LOCATION QUILCENE WAEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, isotic, mesic Aquic Dystroxerepts
TYPICAL PEDON: Quilene silt loam, woodland. (Colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 3 inches; dark reddish brown, loose partially decomposed forest litter of needles, leaves, and twigs.
Oe--3 to 4 inches; black decomposed forest litter; moderately acid (pH 5.8); abrupt smooth boundary. (1/2 to 1 inch thick)
A--4 to 10 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam, pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky and moderate coarse granular structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many roots; 5 percent glacial gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 7 inches thick)
Bw1--10 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) and brown (7.5YR 5/4) silty clay loam, pinkish gray (7.5YR 7/2) dry; few fine prominent dark red (10R 3/6) mottles; moderate very fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common roots; common fine pores; 10 percent glacial gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bw2--15 to 23 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) silty clay loam, very pale brown (10YR 7/3) dry; few fine prominent dark red (10R 3/6) and common fine distinct grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) mottles; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common roots; common coarse pores; 12 percent mixed glacial and weathered shale gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.2); gradual wavy boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
BC--23 to 31 inches; light olive gray (5Y 5/2) gravelly clay, pale yellow (2.5Y 8/2) dry; common medium prominent strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) and few fine prominent dark red (2.5YR 3/6) mottles; moderate medium angular blocky structure; very hard, firm, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few roots; common fine pores; 20 percent weathered angular medium shale gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual wavy boundary. (5 to 15 inches thick)
Cr--31 inches; light gray (5Y 7/2) deeply weathered shale; common medium prominent dark brown (7.5Y 4/4) mottles; massive; extremely hard, very firm; moderately acid (pH 5.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Jefferson County, Washington; 150 yards east of the center Quilcene Road and 1/4 mile north of the Tarboo Lake Road in the SW1/4 NE1/4 section 28, T.29N., R.1W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at 20 inches ranges from 47 to about 53 degrees F. The mineralogy is mixed. These soils are usually moist but are dry in all parts between 4 and 12 inches for more than 60 consecutive days in most years. Soil reaction ranges from modertely acid to strongly acid. The control section contains 35 to 50 percent clay and 10 to 35 percent coarse fragments. Solum thickness and depth to weathered shale or sandstone bedrock range from 20 to 40 inches. These soils have ochric epipedons.
The A horizons are in 5YR to 10YR hue, range in values of 3 or 4 moist, 5 to 7 dry, and chroma from 2 to 4 moist or dry. They are silt loam or silty clay loam, and have weak to moderate blocky or granular structure.
The Bw horizons are in 7.5YR to 2.5Y hue, range in value and chroma from 3 to 5 moist, and are mottled. They are silty clay loam or silty clay and may be gravelly; and have moderate blocky or prismatic structure.
The BC horizons are in 10YR to 5Y hue, range in value from 4 to 6 moist, in chroma from 2 to 4, and are mottled. They are silty clay loam or silty clay and may be gravelly; and have weak to moderate blocky or prismatic structure. Chroma 2 or less mottles occur within 30 inches.
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. The Price series, in a related family, has mottles with chroma of 2 or less within 30 inches and has B horizon hues redder than 7.5YR.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Quilcene soils occur on undulating to steep uplands at elevations of near sea level to about 800 feet. The regolith consists of weathered shale and sandstone with some modification by glacial action. These soils occur in a subhumid maritime climate with summers relatively dry and cool and winters wet and mild. The annual precipitation ranges from 30 to 45 inches. The average January temperature is 40 degrees F.; the average July temperature is 60 degrees F.; and the annual frost free growing season is 170 to 190 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These include the Alderwood, Everett, Indianola, and Kitsap soils. None of these soils has more than 35 percent clay in the control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; runoff is medium to rapid; permeability is slow.
USE AND VEGETATION: Primarily for timber production. Cleared areas are used for growing hay, pasture, and small grain. Native vegetation consists of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock, maple, alder, swordfern, and shrubs.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Northwestern Washington. Series is of small extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jefferson County, Washington, 1955.
REMARKS: Quilcene series was formerly placed in the Sols Bruns Acides great soil group. Quilcene soils may not be dry for 60 days.
This series was reclassified 1/00 based on revisions to Soil Taxonomy from mixed, mesic Aquic Dystric Xerochrepts to isotic, mesic Aquic Dystroxerepts.
Diagnostic horizons and features include:
Ochric epipedon - from 4 to 10 inches
Cambic horizon - from 10 to 31 inches
Paralithic contact - at 31 inches