LOCATION ENBAR MT
Established Series
Rev. NRS-CNG-EMM
10/2014
ENBAR SERIES
The Enbar series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium from mixed rock sources. These soils are on stream terraces, drainageways, and flood plains. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 43 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Cumulic Haplustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Enbar loam, grassland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 3 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and very fine granular structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many medium, fine, and very fine roots and few coarse roots; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear wavy boundary.
A2--3 to 16 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and very fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; many fine and very fine roots and common medium roots; many fine and very fine pores; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary.
A3--16 to 22 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; few fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; weak medium and fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots and few medium roots; many fine and very fine pores; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (Combined A horizons are 16 to 28 inches thick)
C--22 to 30 inches; light brownish gray (2.5Y 6/2) loam, dark grayish brown (2.5Y 4/2) moist; common fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) redox concentrations; weak fine and very fine blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and very fine roots and few medium roots; many fine and very fine pores and few medium pores; few fine irregular masses of lime; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); diffuse wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Cg1--30 to 43 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) loam with thin stratifications of fine sandy loam and clay loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; many fine distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) redox concentrations; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots; many fine and very fine pores; 5 percent gravel; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt irregular boundary. (10 to 22 inches thick)
Cg2--43 to 51 inches; gray (5Y 6/1) loam, dark gray (5Y 4/1) moist; many fine prominent yellowish brown (10YR 5/6) redox concentrations; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many fine and very fine pores; 10 percent gravel; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (7 to 20 inches thick)
2C--51 to 61 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; common fine distinct brownish yellow (10YR 6/6) redox concentrations; massive; soft, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 75 percent gravel; disseminated lime; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4). (0 to 10 inches thick)
TYPE LOCATION: Fergus County, Montana; 756 feet east and 10 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 21, T. 15 N., R. 17 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 41 to 47 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches; not dry in all parts for 45 consecutive days.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 16 to 28 inches.
Depth to discontinuity - 40 to 60 inches.
Depth to seasonal water table - 24 to 42 inches.
A1 and A2 horizons
Hue: 5YR, 7.5YR, or 10YR
Value: 3, 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, 4, or 6 dry or moist
Texture: Loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent
Effervescence: none to strongly
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 8.4
A3 horizon
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3 dry or moist
Redox concentrations: none to few 10YR 5/4 or 10YR 4/4
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 20 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 10 percent
Effervescence: slightly to strongly
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 8.4
C horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 1 or 2 dry or moist
Redox concentrations: few to common, 10YR 5/4, 10YR 4/4 or 10YR 4/6
Texture: loam or clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Effervescence: strongly or violently
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
Cg horizons
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4, 5, or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 0, 1, or 2 dry or moist
Redox concentrations: few to common, 10YR 3/4, 10YR 5/6, 10YR 6/6
Texture: loam or silty clay loam consisting of layers of sandy loam, silty clay loam, and clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Effervescence: strongly or violently
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
2C horizon
Hue: 10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 1, 2, or 3 dry or moist
Redox concentrations: few to common, 10YR 6/6 or 10YR 5/6
Texture: sandy loam or loamy sand
Clay content: 5 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 35 to 75 percent--0 to 5 percent cobbles; 35 to 70 percent gravel
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Effervescence: strongly or violently
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Breezebasin (CO) - do not have a lithologic discontinuity
Brycan (UT) - does not have redox concentrations
Dalmation (CO) - does not have a lithologic discontinuity
Jode (CO) - does not have a lithologic discontinuity
Jodero (CO) - does not have redox features above a depth of 40 inches
McGaffey (NM) - does not have redox features and has hues of 7.5YR and redder in the lower part of the control section
Nutrioso (AZ) - does not have redox features
Pinridge (CO) - does not have redox features
Polich (NM) - does not have a gleyed horizon
Staad (MT) - does not have a redox features or a lithologic discontinuity
Straw (MT) - does not have redox features
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - flood plains; drainageways; stream terraces
Elevation - 3,500 to 6,000 feet
Slope - 0 to 15 percent
Parent material - alluvium derived from mixed rock sources
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers
Mean annual precipitation - 14 to 22 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 37 to 45 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 70 to 125 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat poorly drained; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Enbar soils are used mainly for pasture, hay, and rangeland and to a lesser degree for cropland. Potential native vegetation is mainly slender wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, reed canarygrass, prairie cordgrass, American mannagrass, tall sedges, forbs, and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Enbar soils are moderately extensive in central Montana and adjacent areas. MLRAs 43B, 44B, 46, and 58A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fergus County, Montana, 1979.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from the soil surface to 22 inches (A1, A2, A3 horizons)
Gleying - the zone from 30 to 51 inches (Cg1, Cg2 horizons)
Discontinuity - the zone from 51 to 61 inches (2C horizon)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 10 to 40 inches (A2, A3, C, Cg1 horizons).
Enbar soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
Soil interpretation record: MT0357, MT0821.
C and Cg1 horizon should be investigated in the future to determine if they would be better described as Bw and Bg1 horizons.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.