Soil Series Atlas

Soils of Michigan

668 soil series mapped on 31.44 million acres

050100150200cm1 ft2 ft3 ft4 ft5 ft6 ftOiOrganic layer · slightly decomposed0–2 cm · 0–1 inATopsoil2–5 cm · 1–2 inELeached layer5–13 cm · 2–5 inBhsSubsoil · humus build-up, iron andaluminum build-up13–18 cm · 5–7 inBs1Subsoil · iron and aluminum build-up18–56 cm · 7–22 inBs2Subsoil · iron and aluminum build-up56–91 cm · 22–36 inBCSubsoil grading to parent material91–130 cm · 36–51 inCParent material130–205 cm · 51–81 in050100150200cmOiOrganic layer ·slightly decomposed0–2 cm · 0–1 inATopsoil2–5 cm · 1–2 inELeached layer5–13 cm · 2–5 inBhsSubsoil · humusbuild-up, iron andaluminum build-up13–18 cm · 5–7 inBs1Subsoil · iron andaluminum build-up18–56 cm · 7–22 inBs2Subsoil · iron andaluminum build-up56–91 cm · 22–36 inBCSubsoil grading toparent material91–130 cm · 36–51 inCParent material130–205 cm · 51–81 in
Kalkaska, to scale.

Spodosols — acid soils with a subsoil of humus and iron or aluminum

Michigan’s state soil, Kalkaska, is also its most extensive series, with 1,031,866 acres (3.3% of the mapped soil). No order holds a majority; Alfisols lead with 31.5%, ahead of Spodosols at 31.3%.

Atlas series mapped in MichiganGuide: state soils and where series began

Soil orders in Michigan

AlabamaArizonaColoradoFloridaGeorgiaIndianaKansasMaineMassachusettsMinnesotaNew JerseyNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOklahomaPennsylvaniaSouth DakotaTexasWyomingConnecticutMissouriWest VirginiaIllinoisNew MexicoArkansasCaliforniaDelawareDistrict of ColumbiaIowaKentuckyMarylandMichiganMississippiMontanaNew HampshireNew YorkOhioOregonTennesseeUtahVirginiaWashingtonWisconsinNebraskaSouth CarolinaIdahoNevadaVermontLouisianaRhode Island

Largest series in Michigan

  1. KalkaskaSpodosols · 1,031,866 acres3.28%
  2. RubiconSpodosols · 962,178 acres3.06%
  3. SpinksAlfisols · 713,661 acres2.27%
  4. LuptonHistosols · 639,790 acres2.03%
  5. ConoverAlfisols · 616,967 acres1.96%
  6. GraycalmEntisols · 601,883 acres1.91%
  7. OshtemoAlfisols · 587,945 acres1.87%
  8. TawasHistosols · 581,470 acres1.85%
  9. GraylingEntisols · 491,048 acres1.56%
  10. ColomaEntisols · 486,567 acres1.55%

Atlas series mapped in Michigan

  1. Miami200 cm · Oxyaquic Hapludalfs
  2. Kalkaska205 cm · Typic Haplorthods
  3. Blount200 cm · Aeric Epiaqualfs