LOCATION OTERODRY CO

Established Series
LAN/LLC
08/2012

OTERODRY SERIES

The Oterodry series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils that formed in eolian deposits and/or alluvium on hillslopes and paleoterraces in MLRA 69. Slopes are 0 to 15 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 13 inches (330 mm) and the mean annual temperature is about 52 degrees F. (11 degrees C.).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplocambids

TYPICAL PEDON: Oterodry fine sandy loam - grassland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A--0 to 15 cm (0 to 6 inches); brown (10YR 5/3) fine sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, non-sticky, non-plastic; 5 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 12 inches thick)

Bw--15 to 28 cm (6 to 11 inches); yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist, moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 1 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt smooth boundary. (0 to 15 inches thick)

Bk1--28 to 64 cm (11 to 25 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 3 percent medium distinct irregular carbonate masses in the matrix; 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary.

Bk2--64 to 109 cm (25 to 43 inches); light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) sandy loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 3 percent medium distinct spherical carbonate masses in the matrix; 10 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual smooth boundary. (Bk1 and Bk2 horizons, 30 to 40 inches thick)

Bk3--109 to 200 cm (43 to 80 inches); pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 3 percent medium distinct spherical carbonate masses in the matrix; 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; violently effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Huerfano County, Colorado; approximately 1,100 feet (335 meters) west and 900 feet (274 meters) south of the northeast corner of Sec. 14, T. 26 S., R. 63 W; Latitude 37 degrees, 47 minutes, 23 seconds north; Longitude 104 degrees, 24 minutes, 41 seconds west, NAD 1983.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil Moisture control section: moist in some part 10 to 55 cumulative days while the soil temperature is 41 degrees F (5 degrees C) or higher. It is moist in some or all parts in May and June, and intermittently in July and August. Aridic moisture regime bordering on ustic.
Mean annual soil temperature: 51 to 56 degrees F. (11 to 13 degrees C)
Mean summer soil temperature: 70 to 76 degrees F. (21 to 24 degrees C)
Depth to carbonates: typically calcareous to the surface, but some pedons are leached to 25 cm (10 inches)
Organic matter content of the surface: .5 to 2 percent, and the organic matter decreases uniformly with increasing depth.
Texture: typically fine sandy loam or sandy loam

Particle size control section:
Clay content: 8 to 18 percent
Silt content: 7 to 37 percent
Sand content: 55 to 75 percent, with more than 15 percent fine sand or coarser

A horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent, Typically has finely disseminated calcium carbonate but lacks masses of secondary carbonate enrichment.
Reaction: slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline
Texture: fine sandy loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand

Bw horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 5 percent, Typically has finely disseminated calcium carbonate but lacks masses of secondary carbonate enrichment.
Reaction: slightly alkaline and moderately alkaline
Textures: fine sandy loam and sandy loam

Bk horizon:
Hue: 10YR or 7.5YR
Value: 6 or 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 1 to 13 percent, secondary calcium carbonate is typically below a depth of 25 cm.
Reaction: moderately alkaline or strongly alkaline
Textures: fine sandy loam and sandy loam
Rock fragments: 0 to 5 percent fine gravel

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Begay, Delvalle, Ignacio, Kitsili, Koshare, Ojito, Parida, Ranchos, Remmit, and Turnback.

Begay and Kitsili soils have a 5YR hue.
Delvalle and Koshare soils have 5 to 10 percent gravel in the particle size control section.
Ignacio, Ojito, and Turnback soils are moderately deep to bedrock.
Parida soils have 15 to 35 percent rock fragments in the particle size control section.
Ranchos and Remmit soils have clay films. Remmit soils are in MLRA 58A. Ranchos soils are in MLRA 70C.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform: hillslopes and paleoterraces
Surfaces are frequently wind-reworked and have a low dune-like relief.
Slopes: 0 to 15 percent
Parent material: eolian deposits and/or alluvium
Average annual precipitation: 10 to 14 inches (254 to 356 mm), with peak periods of precipitation from April through August
Mean annual air temperature: 49 to 54 degrees F. (9 to 12 degrees C.)
Frost-free season: 125 to 170 days.
Elevation ranges from 3800 to 6,300 feet (1158 to 1920 meters).

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Kim, Olney, and Vonid soils. Kim soils are fine-loamy. Olney and Vonid soils have an argillic horizon.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Somewhat excessively drained; high hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used principally for native rangeland and irrigated cropland. Native vegetation consists of blue grama, little bluestem, sideoats grama, needlegrass, and sand dropseed. Shrubs include yucca and sand sagebrush. It is in the Sandy ecological site.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeastern Colorado. LRR G, MLRA 69; The series is of moderate extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Las Animas County, Colorado 2007.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Particle size control section: the zone from 25 to 100 cm (10 to 40 inches) . (Part of the A, Bw and Bk horizons)
Ochric epipedon: the zone from 0 to 30 cm (0 to 12 inches). (A horizon)
Cambic horizon: the zone from 15 to 107 cm 11 to 80 inches. (Bw, Bk horizons)
Secondary carbonates: the zone from 28 to 200 cm (25 to 80 inches) (Bk horizon).
Ustic Aridic moisture regime

The Otero series was reclassified as a Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, calcareous, mesic Aridic Ustorthents 3/94. Oterodry replaces the Otero series in the ustic-aridic moisture regime in MLRA 69.

LAN/LLC/WAW 7/2012 Based on field experience and re-examination of available data the type location for Oterodry is being moved and the series reclassified as Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Ustic Haplocambid. The range in characteristics and properties are based on field experience. Competing series were updated to reflect the new classification.

Taxonomic Version: Keys to Soil Taxonomy, Eleventh Edition, 2010.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.