LOCATION BROADUS            MT
Established Series
Rev. DLM-JAL
10/98

BROADUS SERIES


The Broadus series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium or colluvium derived from semiconsolidated loamy sedimentary beds. These soils are on hills and alluvial fans. Slopes are 8 to 65 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 15 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 45 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustepts

TYPICAL PEDON: Broadus loam, forested (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Oi--1 inch to 0; slightly decomposed forest litter. (1/2 to 4 inches thick)

A--0 to 4 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick)

Bw--4 to 12 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 12 inches thick)

Bk1--12 to 18 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; many fine masses of lime; violently effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.7); gradual smooth boundary. (7 to 18 inches thick)

Bk2--18 to 34 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) silty clay loam, grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; weak coarse prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many fine and medium roots; many fine tubular pores; many medium and coarse masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9); gradual smooth boundary. (12 to 20 inches thick)

Bk3--34 to 60 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) silt loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; slightly hard, friable, sticky and plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; many medium and coarse masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 7.9).

TYPE LOCATION: Carter County, Montana; 1,500 feet north and 300 feet east of the SW corner of sec. 5, T. 8 S., R. 55 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 41 to 47 degrees F.

Moisture control section - between 4 to 12 inches; frozen between approximately October 15 through April 15.

Depth to Bk horizon - 11 to 15 inches.

The surface 7 inches when mixed does not meet the requirements for a mollic epipedon

A horizon - Hue: 10YR or 5Y

Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 3, 4, or 5 moist

Chroma: 2, 3, or 4

Texture: loam or clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Bw horizon - Hue: 10YR or 5Y

Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist

Chroma: 2 or 3

Texture: loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Sand content: 15 to 35 percent fine and medium sand

Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Bk1 horizon - Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y

Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist

Chroma: 2, 3 or 4

Texture: loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Sand content: 15 to 35 percent fine and medium sand

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Bk2 and Bk3 horizon - Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y or 5Y

Value: 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5, or 6 moist

Chroma: 2, 3 or 4

Texture: loam, silt loam, fine sandy loam, clay loam, or silty clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Sand content: 15 to 35 percent fine and medium sand

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

COMPETING SERIES:

Arikara (ND) - is noncalcareous in the cambic horizon.

Doney (MT) - calcareous throughout, Cr horizon at depth of 20 to 40 inches.

Eaglewing (MT) - calcic horizon, formed in till.

Macar (MT) - more than 35 percent fine and coarser sand in the control section.

Mara (NM) - moist in some part of the moisture control section, dry in May and June, strongly effervescent throughout.

Slategoat (MT) - base of cambic horizon deeper than 15 inches, AB horizon, and 70 to 80 day frost-free season.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform - alluvial fans and hills.

Elevation - 2,900 to 4,500 feet.

Slope- 8 to 65 percent.

Parent material - alluvium or colluvium derived from semiconsolidated loamy sedimentary beds.

Climate - cool with long, cold, dry winters; moist springs; and warm summers.

Mean annual precipitation - 12 to 19 inches.

Mean annual air temperature - 39 to 45 degrees F.

Frost-free period - 110 to 135 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: The Broadus soils are used mainly for grazeable woodland. The potential native vegetation is mainly ponderosa pine with an understory of green needlegrass and western wheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: The Broadus series is on sedimentary plains of eastern Montana. The series is of limited extent. Broadus is a place name.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Custer County, Montana, 1995; Series proposed Carter County, Montana, 1980.

REMARKS: Soil interpretations record: MT0592. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: an ochric epipedon from the soil surface to 7 inches (mixed)(A and part of Bw horizons); a cambic horizon from 4 to 12 inches (Bw horizon); secondary carbonate accumulation from 12 to 60 inches (Bk1, Bk2, Bk3 horizons); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (Bw, Bk1, Bk2, and part of Bk3 horizons). The Broadus series has a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.