper horizons. The brown horizon characteristic of Podsols
is absent, but weakly develOped or exists merely as relicts of
a past condition. However, leaching or eluviation is dominant

in the soil forming processes and the soils are, therefore

Podsolic and belong to the gray-broan Family of forest soils
of the central and central eastern United States.

The soils of the area may be divided into two general
groups, namely (1) those developed under conditions of good
drainage and moderate rainfall and (8) those developed under
conditions of poor drainage and temporary excessive moisture.

Underthe first group there are three distinct profiles
which are as follows: (1) Horizon A is a light sandy material,
horizon 3 is a heavy material, and horizon C is light mater-
ial. The Fox series is an example of this profile. (2) In
this profile the horizon A is a light sandy or loamy material,
but horizons B and C are both heavy. The Miami types are
typical of this profile. (5) Here we find horizons A, B and
C all a light sandy material as typified by the Coloma types.

Under the group of soils develOped under conditions, we
have one profile with horizon A a light sandy or loamy mater-
ial and horizons B and C both heavy as shown in the Brookston
types. He also have one in which all three horizons are light
sandy materials as in the Newton sandy loam. In the poorly
drained soils, the Berrien type comes nearest to the forma-
tion of a hardpan in the B horizon. In this type we find
little concretions of rusty—brown material.

The organic soils have been develOped from heavy deposits
of organic matter under conditions of poor drainage and ex-
cessive moisture. Some were forested while others were cov-
ered with sedge and grass. These types are classified ac-

cording to age, stage of decomposition and the height of the

53

water table. In the Greenwood peat the water table is prac-
tically at the surface and practically no decomposition has
taken place. In the Carlisle muck, the water table is a few
feet below the surface and more decomposition has occurred.
Under some of the mucks are found deposits of Ca003 which in
many cases have been deposited by lime-loving plants, that
took lime from the water of the lakes covering the area, and
later settled to the bottom of the lake, there depositing
the Ca003.

The Griffin and Genesee types of soil in Jackson County
have been formed along the stream beds, carried there by the
action of the water. These alluvial soils have no definite
profile and are not finished in their formation as more mat-
erial is being deposited there each year.

The soils of the area as affected by the parent material
are very noticeable. In the southwestern part of the County
the highest bed rock surface in the Southern Peninsula is
found in an area of outcrop of the Marshall sandstone of
early Carboniferous age.

In Parma and Sandstone townships are found many out-
croppings of the Parma sandstone. Near Napoleon are out-
croppings of the Napoleon sandstone. The presence of these
sandstones appearing through the glacial drift has influ-
enced the color of the soil formed, giving a more yellow
color to the B horizon instead of the reddish color typi-
cal of Podsol soils. The is shown very well in the profile

of the Fox series. In one area just north of farms and in

a few small scattered spots north of Jackzon outcroppings
of Bayport limestone appear. The presence of limestone has
caused a redder color in the B horizon probably caused by
the precipitation and leaching, to that horizon, ofiron ox-
ides. The soil thus formed was mapped as Earma series.

A part of Jackson cc )unty is made up of moraines. a

part of this morainic area has a distinct reddish color in

the B horizon and has a moCerate amount of limestone in the

Cl-

Sravel present. This was mapte as Tellefcntaine. The

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larger part of the mora ainic has beeni nfluenced by

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p:
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5.4
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B

the presence of sandstone giving it
the B horizon. This was put into the Hillslale Series. In

some part. ‘f the er a, thin veins of coal are found in the

(I.
C\

beds of shale Thich come near to the surface.

Summary

Jacxson County is situated in the south central part of
the Southern Ieninsula of hichigan, about 65 miles west of
Detroit.

The surfs ce vari.3s from level to hilly, being made up of
outwash plains, till plains, and moraines.

The drainage is generally good. The area is dra ned by
three river systems: The Grand, Kalamazoo, and Raisin rivers.

Jackson County lies at about 42 degrees north latitude.
It has a mean temperature of 48 degrees, an average precipita—
tion, includin; rainfall, of about 32 inches, 134 days of sun-
shine during the year, and a growings we on of loO dam

Jackson is the chief local market in the area, while
Detroit and Chicago are the imp oortant outside markets. Trans-
portati on facilities are excellent. All parts of the area
re easily accessible to railroads, while paved and gravelled

highways run through all parts of the County.

‘3'
93
d
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There are three general classes of so )ils in t-
(l) The well- dr ins-d soi s; (3) The poorly-drained soils;
(3) The organic soils. The first class includes the Kiami,
IlillS(.ale, Fox, Bellefontaine, Parma, Plainfield, and Coloma
series. The second class includes the Brookston, Berrien,
Brady, Granby, Griffin, and Genesee series. The third class
includes the Carlisle, Rifle, Houghton and Greenwood Series.

The Carlisle muck has a special economic value as a

soil for special crops of onions, cabbage, celery and mint.

(:3
0“.

The important agricultural crops are wheat, hay, corn,
rye, barley, oats, potatoes, and beans. Special crops are

popcorn, tomatoes, melons, cucumbers, onions and cabbage.

 

 

 

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