LOCATION PUNA HI
Established Series
Rev. RTG-MRK
05/2012
PUNA SERIES
The Puna series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in organic material mixed with minor amounts of basic volcanic ash in `a`a lava. Slopes range from 2 to 40 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 1650 millimeters (65 inches), and the mean annual temperature is about 19 degrees C. (66 degrees F.)
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Euic, isothermic Typic Udifolists
TYPICAL PEDON: Puna very cobbly highly decomposed plant material, on a west facing, slightly convex, 2 percent slope under forest at an elevation of 860 meters (2820 feet). (Colors are for moist soils unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured with electrode in 1:1 water. When described on December 12, 1992, the soil was moist to 13 inches.) The 2C horizons consist of unconsolidated `a`a lava fragments of variable size.
Oa1/2C1--0 to 8 centimeters (0 to 3 inches); dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) very cobbly highly decomposed plant material; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, common medium, and few coarse and very coarse roots; few very fine and fine interstitial pores; 40 percent angular `a`a cobbles and 15 percent subangular `a`a gravel; very strongly acid (pH 4.9); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 10 centimeters {2 to 4 inches} thick)
2C2/Oa2--8 to 33 centimeters (3 to 13 inches); black (5YR 2.5/1) extremely cobbly highly decomposed plant material; weak very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, common medium, and few coarse and very coarse roots; few very fine and fine interstitial pores; 55 percent angular `a`a cobbles and 20 percent subangular `a`a gravel; very strongly acid (pH 4.6); clear wavy boundary. (20 to 31 centimeters {8 to 12 inches} thick)
2C3--33 to 64 centimeters (13 to 25 inches); `a`a lava cobbles with small amount of soil from above horizon; few very fine and fine, and few medium roots; 60 percent angular `a`a cobbles and 30 percent angular `a`a gravel; clear wavy boundary. (20 to 41 centimeters {8 to 16 inches} thick)
2C4--64 to 76 centimeters (25 to 30 inches); `a`a lava cobbles; few very fine and fine, and few medium roots; 60 percent angular `a`a cobbles and 35 percent angular `a`a gravel.
2R--76 centimeters (30 inches); hard, massive `a`a bluerock.
TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii; on State forest land mauka (upslope) of Hokukano Ranch, Kealakekua; above Konawaena High School,turn right above water tank and follow 4WD road to where it joins mauka-makai 4WD road; go 2.0 miles upslope on 4WD road to spur road, north of large ohia tree; pedon is about 8 meters (25 feet) west northwest of large ohia tree. Kealakekua Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 30 minutes 55.1 seconds N. and long. 155 degrees 53 minutes 18.6 seconds W. (Old Hawaiian Datum)
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 50 to 102 centimeters (20 to 40 inches).
Mean annual soil temperature: 17 to 22 degrees C. (63 to 71 degrees F).
Rock fragments: 60 to 85 percent by volume of the pedon and range in size from gravel to stones, but are primarily gravel and cobble size lava rocks.
Organic carbon (by weight): 25 to 50 percent of the less than 2.0 mm soil material.
Oa1/2C1 and 2C2/Oa2 horizons
Hue: 5YR to 10YR.
Chroma: 1 or 2 moist.
Texture: Very or extremely cobbly highly decomposed plant material.
Soil reaction: Very strongly acid to moderately acid (pH 4.5 to 6.0).
COMPETING SERIES: This is the
Kiloa series. Kiloa soils are moist in the control section from October to April.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Puna soils are on mid elevation, leeward slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa volcanoes at elevations from 305 to 1067 meters (1000 to 3500 feet). These soils are on all hillslope components of constructional landscapes consisting of undulating to steep `a`a flows that are 750 to 3,000 years old. Slope gradients range from 2 to 40 percent. The soils formed mainly in organic material consisting of decomposed leaves, twigs, and wood; and to a lesser degree basic volcanic ash, cinders, and weathered lava. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 1270 to 2030 millimeters (50 to 80 inches), with most of the rainfall occurring from April through October. The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 640 to 1020 millimeters (25 to 40 inches). The mean annual temperature ranges from 16 to 22 degrees C. (61 to 71 degrees F.) The mean summer soil temperature and the mean winter soil temperature differ by less than 6 degrees C. (11 degrees F.)
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are
Honaunau,
Honuaulu,
Hookena,
Hua,
Kealakekua,
Kona, and
Napoopoo series. Honaunau, Hua, and Kealakekua soils are hydrous. Honuaulu and Napoopoo soils are hydrous-skeletal. Hookena soils are sandy-skeletal. Kona soils are organic soils over pahoehoe lava.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is negligible to low. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Used primarily for wildlife habitat; some areas are used for grazing and orchards. The natural vegetation is ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) and hapuu or treefern (Cibotium spp.).
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North and South Kona districts, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 161B. The soils are of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii 1970.
REMARKS: Soil temperature - moist and not dry in any part for as long as 90 cumulative days in most years (Udic moisture regime).
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Sapric soil materials - from 0 to 33 centimeters (0 to 13 inches) (Oa horizons).
Lithic contact - 76 centimeters (30 inches).
ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 94HI001009. NSSL sample S94HI-001-009 from type location.
Edit Log: 11/3/99 Classification revised due to changes in Soil Taxonomy. Old Classification: Euic, isothermic Typic Tropofolists. Type location moved to a representative site. Competing series have been updated. MRK
4/09 Textures updated plus minor edits. MRK
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.