LOCATION JERUSALEM IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Jerusalem loam -- on a 30 percent concave west-facing slope at 2,840 feet elevation in rangeland. When described on May 8, 1997, the soil was slightly moist throughout. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 3 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate thick platy structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 5 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 6.7); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
AB--3 to 12 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine tubular pores; 5 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--12 to 23 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 10 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 6.9); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 15 inches thick)
Bt2--23 to 38 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine roots; common very fine tubular pores; many distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 10 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
Bt3--38 to 60 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) fine gravelly sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 20 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; about 1/2 mile northeast of Gardena; 200 feet south and 2,000 feet east of the northwest corner of section 2, T.7 N., R.2 E.; USGS Horseshoe Bend Quadrangle; Latitude - 43 degrees, 58 minutes, 45 seconds N. and Longitude - 116 degrees, 11 minutes, 14 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mollic epipedon thickness - 10 to 15 inches
Depth to bedrock - more than 60 inches
Depth to the base of argillic horizon - more than 60 inches
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral
Base saturation - 50 to 75 percent in some part between 10 and 30 inches
Particle-size control section - 22 to 35 percent clay; 5 to 15 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - moist less than 90 consecutive days when the soil temperature is greater than 47 degrees F.
Average annual soil temperature - 52 to 54 degrees F.
A and AB horizons
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent fine gravel
Bt1 and Bt2 horizons
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - SCL, CL or L
Clay content - 22 to 35 percent
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent fine gravel
Bt3 horizon
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - SL, SCL or L
Clay content - 18 to 27 percent
Rock fragments - 10 to 35 percent fine gravel
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bissell, Bjork, Cowiche, Dodes, Fernpoint, Hullsgulch, Indiano, Madras, Margerum, Noslo, Orr, Pahrange, Quailridge (T), Quiero, Ralls, Shoebend, Simcoe, Springmeyer, Truax, Uhaldi and Wenatchee series. Bissell soils have base saturation of over 75 percent and are 24 to 50 inches deep to the base of the argillic horizon. Bjork, Dodes, Noslo, Pahrange, Uhaldi are moderately deep to a paralithic contact. Indiano, Madras, Quiero, Simcoe and Shoebend soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact. Cowiche soils have less than 5 percent rock fragments in their control section and have 2Bk horizons. Fernpoint soils have extremely cobbly 2C horizons and secondary calcium carbonates at 40 to 50 inches. Hullsgulch soils have lamellae in E&Bt horizons below the argillic horizon and base saturation greater than 75 percent. Margerum soils have 15 to 35 percent coarse fragments, dominantly pumice in the control section. Orr soils are slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline and rock fragments are not of granitic origin. Quailridge soils are less than 25 inches to the base of the argillic horizon have lamellae in E&Bt horizons. Ralls soils have 15 to 35 percent basalt rock fragments in the control section and have moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline C horizons. Springmeyer soils are dry more than 145 days during summer and fall and do not have rock fragments dominantly of granitic origin. Truax soils have Bq horizons. Wenatchee soils are less than 60 inches to the base of the argillic horizon and do not have rock fragments dominantly of granitic origin.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Jerusalem soils are on south and west-facing hill backslopes and footslopes at elevations of 2,600 to 4,000 feet. These soils formed in colluvium from granitic rocks. Slopes range from 25 to 65 percent. The average annual precipitation is 12 to 15 inches. The average annual temperature is 50 to 52 degrees F. The frost-free period is 140 to 155 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Dobson and the competing Shoebend soils. Dobson soils are shallow. These soils are on hill shoulders and backslopes.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Jerusalem soils are used mainly for rangeland. Native vegetation is basin big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho. MLRA 10. Jerusalem soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boise County Area, Idaho, Parts of Ada and Boise Counties, 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - zone from the soil surface to 12 inches (A and AB horizons)
Argillic horizon - zone from 12 to 60 inches (Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - zone from 12 to 32 inches
Soil moisture regime - aridic bordering on xeric
These soils are drier than other Xerolls in the region under similar precipitation due to exposure, early runoff and extended period of high evapotranspiration.