LOCATION ELBUCK NM
Established Series
Rev. TRM-TWH-KLS
01/2018
ELBUCK SERIES
The Elbuck series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium or colluvium derived from sandstone and shale. Elbuck soils are on mountain slopes. Slopes are 5 to 20 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 635 mm. The average annual air temperature is about 5.6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Elbuck gravelly loam, woodland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 8 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) gravelly loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few medium and coarse, common fine and very fine roots; common very fine vesicular pores; 25 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; neutral; abrupt wavy boundary. (5 to 10 cm thick)
Bt1--8 to 36 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate fine granular; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few medium, fine and very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common thin clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid; clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--36 to 114 cm; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse and common medium roots; few very fine tubular pores; common thin clay films on faces of peds; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid; gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt1, Bt2 is 66 to 142 cm)
C--114 to 152 cm; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) gravelly clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; massive; very hard, very firm, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few coarse and very fine roots; few very fine pores; 20 percent gravel; moderately acid.
TYPE LOCATION: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico; about 3 kilometers east and 1 kilometer north of Chama, New Mexico; Chama USGS quad; New Mexico state plane coordinates 655,663 meters north and 125,978 meters east; Lat. 36 degrees, 54 minutes, 41 seconds N. and Long. 106 degrees, 32 minutes, 58 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture: Moist in some part of the moisture control section from November to May and July to September.
Mean annual soil temperature: 5.6 to 8.3 degrees C.
Depth to base of argillic horizon: 48 to 89 cm
Lithology of rock fragments: sandstone
Reaction (pH): are mainly acid in the particle size control section
Particle-Size Control Section:
Clay content: 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent, mainly gravel
A horizon
Value: 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2, dry or moist
Rock fragments: 15 to 30 percent gravel and 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction (pH): 6.1 to 7.3
Bt horizon(s)
Value: 4 or 5, moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent, mainly gravel
Texture (< 2mm fraction): clay loam or loam
Reaction (pH): 5.6 to 7.3
C horizon
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent, mainly gravel
Texture (< 2mm fraction): clay loam or loam
Reaction (pH): 5.6 to 6.0
COMPETING SERIES:
Alderon (WY) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Allens Park (CO) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Bayerton (WY) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Belltower (MT) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Elbeth (CO) - have an albic horizon
Elmark (MT) - are moderately deep to paralithic contact
Haugan (MT) - have a horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation
Heflin (CO) - are deep to paralithic contact.
Hoyt (MT) - have rock fragments derived from igneous lithology
Jemco (CO) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Jemez (NM) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Kunz (UT) - are more alkaline than acid in the particle size control section
Kwiavu (CO) - have rock fragments derived from diorite
Lakoa (SD) - have an albic horizon
Lick (MT) - have rock fragments derived from granite and gneiss lithology
Littlepine (CO) - have less than 15 percent rock fragments in the particle size control section
Losindios (NM) - have less than 15 percent rock fragments throughout
Lumpgulch (MT) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Maitland (SD) - have an albic horizon
Northrim (CO) - are drier in the moisture control section for a longer period
Plome (CO) - have albic and glossic horizons
Rule (CO) - have hues redder than 10YR throughout
Shoemaker (NM) - are moderately deep to lithic contact
Sweetweed (MT) - have a glossic horizon
Tunitcha (NM) - are deep to paralithic contact
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes
Elevation - 2,340 to 2,720 meters
Slopes - 5 to 20 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium or colluvium derived from shale and sandstone
Mean annual air temperature - 4.4 to 6.7 degrees C.
Mean annual precipitation - 630 to 711 cm
Frost-free period - 70 to 90 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium or high runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Wood products, urban development. The present vegetation is ponderosa pine, Arizona fescue, mountain muhly, bluegrass, and scattered Gambel oak.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northern New Mexico; LRR D and E; MLRA 36 and 48A. These soils are of moderate extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Rio Arriba Area, New Mexico; 1990
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Argillic horizon: 8 to 115 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Particle-size control section: 8 to 58 cm (the Bt1 and part of the Bt2 horizon)
These soils were formerly included with the Elbeth series. The Elbeth series has been redefined requiring an E horizon.
Elbuck soils have a frigid temperature regime and are in an ustic soil moisture regime with a typic subclass.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.