LOCATION ARIKARA NDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Arikara loam - on a northeast-facing convex slope of 15 percent under mixed hardwoods. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. When described, the soil was moist in the upper 16 inches and dry below.)
0i--0 to 1 inches; forest litter and partially decomposed forest litter; abrupt smooth boundary. (1/2 to 2 inches thick)
A--1 to 2 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few coarse, many fine and medium roots; slightly acid; abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick)
Bw1--2 to 7 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine and medium roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary.
Bw2--7 to 14 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium and fine subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine and medium roots; neutral; abrupt smooth boundary. (Combined Bw horizon is 8 to 27 inches thick)
Bk--14 to 39 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; few fine and medium roots; common masses of lime; strong effervescence; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 30 inches thick)
C1--39 to 54 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; gradual wavy boundary.
C2--54 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) fine sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Dunn County, North Dakota, about 20 miles north and 5 miles west of Killdeer; 2,000 feet north and 1,000 feet east of the southwest corner, sec. 11, T. 148 N., R. 96 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to carbonates ranges from 11 to 28 inches.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR, value of 2 to 5 and 2 or 3 moist, and chroma of 1 or 2. It is slightly acid or neutral. It is loam or clay loam.
The Bw horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, values of 5 or 6 and 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. It typically is loam, clay loam, silt loam or silty clay loam. It is slightly acid to slightly alkaline.
The C horizon has hue of 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y, value of 5 to 7 and 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 1 to 4. It is loam, fine sandy loam, clay loam or silt loam. In places it is stratified with layers having textures ranging from fine sandy loam to silty clay. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Broadus, Doney, Eaglewing, Macar, Mara and Slategoat series. Broadus soils have a cambic horizon that is calcareous throughout. Doney soils are calcareous throughout and have a paralithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches. Eaglewing soils have a calcic horizon. Macar soils do not have an O horizon. Mara soils are calcareous throughout and are at elevations of more than 7400 feet. Slategoat soils have an AB horizon and are at elevations of more than 4500 feet.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Arikara soils are on strongly sloping to very steep north- and east-facing slopes in stream dissected uplands and in the North Dakota Badlands. Slopes range from 9 to 70 percent. The soils formed in colluvium from soft sedimentary bedrock. The mean annual temperature is from 39 to 45 degrees F, mean annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 18 inches, frost-free period ranges from 120 to 135 days and elvevation ranges from 1650 to 3600 feet.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Cabba, Cherry, Lambert and Shambo soils and the miscellaneous area Badland. Cabba soils are on steep ridgetops and side slopes and are shallow to soft bedrock. Cherry and Shambo soils are on nearly level to moderately sloping fans and terraces. Lambert soils are on strongly sloping to steep west-and south-facing side slopes and foot slopes. Badland is steep barren land.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is medium to very rapid. Permeability is moderate.
USE AND VEGETATION: Almost all areas of Arikara soils are used as grazeable woodland. Native vegetation is bur oak, green ash, trembling aspen, white birch, and Rocky Mountain juniper with understory of shrubs, sedges, and grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Arikara soils are of moderate extent in western North Dakota.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
ESTABLISHED SERIES: Dunn County, North Dakota, 1981.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the mineral surface of the soil to a depth of 2 inches (A horizon); cambic horizon - the zone from 2 to 14 inches (Bw1 and Bw2 horizons); ustic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: S78ND25-8 indicates this series is in the fine-loamy family.