LOCATION LIMEKILN WA+IDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Lithic Haploxerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Limekiln very stony silt loam-range on a 50 percent southwest facing slope at an elevation of 2,240 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 4 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very stony silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable; slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 25 percent pebbles, 15 percent cobbles and 5 percent stones; mildly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick).
A2--4 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) very cobbly silt loam; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; 25 percent pebbles and 20 percent cobbles; mildly alkaline (pH 7.5); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)
Bkq1--8 to 12 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very cobbly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; few fine spheroidal aggregates of secondary lime and common lime and silica coatings on underside of basalt fragments;30 percent pebbles and 25 percent cobbles; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick).
Bkq2--12 to 16 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) extremely cobbly loam; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; common fine spheroidal aggregates of secondary lime and many lime and silica coatings on underside of basalt fragments; 40 percent pebbles and 35 percent cobbles; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.5); abrupt irregular boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
2R--16 inches; basalt.
TYPE LOCATION: Asotin County, Washington; about 7 miles south of Asotin; 1,000 feet south and 1,600 feet west of northeast corner of sec. 27, T. 9 N., R. 46 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at the lithic contact is 48 to 56 degrees F. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts between 4 and 12 inches for 75 to 90 consecutive days during summer and fall. Depth to calcic horizon is 7 to 12 inches. Depth to lithic contact is 10 to 20 inches. The particle-size control section averages 45 to 70 percent angular basalt fragments. The mollic epipedon is 10 to 17 inches thick.
The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. The A2 horizon is very cobbly silt loam, very stony silt loam, very cobbly loam, or very gravelly silt loam.
The Bkq horizon or Bk1 when present has value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist and chroma of 2 or 3 dry or moist. It is very cobbly loam or very gravelly silt loam. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
The Bkq2 horizon or Bk2 horizon when present has value of 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3 dry or moist. It is very cobbly loam, extremely cobbly loam, very cobbly silt loam, extremely cobbly silty loam, or extremely gravelly silt loam. Reaction is moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Aldax, Bakeoven, Bodell, Lickskillet, Plaskett, Rockly, Swakane, and Venator series. All of these soils lack a calcic horizon. In addition, Bakeoven, Rockly, and Swakane soils are less than 10 inches deep to a lithic contact. Lickskillet soils are dry for more than 90 consecutive days. Plaskett soils have a mean annual soil temperature of 55 to 58 degrees F and are dry for more than 75 consecutive days.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Limekiln soils are on canyon walls and shoulders. Slopes are 3 to 120 percent. These soils formed in loess and colluvium, and slope alluvium from basalt or greenstone. Elevations range from 750 to 3,300 feet. Summers are warm and dry and winters are cool and moist. The average annual precipitation ranges from 13 to 18 inches. Mean annual temperature is about 49 degrees F. Frost-free season is 120 to 145 days and up to 190 days in Idaho.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Laufer, Matheny, Pataha, Stember and Thiessen soils. All of these soils are more than 20 inches deep to a lithic contact.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; medium to rapid runoff, moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used for grazing and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is mostly bluebunch wheatgrass and western yarrow.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Washington and northcentral Idaho. The series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Asotin County, Washington, 1984.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizon and features recognized in this pedon are a mollic epipedon from the surface to 16 inches, a calcic horizon from 8 to 16 inches, and a lithic contact at 16 inches.