^ Q.630.7 U6sr no. 54 cop. 5 NOTICE: Return or renew all Library Materialsl The Minimum Fee for each Lost Book Is $50.00. The person charging this material is responsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for discipli- nary action and may result In dismissal from the University. To renew call Telephone Center, 333-8400 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN m 0^ L161— O-1096 UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN AGRICULTUFJE it^v ^s»5* UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station SOIL REPORT No. 64 FORD COUNTY SOILS Bt R. S. smith, E. E. DbTURK, F. C. BAUER. AND L. H. SMITH XJRBANA, ILLINOIS, APRIL, 1933 "It must be remembered that the productive power of the soil is the basic support of all prosperity." C. G. HOPKINS "It is the duty of every landowner to see that his land when he leaves it is as good or better than when he received it." J. G. MOSIER STATE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SOIL INVESTIGATIONS 1932-1933 F. I. Mann, Gilman N. F. Goodwin, Palestine G. F. TuUock, Rockford W. E. Riegel, Tolono F. S. Haines, Geneseo RESEARCH AND TEACHING STAFF IN SOILS 1932-1933 Herbert W. Mumford, Director of the Experitetent Station W. L. Bmlison, Head of Agronomy Department Soil Physics and Mapping R. S. Smith, Chief D. C. Wimer, Assistant Chief E. A. Norton, Assistant Chief R. S. Stauffer, Associate D. C. Maxwell, First Assistant Herman Wascher, First Assistant Eric Winters, Jr., Assistant G. D. Smith, Assistant Soil Fertility and Analysis E. E. DeTurk, Chief F. H. Crane, Assistant Chief R. H. Bray, Associate J. C. Anderson, First Assistant E. B. Earley, Assistant K. B. Daniloff, Assistant J. E. Gieseking, Assistant Soil Experiment Fields F. C. Bauer, Chief H. J. Snider, Assistant Chief A. L. Lang, Assistant Chief C. J. Badger, Associate L. B. Miller, Associate C. H. Farnham, Assistant P. E. Johnson, Assistant S'oil Biology 0. H. Sears, Associate Chief L. E. Allison, Assistant Soils Extension F. C. Bauer, Professor' C. M. Linsley, Assistant Professor Soil Survey Publications L. H. Smith, Chief F. W. Gault, Scientific Assistant Nellie Boucher Smith, Editorial Assistant 'Engaged in Soils Extension as well as in Soil Experiment Fields. INTRODUCTORY NOTE IT IS A MATTER of common observation that soils vary tremen- dously in their productive power, depending upon their physical condition, their chemical composition, and their biological activities. For the most advantageous utilization of the land a definite knowledge of the existing kinds or types of soil is a first essential, and for any comprehensive plans for the improvement and the maintenance of our agricultural soils this knowledge is likewise necessary. It is the pur- pose of a soil survey to classify the various kinds of soil of a given area in such a manner as to permit definite characterization for de- scription and for mapping. With the information that such a survey affords, every farmer or landowner of the surveyed area has at hand the basis for a rational system of improvement of his land. At the same time the Experiment Station is furnished an inventory of the soils of the state upon which intelligently to base plans for those funda- mental investigations so necessary for solving the problems of practical soil improvement. This county soil report is one of a series reporting the results of the soil sur\'ey which, when completed, will cover the state of Illinois. Each county report is intended to be as nearly complete in itself as it is practicable to make it, even at the expense of some repetition. Wiiile the authors must assume the responsibility for the presen- tation of this report, it should be understood that the material for the report represents the contribution of a considerable number of the present and former members of the Agronomy Department working in their respective lines of soil mapping, soil analysis, and experiment field investigation. In this connection special recognition is due Mr. Herman Wascher and Mr. Eric Winters, who prosecuted the field work of the survey and constructed the soil map. LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS W URBANA -CHAMPAIGN CONTENTS PAGE GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF FORD COUNTY 3 Agricultural Production 4 Climate 5 Physiography and Drainage 6 FORMATION OF FORD COUNTY SOILS 8 Origin of Soil Material 8 Soil Development 9 THE SOIL MAP 10 Basis of Soil Classification 10 Naming of Soil Types 11 DESCRIPTION OF SOIL TYPES 12 Elliott Silt Loam 12 Clarence Silt Loam 14 Drummer Clay Loam 16 Saybrook Silt Loam 16 Proctor Silt Loam 18 Brenton Silt Loam 19 Ridgeville Fine Sandy Loam 20 Pella Clay Loam 20 Lindley Silt Loam 22 Clinton Silt Loam 22 Harpster Clay Loam 23 Onarga Sandy Loam 23 Wabash Loam 24 Muck 24 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FORD COUNTY SOILS 25 hbt FORD COUNTY SOILS By R. S. smith, E. E. DeTUKK, F. C. BAUER, and L. II. SMITH' GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES OF FORD COUNTY F ^ORD COUNTY is located in the east-central part of Illinois. It is pecul- iar in shape, having a north-south length of about 41 miles, and varying in width from 6 miles to 28 miles. It embraces an area of about 479 square miles. Ford county, named after Thomas Ford, the eighth governor of Illinois, is the youngest county in Illinois, having been formed in 1859 by splitting off from Vermilion county. At the same time the decision was reached by popular vote to organize the new county it was decided to locate the county seat at Paxton, which had been laid out two years before under the name of Prairie City, and 20 15 10 ^ ■^ ^^ // 5 I860 1870 I8&0 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 Fig. 1. — Growth in Population of Ford County There was a steady girowth in the number of inhabitants in Ford county until 1900 when, according to the U. S. Census, the number reached about 18,000. Since that time the population has gradually decreased to about 15,000. then changed to Prospect City, which name it held \mtil the fall of 1859. The name of the town was changed from Prospect City to Paxton because Sir Richard Paxton of England was organizing a colony to settle in Illinois, and it was hoped that such ,a change would influence him to settle in the town named after him. These hopes were not realized, however. Sir Richard settling elsewhere. The population of Ford county increased rapidly from 1860 to 1880 and then slowly to the maximum in 1900, since which time there has been a steady decrease amounting to a little over 15.6 percent during the last thirty years (Fig. 1). 'R. S. Smith, Chief in Soil Physics, in charge of identification and mapping of soil types; E. E. DeTurk, Chief in Soil Technology, in charge of tlie soil analysis of the Soil Survey; F. C. Bauer, Chief in Soil Experi- ment Fields; L. H. Smith, Chief, in charge of Publications of the Soil Survey. 4 Soil Report No. 54 Ford county has excellent transportation facilities. It is served by five rail- way lines: the Wabash; the Nickel Plate; the Toledo, Peoria, and Western; and two lines of the Illinois Central. The hard road system is so laid out that no farm in the county is over 4^ miles from a hard road. Many of the secondary roads are oiled, but because of the lack of gravel deposits in the county there are few graveled secondary roads. Agricultural Production The agriculture of Ford county is well balanced with respect to diversification. Considering the fact that about 70 percent of the farms are operated by tenants, 160 I/) u 120 80 40 OATS HAY 8. FORAGE WHEAT I I 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 Fig. 2. — Acreage of Principal Field Crops in Ford County The diagram shows the relative acreage devoted to the production of corn, oats, wheat, and hay and forage at ten-year intervals since 1880. (Figures from U. S. Census) the livestock industries make a very satisfactory showing. Slightly over 94 per- cent of the area of the county is in improved farm land. This represents a small decrease since 1900, at which time over 97 percent of the land was improved and in farms. The principal crops grown in Ford county are those common to the corn-belt region. The trend in the acreage of com, oats, wheat and hay from 1880 to 1930 is shown in Fig. 2. It is interesting to note the small acreage of wheat thruout the entire period, the declining acreage of hay, the rapid increase in oats acreage between 1880 and 1900, and the consistently high acreage of com. Table 1 shows the average acreage and average yield per acre of corn, oats, wheat, and tame hay in Ford county for the seven-year period 1924-1930. The state acre- yield for the same period is included for comparison. Fruit growing is of little importance in Ford county. Small fruits reached a maximum of 52 acres in 1900. Orchard fruits reached a maximum of 79,000 trees about the same time and have decreased rapidly since then. Sweet-corn produc- tion is of some importance, 4,654 acres being grown in 1930. The number of horses and mules, dairy cows, and all other cattle in Ford county from the time of its organization in 1859 to 1930 is shown in Fig. 3. A Table 1. Ford County 5 -Average Annual Acreage and Yield of Principal Field Crops Produced in Ford County, Illinois, 1924-1930' Acreage, Ford county Yield per acre Ford county State Corn Oats 131 600 94 180 3 029 16 386 39.1 bu. 30.8 bu. 18.8 bu. 1.4 tons 34.1 bu. 32.3 bu. Wheat 16.0 bu. Tame hay 1 . 32 tons 'These figures are compiled from Illinois Crop and Livestock Statistics, issued cooperatively by the U. S. Department of Agriculture and the lUinois Department of Agriculture. sharp decrease in the number of horses and mules since 1920 and a considerable decrease in dairy cows and other cattle is to be noted. The number of hogs has remained fairly constant during the last twenty years, ranging between 20,000 20 Q Z < o I I- 12 HORSES 8.MUL 7 /■ / / / ^ s ^^ ^,,-^ — \^ ^ V-A \ \ \ LL OTHER CATTLE \ tj // // V \ \ \ \ s yf '% / / / / / / / / / / ■-DAIRY C DWS N. y N / / --^ I860 1870 1880 1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 Fig. 3. — Production in the Principal Classes of Livestock in Ford County The diagram shows the relative numbers of horses and mules, dairy cows, and all other cattle at ten-year intervals since 1860. (Figures from U. S. Census) and 30,000. Poultry raising is important in Ford county, the number of chickens over three months old ranging well above 150,000 during the last forty years, except in 1900, when the number fell to 137,000. The number of sheep has fluc- tuated between 2,000 and 6,000 since 1870. Climate The climate of Ford county is typical of that prevailing in north-central United States. It is characterized by a wide range between the extreme tempera- tures of winter and summer and by an abundant rainfall. The highest smnmer temperature recorded at the Pontiac weather station was 106° in July, 1930; the lowest winter temperature was 24° below zero in January, 1927. The average annual rainfall for the 13-year period 1918 to 1930 was 31.73 inches and the 6 Soil Report No. 54 average annual snowfall 29.7 inches. The driest year was 1925 with a rainfall of 21.67 inches; the wettest, 1927 with a rainfall of 47.43 inches. The average date of the last killing frost in the spring is April 26 ; the earliest in the fall is October 14. The latest killing frost recorded occurred May 25, 1925, and the earliest September 20, 1918. The average length of the growing season for this 13-year period was 172 days. The shortest growing season was 138 days in 1925 ; the longest, 205 days in 1929. The average monthly rainfall during the growing season apparently indicates good distribution, and an analysis of the rainfall figures would bear out this gen- eral conclusion. Average rainfall figures, however, are misleading in that depart- ures from the average and length of rainless periods, if less than a month in duration, are not shown. Moreover the rate of precipitation, rate of evaporation, character of the crop and character of the soil with reference to its absorptive and retentive capacity for moisture are all important factors influencing moisture conditions for plant growth. No records are available showing the rate of pre- cipitation or rate of evaporation. The records show that during the thirteen years from 1918 to 1930 there were six years in which three or more rainless periods 11 days or more in length occurred during the growing season. Rainless periods of this length are not harmful, except on a few soils, unless they are pre- ceded by a condition of moisture deficiency. During this same period, 1918 to 1930, there were four rainless periods 21 days or more in length during the grow- ing season. Rainless periods of this length are likely to be harmful, and they .may be expected about one year in four in this region. The soils under the type names Clarence and Elliott, particularly the former, do not readily absorb moisture in large amounts and are therefore sensitive to both wet and dry periods. However, the comparatively good distribution of rain- fall during the growing season provides a well-balanced moisture supply during most years. Physiography and Drainage Ford county is in a region of low relief. The difference in elevation between Piper City, which lies within the "Big Swamp" area, and Sibley, which is located on the Cropsey moraine, is 137 feet. The extreme northern end of the county at Cabery on the Marseilles moraine is 74 feet lower than Elliott near the southern boundary of the county on the Bloomington moraine. The slopes thruout the county are gentle and therefore the control of erosion does not present a difficult problem. Two morainic systems cross Ford county, the Bloomington and the Marseilles. The Bloomington system crosses the southern part of the county and is made up of three morainic ridges, the Chatsworth, the Cropsey, and the Bloomington. The extreme northern end of the county is crossed by the Marseilles moraine. With the exception of that portion of the Bloomington moraine west of Gibson City, none of these ridges are prominent features of the landscape. The low-lying former swamp areas have been thoroly drained by the construc- tion of dredge ditches, as shown on both the soil map and the drainage map. The drainage of the southwestern part of the county finds its way into Illinois river Ford County 7 thru Drummer creek and Sangamon river. The northern part drains into Illinois river thru North Vermilion, or Illinois Vermilion, river and Mazon creek. Much of tiie southern part of the county drains into Wabash river thru the West Branch of Middle Fork creek and South Vermilion or Wabash Vermilion river. Fig. 4. — Drainage Map of Ford County - The natural drainage courses are indicated by the stream channels. The alti- tude at certain points in the county is shown by the figures which express height in feet above sea level. The morainal formations are represented approximately by the cross-hatched areas. 8 Soil Report No. 54 FORMATION OF FORD COUNTY SOILS Origin of Soil Material The bed rock in Ford county lies beneath a covering of glacial till which ranges from about 150 to over 200 feet in thickness. This thick mantle of till was deposited by immense ice sheets that pushed southward from the far north during the Glacial period. During this Glacial period snow and ice accumulated in regions to the north in vast amounts until the pressure was so great that masses pushed outward from these centers. The ice advanced chiefly southward, aided by further accumu- lations of snow and ice at its margin, until it reached a region where the climate was warm enough to melt the ice as rapidly as it advanced. In moving across the country from the far north, the ice gathered up all sorts and sizes of ma- terials, including clay, sand, gravel, boulders, and even immense masses of rock. Some of these materials were carried hundreds of miles and rubbed against sur- face rocks and against each other until largely ground into powder. The great bulk of material carried, however, was derived from the old bed-rock surface and deposited perhaps within fifty miles or less of its origin. When the glacier reached the limit of its advance, the rock debris carried by it accumulated along its front in a broad undulating ridge or moraine. With rapid melting the glacier receded, and the material was deposited somewhat irregularly over the land surface. The advance and retreat of an ice sheet were not regular, uninterrupted movements; oscillations took place frequently and the action was complex in character. Each advance and retreat leveled off ridges and hills and filled in valleys. The mixture of materials deposited by the glacier is known as boulder clay, or glacial drift. There were at least four great periods during which ice sheets moved down from the north. Some periods included two or more distinct movements, each of which covered a part of North America, altho the same parts were not necessarily covered during each advance. The movements of these individual ice sheets were separated by long periods of time during which the climate was similar to that now existing and the country was clothed with vegetation. At least two of these glaciers, the Illinoian and two invasions of the Wisconsin, the early and middle, covered Ford county. The deposit left by the first invasion is buried under 50 to 100 feet of the more recent deposits. This early ice sheet and its deposit have exerted no influence on the character of the soils now found in Ford county except as present topography may have been influenced by them. The early Wisconsin deposit lies beneath the deposit left by the last ice invasion, which was a substage of the Wisconsin known as the middle Wisconsin. The present soils of Ford county have been formed from the material left by this last ice lobe together with wind-blown material and, in some regions, water-deposited outwash from the retreating ice front. The character of the glacial drift deposits left by the last ice sheet varies and this variation, particularly with reference to permeability to water, has been a very important factor in influencing the character of the soils formed. The de- posit west of Gibson City is relatively permeable and is composed of a heteroge- neous mixture of boulders, pebbles, sand grains, and particles of finer texture. To tn in < z o LU > z o u o'-i tn O z LU UJ -* r^ ;+ 3 10 to (M CO (0 o |0 AJJ'tllOO AJJillOO JLLN-flOO NomwviaA sjon^oya X^OXSONLM^r O l-H H < H GO H Z Q O fa fa o fa -31 H o <^ I— ( o J I— ( H l-H fa > C/J Ford County the cast and north of this region, except in the old swamp areas, the drift vanes om extreme impermeability to medium permeability. Extreme ,mpermeab,hty a"soc ated with scarcity of pebbles and relative abundance of shale fragment Wind-blown material, designated as loess, is relatively unimportan m Ford count There doubtless was once a thin coating of this material over the entire countV bT't iTw-as so thin that it has become mixed with other materials and '""o^itwLh •r;mpo:;;;:t-.he .glon south of dbson City along West Branch creek andMiddle Fork creek and in what is known as the "Big Swamp" north of Piper City. Soil Development As soon as the soil material, as outlined above, was deposited, the soil-fo™™« processes became active and began to change this material '^>-°J"fJ^^JX ce«es acted somewhat differently in different locations, because of d'ff^>-ences in ope n character of the original material, in vegetation and in certam ot r facto s A. time went on the products that were formed, which we call soils, began to take on differences. With the continued action of weathenng processes, hese differences became more and more pronounced until - ^ -^/"^^-J^" tinctly different characteristics were evolved; these we call so 1 types. During the earlv stages in the life history of soil types their distinguishmg features a e not clearly developed and they are said to be young. In this respect their evolu- ™ont similar to that of a living being. The soils of Ford county are in variou stage of the youthful period and, therefore, the influence of the P-- "ate la on their character is still strong. It is for this reason that the character of the glacial drift deposits in Ford county is of more importance from the standpoint of soils than would be the case were the region geologically » de^; The material composing the morainal ridge area west of Gibson City was originallv highly calcareous but its permeability to water permitted the relatively rrpidac ion of solution, leaching, oxidation, and the other soil-foi-ming processe and a" a consequence, the soils developed there are now in the ater stages o vou h. To the east of Gibson City the glacial drift, as mentioned above, s less permeable and this condition has retarded the action of the weathenng for e, with the result that the soil is shallower and the relatively ™Pe™eab a- slightlv weathered drift is near enough to the surface to be hannful. Still farther to the' east in the region of Clarence and to the north in the general region of Roberts and also of Kempton, the glacial drift is very impervious -d the de- velopment of soil on it has, for this reason, been greatly retarded. This highly impervious drift functions as an imper^dous subsoil tho 't^^ '"^P^™"''''""'?;, "° the result of the action, of the soil-developing forces, as is the impermeability of the "tight clav" subsoil found in some regions of Illinois. The soils in the low-lying and swamp areas differ radically from those on the more rolling uplands because the original or parent matenal was different and Z action o'f the weathering forces has been different. The soil materia in ese regions accumulated rapidly during the close of the glacial penod. This accu- mulation has continued, tho at a decreased rate, thru the centuries '^■"ee the final retreat of the glacial ice and it is even now taking place. These areas, up to 10 Soil Report No. 54 very recently, were either under water a considerable portion of the year or at least had a high water table. Under these conditions slough or swamp grass prevailed and numerous fresh-water, shell-bearing animals lived. The remains of these animals in the form of shell fragments or even unbroken shells are abundant in some of the soils, usually in association with concretions of limestone. All of the soils occurring in these areas that were formerly swampy are young and the features associated with mature soils are but faintly developed. THE SOIL MAP Basis of Soil Classification In the soil survey the "type" is the unit of classification. Each soil type has definite characteristics upon which its separation from other types is based. These characteristics are inherent in the strata, zones, or "horizons" which consti- tute the soil profile in all mature soils. Among them may be mentioned color, ---v. ^^ W^^V J., « %'' ^S/M tUi&L i f'' HHHhhH JHr ^^B ^^fc- .TUbUwRO ^^iSi^^l B^HH^^I ^^^^HH MmM 3 ^M%||ji;i ^H^HH HH Ik J'>^,^ *^^^^^ ^■H m|B|||B HPT'" * s. ^HH ■H ^^ [ *hI ^k ■ /fc»"^ 1^^^ p , "«' " ■k^b p •. .-^A-i.^ •■* -^ Fig. 5. — Studying the Soil Profile One of the very pronounced characteristics observed in most soils is that they are composed of more or less distinct layers, or strata, often spoken of in soil literature as "horizons." The vertical section of the soil showing the arrangement of these horizons from the surface down is called the "soil profile." structure, and texture, and physical and chemical composition. Topography and kind and character of vegetation are easily observable features of the landscape which are very useful indicators of soil character. A knowledge of the geological origin and formation of the soil material of the region being mapped often makes possible an understanding of the soil conditions which occur. Not infrequently, as in Ford county, areas are encountered in which type characters are not distinctly developed or in which they show considerable varia- tion. When these variations are considered to have sufficient significance and where the areas involved are sufficiently large, type separations are made. Be- LEGEND 146 147 Elliott silt loam Clarence silt loam Elliott silt loam ( includes small areas of Clarence silt loam) 152 lA-S 149 1I:SI 153 67 150 73 103 Drummer clay loam Saybrook silt loam Procter silt loam Brenton silt loam Ridgeville fine sandy loam Pella clay loam Lindley silt loam Clinton silt loam Harpster clay loam Onarga sandy loam Wabash loam Muck LrV'lNGSTON R 7 E. R, £ :. SOIL SURVEY MAI UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AGHK OF I CONVENTIONAL SIGNS ,==. Public roads ^== Paved roads 3..>.3 Private roads I I Railroads (steam) __ _^ Townsl^ip boundary lines ^.^ _ County boundary lines ~-__ — . Streams (flowing) ■ , Streams (intermittent) ^^ LaUes or ponds O-GP Gravel pits V* vs 1 2MUes L)F FORD ( OUNTY I/niHAL EXPERIMENT STATION COUX TV LITMO CASTCRN OrPSKT tNC .aAVTO li Ford County 11 cause of the almost infinite variability occurring in soils, one of the exacting tasks of the soil surveyor is to determine the degree of variation allowable for any given type. Naming of Soil Types In the previous reports in this series, use has been made of the "descriptive" /stem of naming the soil types, the name carrying something of a descrip- tion of the soil. With advancing knowledge of soil characteristics and the con- Tquent call for greater discrimination between soil types, this method of naming is become more and more unsatisfactory and impractical in its limitations until ;nally it has been decided to substitute for the descriptive method the "place- name" system of nomenclature used in other states and countries. Table 2. — Soil Types of Ford County Illinois Type No. Type name Area in square miles Area in acres Percent of total area 146 Elliott silt loam 180.73 82.88 135.10 15.01 22.48 15.40 8.11 5.47 4.38 1.87 2.51 0.70 4.35 0.67 479.66 115 667 53 043 86 464 9 607 14 387 9 856 1 590 3 .501 2 803 1 197 1 606 448 2 784 429 306 982 37.68 147 Clarence silt loam 17.28 152 Drummer clav loam 28 17 145 Savl)rook silt loam 3.13 148 Procter silt loam 4.69 149 Brenton silt loam 3 21 151 Ridgeville fine sandv loam 1 69 153 Pella clav loam. 1 14 21 Lincilcv silt loam .91 18 Clinton silt loam .38 67 150 73 Harpster clay loam Onarga sandy loam Wabash loam .52 .15 .91 103 Muck .14 Total 100.00 In the "place-name" system the name of some geographical unit is arbitrarily assigned each type, this proper noun constituting the first word of the type name. Then to this word is appended one or more words descriptive of the soil texture. Members of a given soil series all bear in common the same geographic term in '^ir names but vary in the descriptive terms according to the texture of the suli .ce layer. This system of naming soils is simple and convenient and has that very essential merit of possibility for indefinite expansion. To assist in designating soil types, a number is assigned to each type. These numbers are not only a convenience in referring to the respective types but they are especially useful in designating ver>' small areas on the map and as a check in reading the map colors. Table 2 gives the list of the soil types as mapped in Ford county, the area of each in square miles as well as in acres, and also the percentage that each type constitutes of the total area of the county. The accompanying soil map, shown in two sections, gives the location and boundary of each soil type and indicates the position of streams, roads, railroads, and towns. 12 Soil Report No. 54 DESCRIPTION OF SOIL TYPES Following is a brief description of the outstanding characteristics of the indi- vidual soil types as mapped in Ford county. Along with the descriptions of the soils are given general recommendations on the use, care, and management of each type. It is impossible to outline a soil-improvement and management program com- plete in all particulars for a given field or farm without knowing what soil types occur, what cropping and management practices have been followed in the past, and what type of farming it is desired to follow in the future. It is the purpose of this report to furnish the necessary information about soil types and to indi- cate the main factors that should be considered in developing a soil-management program for a type. The necessity of recognizing the type as the basis for work- ing out a soil-improvement program is illustrated by the different drainage treat- ments required by two types to be described later, Clarence silt loam and Saybrook silt loam. Both these types need underdrainage, but Clarence will not underdrain satisfactorily while Saybrook will. Erosion is a minor problem on both types but it is much more easily controlled on Saybrook than on Clarence. Pella clay loam and Drummer clay loam are two types that are similar in many respects, but much of Pella needs potash treatment to produce good corn yields while Drummer does not. The type descriptions which follow are intended to point out the character- istics of each type in such fashion that the reader can get a clear idea of each type without reading a large mass of material. The reader will find frequent reference in the recommendations for manage- ment of Ford county soils to three publications of this Station: Circular 290, "Saving Soil by the Use of Mangum Terraces" Circular 346, "Test Your Soil for Acidity" Bulletin 337, "A Field Test for Available Phosphorus in Soils" It would be well for one who expects to proceed according to these recom- mendations to supply himself with copies of these publications, which can be obtained free of charge by addressing the Agricultural Experiment Station, Uni- versity of Illinois, Urbana. Elliott Silt Loam (146) Elliott silt loam occupies about 180 square miles in Ford county, or nearly 38 percent of the total area of the county. It occurs on gently undulating to gently rolling topography, and was formed from glacial till of middle Wisconsin age and a thin blanket of wind-deposited material known as loess. The loess is either thin, probably never exceeding a foot in thickness, or else is absent alto- gether, and while it cannot be identified with certainty, it is thought to have had a favorable influence on the surface few inches of soil. Surface drainage is good but underdrainage is poor because of the impervious nature of the substrata. Erosion is a factor to be considered, tho it is not difficult to control except on the few more abrupt slopes. This type was originally covered by a prairie grass vegetation. The surface soil is a friable, finely granular brown silt loam varying from about 6 to 8 inches in thickness. This horizon is thought to be developed very largely Ford CotiNTY 13 from material deposited by the wind on top of the glacial till. The subsurface is a little heavier than the surface, is slightly yellowish brown, and the granules, tho not distinctly develojicd, are larger and less rounded than in the surface. This horizon is also friable, tho not to the same degree as is the surface. The subsoil, usually beginning at about 18 inches in depth and extending to about 35 inches, is pale brownish or drabbish yellow in color with a vitreous or waxy appearance on the surface of the large, somewhat angular blocks or aggregates. This horizon is compact and medium-plastic and tile placed in it do not draw very satisfac- torily. The material beneath the true subsoil is usually calcareous and is not so compact and plastic as is the subsoil above it. It ordinarily contains pebbles in abundance and also some decomposing shale fragments. Use and Management Suggestions. — The results from the Sibley experiment field, which was located on this soil, indicate that nitrogen deficiency is the pri- mary limiting factor for the grain crops. The average yield of com and the small grains is satisfactorily high when good soil-management methods are practiced, and this fact indicates that Elliott silt loam should be used for general farming and stock raising. Drainage is something of a problem, altho not a serious one because excess rainfall can be removed readily with but little damage from erosion if proper precautions are taken. Circular 290, "Saving Soil by the Use of Mangum Terraces," issued by this Station, contains information on erosion control which is of value to anyone having anything to do with the management of Elliott silt loam. The character of this soil is such that crops growing on it are rather sensitive to unfavorable weather, particularly to protracted rainless periods. The yields secured on the Sibley experiment field indicate that the com crop will be relatively poor about two years out of nine and the oats crop one year out of nine. An efficient soil-management program for Elliott silt loam must include the following elements: erosion control, chiefly sheet erosion; correction of soil acid- ity; increase of nitrogen and organic-matter content of soil; and use of phos- phatic fertilizers. Sheet erosion can be kept within satisfactory bounds except on the more pro- nounced slopes, that is, slopes where the rise exceeds 4 feet in 100. This is done by providing a protective vegetative cover during as much of the year as possible and by using other well-known means of controlling erosion on moderate slopes. The acidity of this soil type is not high, but some limestone must be applied if sweet clover is to be grown or satisfactory yields of red clover obtained. Each field should be tested before applying limestone, as explained in Illinois Circular 346, "Test Your Soil for Acidity." A systematic test for acidity, as outlined in this circular, is essential if economy in the use of limestone and certainty in secur- ing stands of the acid-sensitive legumes are desired. After the proper limestone application has been made, then for one or two rotations particular attention should be given to returning as much nitrogenous organic material as possible to the soil, for most of the area occupied by this soil is low in both nitrogen and organic matter. The results from the Sibley field, while somewhat variable, indi- cate clearly that manure will give reasonably good crop increases in a corn, oats, legume rotation. This fact suggests the advisability of including livestock in the farm plans when it is possible to do so. 14 Soil Report No. 54 As soon as the nitrogen deficiency has been taken care of, the soil should be tested for available phosphorus as explained in Illinois Bulletin 337, "A Field Test for Available Phosphorus in Soils." This soil, if found deficient in available phosphorus, should respond profitably to its use, particularly if wheat is grown. Manure should help very materially in meeting a phosphorus deficiency, where such a deficiency exists; it should be borne in mind, however, that manure itself is relatively low in phosphorus and that this deficiency may be corrected by adding phosphate to the manure before spreading it or by applying it directly to the land. If a corn, oats, clover rotation is used, the manure and phosphate should be applied for the corn crop. There is no experimental evidence that potash fertilizers will give a profitable response on this soil. Clarence Silt Loam (147) Clarence silt loam occupies about 83 square miles in Ford county, or a little over 17 percent of the total area of the county. It is found on gently undulating to rolling topography and was formed from a compact, highly colloidal glacial till and a thin blanket of loess. The material from which this soil has been de- veloped, excepting the immediate surface material, differs from the parent ma- terial of the other till-derived types in the county in being finer textured, more compact and impervious, and freer from pebbles. These characteristics of the parent glacial till material were and still are important factors in determining the properties of this soil. Erosion is more harmful on this type than on Elliott silt loam and is more difficult to control because of the slow permeability to water. This is a grass-land soil, but the conditions under which it has developed were not favorable for the accumulation of organic matter in such large amounts as in many other grass-land soils in Illinois. The surface horizon is a brown silt loam with a grayish cast. It does not have as well-developed granules as does the surface horizon of Elliott silt loam, and tends to be somewhat sticky when wet. The subsurface, beginning at 4 to 8 inches below the surface ordinarily varies from about 2 to 6 or 7 inches in thick- ness but may be entirely absent on erosion slopes. It is grayish brown or pale yellowish brown in color and is somewhat heavier than is the surface horizon. The structure particles are less rounded and are better developed than in the surface horizon, altho, because of the youthfulness of the soil, they are not so distinctly developed as in some types. The subsoil is chocolate brown in the upper portion and drabbish gray in the lower, with spots and splotches of rusty brown. When moist, the fresh surfaces have a vitreous or waxy appearance be- cause of the colloidal coating. This horizon is sticky and plastic when wet and very hard when dry. It varies from about 6 to 16 or 18 inches in thickness, de- pending on the rate at which the surface material is removed by erosion. Pebbles occur but not abundantly, and decomposing shale fragments are common. The material beneath the subsoil is highly calcareous. It is gray with light rusty brown splotches occurring thruout the gray, evidencing the penetration of weather- ing agencies. It is very slowly pervious to water and therefore resists weathering, and this fact in part explains the shallowness of this soil. Pebbles are not abundant, the drift being constituted mainly of material ground very fine as it was being transported and deposited by the ice sheet during the Glacial period. 1 Ford County 15 Use and Management Suggestions. — Clarence silt loam is recognized as a rela- tively poor soil thruout the region where it occurs. Its location in the midst of productive corn-belt soils, where such a soil would not be expected to occur, delayed its general recognition as a separate type. In so far as chemical com- position is concerned, it is not deficient, but its physical properties limit its value. The loess blanket is too thin in this region to have a very strong ameliorating influence on unfavorable properties imparted by the fine-textured, strongly com- pacted glacial till. Tile do not draw satisfactorily in this soil, and the surface run-off carries with it a load of thin, wind-deposited surface material after each heavy rain. This slow removal has progressed so far that this valuable soil- forming material is entirely gone from many slopes. There appears to be no possibility of ever overcoming the basic handicap imposed on this soil by the unfavorable soil material laid down centuries ago by the ice sheet. This prospect, however, need not preclude the possibility of im- proving the present level of productivity and, what is equally important, pro- viding for its more rational utilization. There are no experiment field results which may be used in arriving at sug- gestions for the treatment of Clarence silt loam. It can be said, however, that attention should first be given to preventing, in so far as possible, the continued loss of surface soil by sheet erosion. Terracing will have to be resorted to on many slopes. The construction of effective terraces is not difficult or expensive if the directions given in Circular 290 are followed. In some regions a practice known as "strip cropping" is becoming common on slopes to be terraced. This practice involves planting crops of different kinds in strips along the contour lines. A crop which will be harvested during the summer is planted on the strip on which the terrace is to be constructed, thus securing a crop and at the same time leaving the land free for terracing late in the summer. The more moderate slopes, that is, those having a gradient of less than about 4 percent, may be protected by maintaining a vegetative cover as much of the time as possible, particularly in spring and fall. The second thing to be done is to test the soil for acidity, as explained in Circular 346, and then to apply lime in sufficient amount to grow sweet clover. The growing of sweet clover will help to correct the nitrogen and organic-matter deficiency of this soil. Since sweet clover will do fairly well on this soil, it is suggested that consideration be given to the possibility of using it for pasture, for livestock, and for seed production. It seems unwise to consider further treatment of this soil than that suggested above, unless it be in an experimental way. The better portions might be tested for available phosphorus, as explained in Illinois Bulletin 337, and if a deficiency is found one of the phosphate fertilizers tried on a small acreage. The utilization of this soil presents problems which should be given careful study. The continued production of grain may not be the best way to use this land. Its physical limitations are reflected in unsatisfactory yields, and no method of overcoming these limitations is known. The fact that this soil will grow good sweet clover following a light application of limestone leads to the suggestion that serious consideration be given to the possibility of establishing larger farm units, so that a larger proportion of the land may be kept in pasture 16 Soil Report No. 54 and livestock production made a prominent part of the farm business. Areas of good soil occur thruout the region where Clarence soils predominate so that, with large farm units, advantage could be taken of this fact, the portions of the farm with good soil being used for grain crops and the poorer portions for pasture. Drummer Clay Loam (152) Drummer clay loam occupies about 135 square miles in Ford county, or a little over 28 percent of the total area of the county. It is found only on flat, nearly level, or basin-like topography in the old swamp areas of the county. The parent material of this soil is largely outwash, together with some wind-blown material. It is a highly productive, youthful soil, showing very little develop- ment of the various horizons composing the profile, and does not require the application of limestone to grow sweet clover. The surface horizon is drabbish black or black clay loam or silty clay loam. It is friable when well handled and works well for a heavy soil unless it is allowed to get into poor physical condition. This horizon varies from about 6 to 10 inches in thickness. The subsurface is drabbish black and somewhat more plastic than is the surface. It also varies in thickness from about 6 to 8 inches. The subsoil is gray with spots and splotches of pale yellow, bright yellow, and rusty brown. It is medium-compact and it is plastic but it underdrains satisfactorily. Im- mediately beneath the subsoil at a depth varying from about 35 to 45 inches a mixed silty, sandy, and gravelly material is found which is usually calcareous. Use and Management Suggestions. — Drummer clay loam is a productive, gen- eral farming soil. It is doubtful whether any fertilizer treatment would cause sufficient increases in crop yields to pay the cost of the fertilizer. The soil on the Hartsburg experiment field is similar to Drummer clay loam, but it is somewhat more leached, and it is therefore unlikely that the moderate increase in yields obtained on the Hartsburg field thru the use of limestone would be secured on this soil in Ford county. Further information on this matter can be obtained by testing each field in detail, as explained in Circular 346. Attention should be given to returning organic matter to the soil at regular intervals in order to maintain its good physical condition. The construction of dredge ditches has made it possible to drain this type effectively thru the laying of tile drains, and most of it is now so drained. Saybrook Silt Loam (145) Saybrook silt loam is a relatively unimportant type in Ford county, occupy- ing only 15 square miles, or a little over 3 percent of the total area of the county. It is confined to a district northwest of Gibson City. Its topography is gently rolling, and both surface drainage and underdrainage are good. It is developed from a calcareous, pebbly, relatively permeable glacial drift with the surface horizon influenced by the thin wind-blown deposit common to the region. It is important to note that the glacial till in the Saybrook area is very different in character from that anywhere else in the county. The important difference from the standpoint of soils is that it is permeable to water and consequently the soil developed on it is different from soils developed on the less-permeable drifts already discussed. Saybrook is a grass-land soil and therefore is dark colored. Ford County 17 The surface horizon is brown or light brown depending on the slope. It is a silt loam, friable and finely granular, and it usually contains a few pebbles. It varies in depth from 6 to 10 inches depending on the rate at which surface ma- terial has been lost by sheet erosion. The subsurface, extending to a depth of about 14 to 20 inches, is a light brown or yellowish brown friable silt loam with small, poorly developed granules and it contains some pebbles. The subsoil is yellowish brown silty clay loam with a distinctly reddish cast on the more pro- nounced slopes. The freshly broken faces are grayish or drabbish brown. The structure of this horizon is not strongly developed but the material readily breaks up into somewhat angular aggregates varying in size from about % to % inch. It is medium-plastic and compact, and pebbles are abundant in this horizon. At a depth of about 28 to 35 inches a thin noncalcareous horizon usually occurs which differs from the true subsoil horizon above it in being less compact and plastic and in having a less well-defined structure. This horizon may not always be distinguishable, and it rarely if ever exceeds 5 or 6 inches in thickness. Be- neath this thin horizon the material is highly calcareous and contains numerous pebbles, including a few shale fragments. Use and Management Suggestions. — Saybrook silt loam is a good general farming soil, has good surface drainage and underdrainage, and needs only good farming and proper treatment to produce consistently satisfactory crops. This is one of the good corn-belt soils that is being injured by erosion. The apparent injury is so slow that little attention is paid to it by most farmers, and yet it is slowly but surely reducing the productive value of this soil. Much of the injury from erosion can be avoided by so planning the cropping system that a vegeta- tive cover will be on the land most of the time. The more pronounced slopes need additional protection, and this may be provided easily by constructing terraces, as explained in Circular 290. The need for a more adequate supply of nitrogen and organic matter is be- coming more and more apparent on this soil. The first step in meeting this need should be to test each field in detail for acidity, so that the proper amount of limestone can be applied for growing sweet clover. The limestone requirement of this soil is not high but varies somewhat, depending on several factors; a de- tailed test of each field is therefore needed before limestone is applied, as ex- plained in Circular 346. The Bloomington experiment field is located, in part, on soil which is similar to Saybrook silt loam. The results from this field indicate that phosphate ferti- lizers are effective in increasing yields well beyond the cost of the fertilizer. Since this is the case, as soon as the nitrogen and organic-matter deficiency is taken care of, detailed tests for available phosphorus, as explained in Bulletin 337, should be made and a phosphate fertilizer applied as the test indicates. The kind of phosphate to use on this soil appears not to be a matter of importance, for rock phosphate, superphosphate, and bone meal all give equally good results. Another lesson from the Bloomington field is that potash fertilizer is not needed on this soil. Saybrook silt loam is well adapted to alfalfa following the application of limestone as indicated by test. A phosphate fertilizer should also be applied. 18 Soil Report No. 54 The main area of this type in Ford county, lying west of Gibson City and ex- tending west into McLean county, is well suited to livestock farming. Most farms in this area have one or more slopes which erode, and these slopes may be used to best advantage for alfalfa or pasture. Most farms also have some Drummer clay loam, a heavy soil, which is primarily a com soil but also pro- duces good crops of small grains. The soils of this area are also well suited to grain farming, but if Saybrook silt loam, when used for this purpose, is to com- pete on a par with other potentially more productive soils, more attention must be given to erosion control and to soil treatment than has been given in the past. Proctor Silt Loam (148) Proctor silt loam occupies a total area of about 22 square miles in Ford county, or a little over 4% percent of the area of the county. It is found only in the old swamp regions where conditions during or shortly after the Glacial period were right for the accumulation of glacial outwash material. It has a gently sloping topography, and both surface drainage and underdrainage are good. It is thought that somewhat more wind-blown material enters into the composition of the upper horizons of this soil than is the case with the strictly upland soils in this region. The lower horizons are often very clearly stratified, indicating out- wash origin, and this condition insures good underdrainage provided there is an outlet sufficiently low to prevent the formation of a high water table. The surface soil is usually 7 or 8 inches deep and is a brown, or less com- monly, a light brown, friable, finely granular silt loam. The subsurface is yellow- ish brown except where a high water table was present prior to the construction of dredge ditches, in which case it is grayish brown. This horizon is friable and granular tho the granules are not well developed, indicating that this soil is youthful in its stage of development. The subsoil is usually encountered at about 16 to 18 inches below the surface and varies from 14 to 20 inches in thickness. It is a brownish yellow, silty clay loam with little structural development and shows but little compaction or plasticity. In areas where the drainage has been poor in the past this subsoil horizon is distinctly gray or drabbish gray. Beneath the subsoil the material varies, depending on the character of the outwash, but is ordinarily a silty, sandy gravelly material often clearly stratified. It shows no structural development and is noncalcareous to a depth of at least 45 inches below the surface. Use and Management Suggestions. — Proctor silt loam is a productive soil tho not so productive as the next type to be discussed, Brenton silt loam, which is found in the same vicinity. It is medium-acid in reaction even in the subsoil, so that in applying limestone there is no calcareous subsoil to meet, even in part, the lime requirement of the surface. The first step therefore in improving the productive level of this soil, assuming that drainage is satisfactory, as it usually is, is to test each field in detail for degree of acidity, as explained in Circular 346, in order to make the growing of sweet clover possible and to improve the growth of the less acid-sensitive legumes. As soon as this program, which provides for meeting the nitrogen and organic-matter deficiency of this soil, is under way, the available phosphorus test (see Bulletin 337) should be used to determine whether Ford County 19 a phosphatic fertilizer should be applied. It is unlikely that potash will pay on this soil, at least until the treatment suggested above has been under way for several rotations. This soil type occurs in relatively small areas in association with heavier, naturally more poorly drained but more productive soils. If livestock is kept on farms where a portion of the farm is Proctor silt loam with the rest occupied by the associated heavier types, the Proctor will normally be used more than the others for pasture and thus receive more than its proportion of the manure pro- duced. During wet years Proctor has the advantage of draining better than the associated types, and this is a particular advantage in livestock farming. This soil is adapted to all the crops common to the region and, if so farmed as to pro- vide an adequate nitrogen and organic-matter supply, will produce consistently good crops. Brenton Silt Loam (149) Brenton silt loam occupies a total area of about 15 square miles in Ford county, or about Sy^ percent of the area of the county. It occurs only in the old swamp regions and is commonly associated with Drummer clay loam previously described. It is the darkest colored silt loam as well as the most productive silt loam in the county. It is of mixed alluvial and wind origin and occurs on nearly level to gently undulating topography. The lower horizons are often clearly stratified, indicating alluvial, or water-lain, origin. Surface drainage is satisfactory on the undulating portions of the type but poor on the nearly level portions. Underdrainage is good provided a satisfactory outlet is available, and this is usually the case because of the presence of dredge ditches thruout the region. The surface soil is 8 to 10 inches thick and is a dark brown, friable silt loam. The slightly higher portions of the type are a little lighter colored, while the lowest spots are nearly black. The subsurface varies in color in a manner similar to the variation in the surface horizon. It is brown on the higher places and drabbish brown on the lower. It is silt loam in texture, friable and easily per- meable to water and to plant roots. At a depth varying between 15 and 18 inches the color becomes brownish yellow on the higher areas and yellowish gray on the lower. This horizon is silty clay loam in texture and is the true, tho poorly de- veloped, subsoil. The material beneath the subsoil beginning at a depth of about 28 or 30 inches is gray with bright yellow spots and splotches. It is usually a sandy silt loam and may be slightly calcareous. It may or may not be clearly .stratified. Use and Management Suggestions. — The productiveness of this soil since drainage has been established thru the construction of dredge ditches makes it a ver\' desirable general farming soil. It is easy to work, is either nonacid or only very slightly acid, is well supplied with organic matter and nitrogen except on the lighter colored portions, and probably has sufficient phosphorus so that it would not respond profitably to phosphate fertilization. Tests for acidity and for available phosphate, however, should be made before steps are taken to cor- rect conditions, as explained in Circular 346 and Bulletin 337. The good supply of organic matter, particularly in the lower-lying areas, may lead to the erroneous -J 20 Soil Report No. 54 conclusion that no provision need be made for the return of crop residues or other organic materials. This soil, however, responds well to the addition of legumin- ous organic materials, and unless such additions are made, a high level of pro- duction cannot be maintained. It is well adapted to the grain crops and should continue to be used for this purpose, with special emphasis on corn. Ridgeville Fine Sandy Loam (151) Ridgeville fine sandy loam is a minor type in Ford county, occupying only a little over 8 square miles, or less than 1% percent of the total area of the county. It is found only in the "Big Swamp" and occupies nearly level to gently undulat- ing topography. Surface drainage is good except on the nearly level portions, and underdrainage is good thruout. This soil type is developed from outwash material which has been assorted and redeposited by the wind. Because of its youthful stage, there is little or no distinguishable horizon development in this soil. The upper part of the profile is dark brown fine sandy loam. The color varies somewhat, being darker in the lower places and lighter on the higher. This dark-colored upper portion varies in thickness between about 8 and 12 inches and grades into a yellowish sandy loam on the gentle slopes and low knolls and a drabbish yellow sandy clay loam in the low-lying places. Use and Management Suggestions. — This soil is slightly to medium acid and should be tested as directed in Circular 346 before limestone is applied. The open nature of lower portions of the profile on the slopes and knolls makes it impracticable to build up much of a reserve of organic matter; frequent addi- tions of such material are therefore advisable. Sweet clover does well on this soil following proper treatment, and alfalfa also does well. Before seeding alfalfa, however, the soil should be tested for available phosphorus as directed in Bulletin 337, and phosphate applied if the test indicates the need. It is wise to precede alfalfa with a crop of sweet clover. Following sweet clover or alfalfa, corn does well except probably on the slopes and knolls in years when there is too little rainfall during the growing season. Sweet com does well on this soil but, for the best results, requires fertilization in addition to the return of leguminous organic matter. While this soil is not as productive as are the other soils found in the swamp regions, it will, if properly handled, produce consistently satisfactory crops and may be used to advantage for special crops such as sweet corn. Pella Clay Loam (153) Bella clay loam is a minor type in Ford county, occupying only about 5% square miles, or a little over 1 percent of the total area of the county. It occurs chiefly in the "Big Swamp" in association with Ridgeville fine sandy loam. It occupies nearly level topography and drainage is poor, because of the small slope obtainable, for either surface drainage or tile drainage. This soil was developed from outwash and wind-blown material under swampy conditions. It is a very- youthful soil, showing but little horizon development, and is heavily charged with shells and lime concretions in the subsoil. The surface soil is a black clay loam or silty clay loam varying from about 6 to 15 inches in depth. The subsurface, when present, is drabbish black in color Ford County 21 and a silty clay to clay loam in texture. It is somewhat plastic tho not strongly so. When this horizon is absent the dark-colored surface horizon rests directly on a drab or dark gray, medium-plastic clay loam which varies greatly in thick- ness, having a minimum thickness of about 20 inches and a maximum of about 50 inches. Pale yellow and bright yellow spots and splotches occur thruout the material containing shells and lime concretions. The brightness of the yellow spots and splotches seems to be determined by the readiness with which air has Fig. 6. — Shells and Lime Concretions Found in Pella Clay Loam The surface soil of Pella clay loam is heavily charged with shells of various forms, while numerous lime concretions occur in the subsoil. Because of the abundance of such calcareous material, the application of limestone is unnecessary. been able to penetrate. Underlying the concretion-bearing layer is found a heterogeneous, usually calcareous, mixture of the finer portions of the usual out- wash material. This may vary considerably in texture but is commonly of a fine, silt-like nature, with few rocks or pebbles present. Use and Management Suggestions. — Pella clay loam is not acid; in fact in places it needs potash to correct the unfavorable conditions arising from too high a concentration of soluble salts, often spoken of as an alkali condition. The, greatest difficulty to overcome in farming this soil is to provide adequate drain- age. The soil is permeable to water. Tile draw readily, but because of lack of adequate slope they require very careful leveling when being installed. Thus the two points of primary importance to be kept in mind in farming this soil are the prompt removal of excess water and the use of potash where the condition of the crops, particularly com, indicates it is needed. Provision must be made for the addition of organic matter at regular intervals; otherwise a progressively poorer physical condition will result. This soil is adapted to general grain farming. Its naturally poor drainage shortens the time that it may be pastured without injury to the physical character of the soil. 22 Soil Report No. 54 Lindley Silt Loam (21) Lindley silt loam is a minor type in Ford county, occupying less than 4% square miles, or less than 1 percent of the total area of the county. Most of it is found along Middle Fork creek south of the Nickel Plate railroad. It is derived from glacial till under a timber vegetation and usually is not calcareous within. 40 inches of the surface. The topography of this soil varies from nearly level to moderately sloping. Some of the slopes are too steep for ordinary cultivation without danger of excessive erosion, but these slopes are short and are not numer- ous. Draining is not difficult on this type, as it all underdrains well and much of it has good surface drainage. The surface horizon is brownish gray with a yellowish cast. It is 6 to 8 inches in depth and is silt loam in texture and finely granular in structure. The sub- surface is grayish yellow and is almost structureless. It has about the same tex- ture as the surface horizon. The subsoil is a compact, medium-plastic clay loam, gray in color, often with a yellowish cast. This horizon lies about 18 inches beneath the surface and extends to a depth of about 34 inches. Beneath this depth the less-weathered glacial till occurs. Pebbles occur thruout the profile, particularly in its lower portion. Use and Management Suggestions. — Much of this type is so located that it may be used to advantage for pasture. If it is used for this purpose it should be tested for acidity as directed in Circular 346, and sufficient limestone should be applied to make the growing of sweet clover possible. Following this treat- ment and this use for a few years, it should produce two or possibly three good corn crops before being returned to pasture. Alfalfa may be grown successfully but the soil should, in addition to being limed, be tested for available phosphorus, and if found deficient, an application of one of the phosphates should be made. This soil does not rank with the best soils in the county in producing power but, if intelligently handled, it responds with satisfactory yields. Clinton Silt Loam (18) Clinton silt loam, as mapped in Ford county, is a minor type, occupying less than 2 square miles. This soil is developed under a timber vegetation from wind- blown material, or loess, of local origin. It is a light-colored soil of the same origin as Proctor silt loam, a dark-colored soil. The differences between these two soils is thought to be due entirely to differences in vegetation, the former being a timber soil, the latter a prairie-grass soil. In reality this soil is not true Clinton silt loam as found in some other locations, but its small area and simi- larity to Clinton seemed to justify correlating it with Clinton. The appearance of the upper horizons of the profile is very similar to corresponding horizons in the Lindley silt loam. It has better natural underdrainage than Lindley because the substratum, instead of being compact drift, is a mixture of sandy, silty, clayey outwash frequently clearly stratified. The surface soil is brownish gray with a yellowish cast. It varies between 6 and 8 inches in thickness and is finely granular and friable. The subsurface is grayish yellow and shows very little structure. It has about the same texture as the surface soil. The subsoil is a slightly yellowish gray silty clay loam, slightly Ford County 23 compact and medium-plastic. At a depth of 35 to 40 inches the mixed sandy, silty, clayey outwash occurs. Use and Management Suggestions. — Clinton silt loam is medium in acidity, low in nitrogen and organic matter, and probably deficient in available phos- l)horus. It should be tested for acidity before limestone is applied, and after the nitrogen and organic matter deficiency have been corrected it should be tested for available phosphorus. It is a fairly good general farming soil but is not so good as its prairie-grass relative, Proctor silt loam. Harpster Clay Loam (67) Harpster clay loam is a minor type in Ford county occupying only 2% square miles, or a little over one-half of 1 percent of the area of the county. It occurs chiefly in the old swamp region south of Gibson City, and is found only in basin- like or very low areas. This soil has developed under conditions of very poor drainage. This fact explains the presence of numerous shells and lime concretions that occur thruout its profile. It is a young soil and shows little horizon develop- ment. It differs from Pella clay loam in having shells thruout the entire soil profile instead of in the substrata only, as is the case with Pella. Surface drain- age, because of topographic position, is poor or entirely lacking. Subsurface drainage is satisfactory since the deepening of ditches has provided good outlets for tile. The surface soil is about 7 or 8 inches thick and is a very dark brown or black, highly calcareous clay loam with a gray cast due to the numerous minute sliell fragments present. The subsurface to a depth of about 14 inches is slightly lighter colored than the surface but is otherwise very similar. The material beneath the subsurface shows no well-defined soil characteristics such as are present in mature soils. It is a clay loam and is predominantly gray with pale yellow and brownish yellow spots, splotches, and streaks. It is highly calcareous and contains pebbles and numerous shells and lime concretions. At a depth below about 35 inches the material often is very sandy and gravelly. Use and Management Suggestions. — Harpster clay loam is found, for the most part, only in very small areas and it is unusual for an entire field to be made up of this type. Spots of this soil occur which could not be shown on the map be- cause of their small size, but they may be easily recognized. Because of the need of Harpster clay loam for potash, it becomes necessary, in fields where it occurs, to treat a portion or portions of the field differently from the rest of the area. The establishment of good drainage is of primary importance. If manure or straw is available, the use of a mineral potash fertilizer may be avoided except on the most strongly alkaline areas. It is questionable whether sweet clover should be grown on this- soil, as it is likely to have a bad rather than a good effect on it. If this crop is grown, the likelihood of an injurious effect may be lessened if the crop is removed rather than plowed down. Onarga Sandy Loam (150) Onarga sandy loam occupies less than one square mile in Ford county. It occurs in a beach-like formation in association with Ridgeville fine sandy loam 24 Soil Report No. 54 in the "Big Swamp" on undulating to gently rolling topography. The surface drainage of this soil type is good and the underdrainage is excessive. The surface soil is 8 to 12 inches thick. It is a light brown sandy loam, defi- cient in organic matter and nitrogen. The material beneath the surface soil is grayish yellow and often coarse in texture. No horizons have developed beneath the surface layer because of the youth of this soil. Use and Management Suggestions. — The coarse texture and low water-holding capacity of this soil make it drouthy. No attempt should be made to build up a large reserve of organic matter, as the open nature of this soil makes it impossible to do so. Sweet clover can be grown to advantage after testing the soil for acid- ity, as directed in Circular 346, and applying the necessary amount of limestone. Following sweet clover, alfalfa should do well, but if alfalfa is to be grown the soil should be tested for available phosphorus, as directed in Bulletin 337, and if found deficient in this essential constituent, one of the phosphates should be applied before seeding the alfalfa. After legumes have been grown, this soil will produce fairly good corn except in years when the rainfall is deficient during the growing season. Wabash Loam (73) Wabash loam occurs as narrow bottom land along Drummer creek and Middle Fork creek in the southern part of the county. It occupies less than 4% square miles and is therefore of little importance. This soil lacks uniformity because of the deposit of sediments of various kinds by the frequent overflows that occur. It consists for the most part of silt loam but contains spots of clay loam and of sandy loam. The danger of overflow limits the usefulness of this soil to summer crops and pasture. Muck (103) The largest area of Muck in Ford county is about two miles northeast of Elliott. It occupies a low area in the old swamp along the West Branch of Middle Fork creek. The total area of the type in the county is only a little over one-half square mile. The upper portion is a mixture of well-decayed organic material and mineral particles, and is dark brown to black in color. The depth of this deposit varies somewhat but lies between 2 and 4 feet. At its bottom a thin layer of peat is sometimes found, and the material beneath the peat, or the muck where the peat is absent, is a gray, highly calcareous, fine-grained, marl- like material. This area and also the other Muck areas were shallow lakes until very recently. Use and Management Suggestions. — This soil grows good corn but for the best results should be treated with potash. It is not suited to small grains, but is well adapted to timothy. Ford County 25 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FORD COUNTY SOILS In the Illinois soil survey the major soil types are sampled and subjected to chemical investigations in order to obtain a better understanding of type differ- ences in chemical characteristics and also to obtain a knowledge of the amounts of the important plant- food elements present. The samples taken to represent the types found in Ford county were taken in sets of three to represent three different strata in the upper 40 inches of soil, as follows: 1. An upper stratum extending from the surface to a depth of 6% inches. This stratum, over the surface of an acre of the common kinds of soil, inchides approximately 2 million pounds of dry soil. 2. A middle stratum extending from 6% to 20 inches and including approximately 4 million pounds of dry soil to the acre. 3. A lower stratum extending from 20 to 40 inches and including approximately 6 million pounds of dry soil to the acre. These data are recorded in Tables 3, 4, and 5. For convenience in making application of the chemical analyses, the results are given in terms of pounds per Table 3.— FORD COUNTY SOILSi; Plant-Food Elements in Upper Sampling Stratum, About to 6^ Inches Average pounds per acre in 2 million pounds of soil Soil type No. 18 21 145 146 147 149 150 151 151 152 153 Soil type Clinton silt loam . Lindley silt loam . Say brook silt loam. . . . Elliott silt loam Clarence silt loam .... Brenton silt loam Onarga sandy loam. . . Ridgeville fine sandy loam, light - colored phase Ridgeville fine sandy loam, dark - colored phase Drummer clay loam. . . Pella clay loam Total organic carbon 29 390 26 960 62 750 63 220 51 420 69 770 39 700 45 120 63 730 67 270 59 320 Total nitro- gen 2 490 2 420 5 000 5 250 4 430 5 410 3 390 3 820 5 250 5 600 5 330 Total phos- phorus 1 010 930 1 050 1 080 940 1 010 900 1 220 1 290 1 190 1 300 Total sulfur 570 650 940 000 800 860 740 800 1 040 1 040 870 Total potas- sium 33 710 37 210 37 500 40 140 40 770 36 280 27 720 26 070 28 810 41 930 41 140 Total magne- sium 6 200 6 460 8 790 10 020 10 240 9 990 4 210 4 340 8 370 13 900 15 650 Total calcium 7 470 6 970 9 540 10 540 9 470 12 930 7 040 9 060 26 910 13 930 16 620 ^The samples representing the respective types were taken in neighboring counties. The less extensive types and some that are highly variable in their characteristics are not included in these analyses. acre. It is a simple matter to convert these figures to a percentage basis in case one desires to consider the information in that form. In comparing the different strata, it must be kept in mind that the composition of each is based on different quantities of soil, as indicated above. The figures for the middle and lower strata must therefore be divided by two and three respectively before being compared with each other or with the figures for the upper stratum. Of the fourteen soil types identified in Ford county, chemical data represent- ing all but three are given. These three types are agriculturally of minor im- portance and occupy but small areas. 26 Soil Report No. 54 Table 4.— FORD COUNTY SOILSi; Plant-Food Elements in Middle Sampling Stratum, About 6^ to 20 Inches Average pounds per acre in 4 million pounds of soil Soil type No. 18 21 145 146 147 149 150 151 151 152 153 Soil type Clinton silt loam . Lindley silt loam . Say brook silt loam. . ElUott silt loam .... Clarence silt loam . . Brenton silt loam . . . Onarga sandy loam . Ridgeville fine sandy loam, light - colored phase Ridgeville fine sandy loam, dark - colored phase Drummer clay loam Pella clay loam Total organic carbon Total nitro- gen 2 400 2 140 Total phos- phorus Total sulfur Total potas- sium Total magne- sium 22 400 17 300 1 390 1 480 500 620 69 540 84 300 18 860 23 340 71 040 60 990 44 700 89 620 42 760 5 840 5 700 4 710 7 310 3 790 1 510 1 410 1 270 1 620 1 380 1 310 1 140 1 000 1 300 860 79 080 83 280 94 810 72 890 57 170 25 530 27 530 37 780 22 390 9 100 49 420 4 160 1 900 840 56 020 10 360 47 910 66 780 52 890 4 560 5 890 4 990 1 790 1 700 2 010 1 120 1 190 940 61 080 87 840 82 800 18 050 32 450 33 070 Total calcium 12 980 13 360 16 710 19 270 15 680 22 590 13 380 16 100 42 320 26 790 33 010 ^The samples representing the respective types were taken in neighboring counties. The less extensive types and some that are highly variable in their characteristics are not included in these analyses. Of the different chemical elements determined, it will be noted that organic carbon, with its associated nitrogen is one of the most variable. The two timber soils, Clinton and Lindley silt loams, along with Onarga sandy loam and Proctor silt loam are low in these constituents. These soils contain from approximately 30,000 to 44,000 pounds an acre of organic carbon and about %2 as much ni- trogen, while the other types contain from 51,000 to 69,000 pounds of carbon with corresponding amounts of nitrogen. Carbon constitutes about 50 percent of Table 5.— FORD COUNTY SOILSi; Plant-Food Elements in Lower Sampling Stratum, About 20 to 40 Inches Average pounds per acre in 6 million pounds of soil Soil type No. 18 21 145 146 147 149 150 151 151 152 153 Soil type Clinton silt loam . . . Lindley silt loam . . . Saybrook silt loam. . Elliott silt loam .... Clarence silt loam . . Brenton silt loam . . . Onarga sandy loam . Ridgeville fine sandy loam, light-colored phase Ridgeville fine sandy loam, light-colored phase Drummer clay loam. Pella clay loam Total Total Total Total sulfur organic carbon nitro- gen phos- phorus 21 440 2 720 2 540 870 19 200 2 790 2 790 1 290 32 910 3 710 2 000 1 270 28 380 3 760 2 050 1 490 27 920 3 740 1 980 1 520 34 940 3 800 1 950 1 100 19 310 2 110 1 450 830 18 900 2 370 2 280 630 19 220 3 020 2 140 960 32 250 3 500 2 440 1 210 28 470 3 330 2 630 860 Total Total potas- magne- sium sium 111 140 42 200 141 970 64 170 142 250 81 570 157 930 107 900 175 830 113 280 114 810 55 130 87 910 16 780 89 040 22 440 97 040 32 040 152 250 72 070 119 760 81 210 Total calcium 33 080 42 000 99 620 160 960 177 950 50 010 21 820 27 810 48 840 64 900 164 640 ^The samples representing the respective types were taken in neighboring counties. The less extensive types and some that are highly variable in their characteristics are not included in these analyses. Ford County 27 the soil organic matter; consequently the amounts of actual organic matter may- be estimated by doubling the value given for organic carbon. As organic matter decomposes with advancing soil maturity, carbon is lost more rapidly than ni- trogen, with the result that the ratio of nitrogen to carbon is narrower in the more mature soils. A study of Tables 3 and 4 in comparison with Table 2 brings out the fact that both carbon and nitrogen decrease rapidly with increasing depth. Also the proportion of nitrogen and carbon changes distinctly, the ratio between the two dropping from 1:11.8 in the surface stratum to 1:10.6 in the middle stratum and to 1:8.1 in the lower stratum. These relations are explained by the fact that the organic matter in the deeper levels is older and is replenished with fresh vegetable matter to a less extent than is that nearer the surface. Calcium and magnesium also vary rather widely from type to type as well as vertically within the type. These variations are associated with soil reaction, increasing acidity in a soil progressing in a general way with increasing losses of these basic elements from the soil in drainage water and in harvested crops. Many of the types, notably Nos. 145, 146, 147, 152, and 153, not only are non- acid in the lower depth but contain an excess of calcium and magnesium carbon- ates and therefore are alkaline in reaction. This alkaline condition is indicated in Table 4 by the very high content of calcium and, to a less extent, by the large amounts of magnesium in these soil types. The other elements for which chemical analyses are reported exhibit some variations in total amounts present, but these variations are confined to much narrower limits. In considering the chemical content of soils one must keep in mind the fact that each of the various plant-food elements present exists in several different kinds of chemical combination, and that the different chemical forms occur in varying proportions in different soils. Furthermore these various forms differ in the rates at which they become available to growing crops under varying soil con- ditions. When the significance of these facts is considered, it becomes apparent that an investigation of the total amounts of the several plant-food elements present cannot, alone, be used as a basis for determining desirable practices in the handling and fertilization of the soil. It serves rather as one among many chemical, cultural, and other investigations, all of which taken together make possible fairly reliable recommendations as to soil management procedure. Soil Reports Published 1 Clay, 1911 2 Moultrie, 1911 3 Hardin, 1912 4 Sangamon, 1912 5 LaSalle, 1913 6 Knox, 1913 7 McDonough, 1913 8 Bond, 1913 9 Lake, 1915 10 McLean, 1915 11 Pike, 1915 12 Winnebago, 1916 13 Kankakee, 1916 14 Tazewell, 1916 15 Edgar, 1917 16 DuPage, 1917 17 Kane, 1917 18 Champaign, 1918 19 Peoria, 1921 20 Bureau, 1921 21 McHenry, 1921 22 Iroquois, 1922 23 DeKalb, 1922 24 Adams, 1922 25 Livingston, 1923 26 Grundy, 1924 27 Hancock, 1924 28 Mason, 1924 29 Mercer, 1925 30 Johnson, 1925 31 Rock Island, 1925 32 Randolph, 1925 33 Saline, 1926 34 Marion, 1926 35 Will, 1926 36 Woodford, 1927 37 Lee, 1927 38 Ogle, 1927 39 Logan, 1927 40 Whiteside, 1928 41 Henry, 1928 42 Morgan, 1928 43 Douglas, 1929 44 Coles, 1929 45 Macon, 1929 46 Edwards, 1930 47 Piatt, 1930 48 Effingham, 1931 49 Wayne, 1931 50 Macoupin, 1931 51 Fulton, 1931 52 Fayette, 1932 53 Calhoun, 1932 54 Ford, 1933 f 1 :m