Kalkaska sand is the official
state soil of the
U.S. state of
Michigan
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United States. It shares water and land boundaries with Minnesota to the northwest, Wisconsin to the west, ...
.
Kalkaska sand was identified in 1927 and named after
Kalkaska County located in the northern
Lower Peninsula of Michigan. This soil is a multi-layer soil composed of
humus
In classical soil science, humus is the dark organic matter in soil that is formed by the decomposition of plant and animal matter. It is a kind of soil organic matter. It is rich in nutrients and retains moisture in the soil. Humus is the Lati ...
, light
sand
Sand is a granular material composed of finely divided mineral particles. Sand has various compositions but is usually defined by its grain size. Sand grains are smaller than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural ...
, dark sand, and yellowish sand. It is classified as a
spodosol. The distinctive sand layers can range from black to yellowish-brown and are commonly 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1.2 m) deep. Kalkaska sand is well-drained and effectively filters water. This makes it a valuable asset in
forestry
Forestry is the science and craft of creating, managing, planting, using, conserving and repairing forests and woodlands for associated resources for human and Natural environment, environmental benefits. Forestry is practiced in plantations and ...
and certain types of
agriculture
Agriculture encompasses crop and livestock production, aquaculture, and forestry for food and non-food products. Agriculture was a key factor in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created ...
. It is also largely responsible for the remarkable water quality of lakes and rivers located in areas of the state where these soils are abundant.
Kalkaska sand is one of more than 500 soils found in Michigan. Unique to the state, Kalkaska Sand covers nearly 1 million acres (4,000 km
2) in 29 Upper and Lower Peninsula counties. It was designated as the
state soil of Michigan in 1990.
Kalkaska soils are
classified in
USDA soil taxonomy
USDA soil taxonomy (ST) developed by the United States Department of Agriculture and the National Cooperative Soil Survey provides an elaborate Soil classification, classification of soil types according to several parameters (most commonly their p ...
as sandy, isotic, frigid Typic Haplorthods.
See also
*
Pedology (soil study)
*
Soil types
*
List of U.S. state soils
This is a list of U.S. state soils. A state soil is a soil that has special significance to a particular U.S. state, state. Each state in the United States has selected a state soil, twenty of which have been legislatively established. These offic ...
References
External links
Kalkaska Sand, Michigan's State SoilBelow the Surface, Kalkaska Sand Shines
Image of Kalkaska Sand
Pedology
Soil in the United States
Geology of Michigan
Symbols of Michigan
Great Lakes region (U.S.)
Types of soil