LOCATION LEAVITT WY+CO MT
Established Series
Rev. PSD-KTS-RJS
04/2011
LEAVITT SERIES
The Leavitt series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium or colluvium derived from crystalline and sedimentary rock. Leavitt soils are on relict fan aprons, coalescing fans, terraces, hills and mountain slopes. Slopes are 0 to 55 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 20 inches, and the mean annual air temperature is about 38 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive Ustic Argicryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Leavitt silt loam, rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated).
A--0 to 7 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) silt loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; strong medium granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; neutral (pH 7.0); clear smooth boundary. (6 to 8 inches thick)
Bt1--7 to 12 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; strong very fine subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, moderately sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine, fine and medium roots; many prominent clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent rounded gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear smooth boundary.
Bt2--12 to 29 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, very friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots; many prominent clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 5 percent rounded gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); gradual smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt horizons - 8 to 32 inches)
Btk--29 to 38 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (7.5YR 5/3) moist; weak coarse subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few fine and medium roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds and in root channels and pores; slightly effervescent matrix and strongly effervescent near calcium carbonate masses and filaments; 10 percent rounded gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual smooth boundary. (5 to 12 inches thick)
Bk--38 to 60 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/3) loam, brown (7.5YR 5/3) moist; massive; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent and common soft masses and thin pendants of calcium carbonate on rock fragments; 10 percent rounded gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2)
TYPE LOCATION: Uinta County, Wyoming; approximately 1,055 feet east and 1,680 feet north of the SW corner of sec. 32, T. 13N., R. 115W. 41 degrees 3 minutes 32 seconds north latitude and 110 degrees 24 minutes 30 seconds west longitude.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 32 to 44 degrees F.
Mean summer soil temperature - 40 to 55 degrees F.
Thickness of mollic epipedon - 7 to 15 inches
Organic carbon in mollic epipedon - ranges .8 to 3 percent and decreases regularly with depth
Base saturation - 90 to 100 percent
Note: Some pedons are dominated by stones but, typically, the coarse fragments are gravel.
A horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 3 to 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3; dry or moist
Texture: loam or silt loam
Clay content: 10 to 25 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 50 percent
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
Bt horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR, 7.5YR or 5YR dry or moist
Value: 4 to 6 dry; 3 to 5 moist
Chroma: 1 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Sand content: 15 to 35 percent fine or coarser sand
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
Note: The upper part of the argillic horizon is typically part of the mollic epipedon.
Btk horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry; 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam, loam, silt loam, sandy clay loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Sand content: 15 to 35 percent fine or coarser sand
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 2 to 8 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4 mmhos
Reaction: pH 7.6 to 8.2
Bk horizon
Hue: 2.5Y, 10YR or 7.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 6 or 7 dry; 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: loam, clay loam or sandy clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 4 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 0 to 4 mmhos
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.5
COMPETING SERIES:
Amsden (WY) - have a lithochromic hue of 7.5YR or redder
Barbarela (MT) - are deep to a lithic contact
Beaveridge (WY) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Beavmid (WY) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Cific (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Coldspring (CO) - are deep to a lithic contact
Croftshaw (NM) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Dewville (CO) - have greater than 35 percent fine or coarser sand in the Bt horizon
Gelkie (CO) - have greater than 35 percent fine or coarser sand in the Bt horizon
Highrye (MT) - are deep to a paralithic contact
Hooligan (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Inchau (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Kezar (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Lucky (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Lymanson (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Miracle (CO) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Monaberg (MT) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Passcreek (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Rainbolt (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Tripit (WY) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Wellsville (CO) - have a BA horizon
Woosley (WY) - are moderately deep to a lithic contact
Youga (CO) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
Zade (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - relict fan aprons, coalescing fans, terraces, hills and mountain slopes
Elevation - 6,000 to 9,500 feet (Montana elevation is as low as 4800 feet on north slopes)
Slopes - 0 to 55 percent
Parent material - alluvium or colluvium derived from crystalline and sedimentary rock
Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 25 inches
Mean annual air temperature - 30 to 42 degrees F
Frost-free season - less than 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland, wildlife habitat, and recreation. Native vegetation consists of Idaho fescue, thickspike wheatgrass, spike fescue, Canby bluegrass, antelope bitterbrush, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Mountains of Wyoming, Colorado and Montana. The series is of moderate extent. MLRAs - 34A, 43B, 44B, 46, 47, 49.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Uinta County, Wyoming; 1934.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 12 inches (A, Bt1)
Argillic horizon - from 12 to 38 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Btk)
Secondary carbonate accumulation - from 29 to 60 inches (Btk, Bk)
Particle-size control section - from 12 to 38 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Btk)
Leavitt soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretation record - WY1166.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.