LOCATION PUUIKAAKA HI

Established Series
RTG/MRK
06/2012

PUUIKAAKA SERIES

The Puuikaaka series consists of very shallow, well drained soils that formed in basic volcanic ash over pahoehoe lava. Slopes range from 2 to 20 percent. The mean annual rainfall is about 560 millimeters (22 inches), and the mean annual temperature is 20 degrees C (68 degrees F).

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Medial-skeletal, amorphic, isothermic Lithic Haplustands

TYPICAL PEDON: Puuikaaka very cobbly highly organic medial silt loam, on a northwest facing, slightly concave, 4 percent slope under pasture at an elevation of 890 meters (2,920 feet). (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted. All textures are "apparent field textures". pH measured with organic dyes. When described on March 6, 1996, the soil was moist throughout.)

A1/2C1--0 to 5 centimeters (0 to 2 inches); black (10YR 2/1) very cobbly highly organic medial silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) dry; strong very fine and fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; 40 percent subangular pahoehoe cobbles and 10 percent subangular pahoehoe gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated pahoehoe lava fragments of variable size; clear smooth boundary. (3 to 8 centimeters {1 to 3 inches} thick)

A2/2C2--5 to 15 centimeters (2 to 6 inches); black (N 2/0) very cobbly highly organic medial silt loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) dry; moderate very fine and fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine roots; 40 percent subangular pahoehoe cobbles and 10 percent subangular pahoehoe gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); the 2C part of this horizon consists of unconsolidated pahoehoe lava fragments of variable size; abrupt wavy boundary. (8 to 13 centimeters {4 to 5 inches} thick.)

2R--15 centimeters (6 inches); hard, massive pahoehoe lava; class 2 (10-45 centimeters) joint fractures.

TYPE LOCATION: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii; from Puu Waawaa Ranch office, drive west on 4WD road for 1.9 miles; pedon is located 15 meters (50 feet) northwest of 4WD road. Puu Anahulu Quadrangle; lat. 19 degrees 45 minutes 55.5 seconds N. and long. 155 degrees 52 minutes 4.5 seconds W. (GPS/PLGR; Old Hawaiian Datum).

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Depth to bedrock: 5 to 25 centimeters (2 to 10 inches).
Mean annual soil temperature: 18 to 22 degrees C (65 to 72 degrees F).
Rock fragments: 35 to 70 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): 20 to 25 percent of the less than 2.0 mm soil material.

A/2C horizon
Hue: Neutral or 10YR.
Value: 2 or 3 moist or dry.
Chroma: 0, 1 or 2 moist or dry.
Texture: Cobbly or very cobbly highly organic medial silt loam or sandy loam.
Soil reaction: Slightly acid or neutral (pH 6.1 to 7.3).

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Keaa and Napuu series. Keaa and Napuu soils have a lithic contact at 25 to 50 centimeters (10 to 20 inches).

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Puuikaaka soils are on north and northwest mid elevation, leeward slopes of Hualalai volcano at an elevation of 305 to 1067 meters (1000 to 3500 feet). These soils are in depressions of constructional landscapes consisting of nearly level to moderately steep pahoehoe flows that are less than 5,000 years old. Slope gradients range from 2 to 20 percent. The soils formed in basic volcanic ash over pahoehoe lava. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 380 to 760 millimeters (15 to 30 inches), with most of the rainfall occurring from January through July. The mean annual pan evaporation ranges from 1520 to 1780 millimeters (60 to 70 inches). The mean annual temperature ranges from 17 to 21 degrees C (63 to 70 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 the Akahipuu, Kahaumanu, Napuu, and Waawaa series. Kahaumanu and Waawaa soils are medial. Akahipuu and Napuu soils are medial-skeletal over `a`a lava.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Runoff is negligible in depressions on gentle slopes and high to very high on steeper slopes. Permeability is moderately high in the soil and very slow in the underlying bedrock.

USE AND VEGETATION: Used for grazing and wildlife habitat. Natural vegetation is ohia lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha), lantana (Lantana camara), and fountaingrass (Pennisetum setaceum).

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: North Kona District, Island of Hawaii; MLRA 161B. The series is of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California.

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Island of Hawaii, Hawaii County, Hawaii 2012. Proposed 1996.

REMARKS: Soil moisture - Usually moist, but dry in some or all parts for short intermittent periods totaling 90 or more days during the months from July through January in most years (Ustic moisture regime).

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from a depth of 0 to 15 centimeters (0 to 6 inches) (A/2C horizons).
Andic soil properties - from a depth of 0 to 15 centimeters (0 to 6 inches) (A/2C horizons).
Lithic contact - at a depth of 15 centimeters (6 inches) (2R horizon).

ADDITIONAL DATA: NASIS User Pedon ID 96HI001018. NSSL sample S94HI-001-010.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.