LOCATION SADDLE WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, mesic Typic Haplargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Saddle sandy loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.)
A--0 to 4 inches; light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; strong fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 6 inches thick)
Bt--4 to 14 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate coarse prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine and very fine roots; many distinct clay films on horizontal and vertical faces of peds and bridging between sand grains on ped interiors; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6), clear smooth boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)
Btk--14 to 21 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; few fine and very fine roots; few faint clay films on horizontal and vertical faces of peds; strongly effervescent, common fine soft masses, threads, and filaments of lime; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); gradual smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Bk--21 to 30 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/3) sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent, common soft masses, threads, and filaments of lime; strongly alkaline (pH 8.8); gradual smooth boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)
Cr--30 to 60 inches; soft, calcareous sandstone interbedded with thin and moderately thick strata of sandy shale and siltstone.
TYPE LOCATION: Fremont County, Wyoming; approximately 900 feet west and 100 feet north of the SE corner of sec. 27, T. 3 N., R. 1 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Depth to continuous horizons of carbonate accumulation ranges from 10 to 20 inches. The depth to the base of the argillic horizon ranges from 10 to 25 inches. Depth to the paralithic contact and bedrock ranges from 20 to 40 inches. The weighted average organic carbon content of the surface 15 inches is about 0.4 percent. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 47 to 51 degrees F. The rock fragment content ranges from 0 to 15 percent angular pebbles throughout. EC is less than 4 mmhos throughout.
The A horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 1 through 3. Reaction is neutral through moderately alkaline.
The Bt horizon has hue of 2.5Y through 7.5YR, value of 4 through 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 6. Texture is sandy clay loam with clay ranging from 20 to 35 percent and sand from 45 to 75 percent of which more than 35 percent is fine sand or coarser. Reaction is neutral through moderately alkaline.
The Btk horizon, when present, has the combined properties of the Bt and Bk horizons.
The Bk horizon has hue of 5Y through 10YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is fine sandy loam, sandy loam, or sandy clay loam with 10 to 25 percent clay. This horizon contains about 4 to 12 percent calcium carbonate equivalent. A C horizon is present in some pedons. Reaction is moderately or strongly alkaline.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bacobi, Frisite, Fruita, Fruitvale, Grazane, Grieta, Griffy, Kiki, Neiber, Papoose, Redlands, Starmountain, and Tijeras series. All these soils except Bacobi, Grazane, Kiki, and Neiber are very deep. Bacobi and Grazane soils have average annual soil temperature of more than 51 degrees F. Kiki soils are moderately deep to a lithic contact. Neiber soils have less than 35 percent fine or coarser sand in the Bt horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Saddle soils are on gently sloping to rolling pediments, hill toeslopes, footslopes, and ridges. These soils formed in residuum and slopewash alluvium derived primarily from sandstone interbedded with sandy shale and siltstone. Slopes are 0 to 20 percent. Elevation ranges from 5,000 to 6,500 feet. The mean annual precipitation is about 7 inches and ranges from 5 to 9 inches of which about half falls as snow or rain in April, May, and early June. The mean annual temperature ranges from about 41 to 45 degrees F. The estimated frost-free season ranges from 110 to 135 days depending upon aspect, elevation, and air drainage.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Apron, Oceanet, and Wallson soils and the competing Griffy soils. Apron soils are deep and have coarse-loamy control sections. Oceanet soils are undeveloped and shallow or very shallow. They occur on ridge and hill backslopes and crests. Wallson soils are coarse-loamy and deep. They occur intermixed with the Saddle soils.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow or medium runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation consists of Indian ricegrass, needleandthread, big sagebrush, prairie junegrass, and western wheatgrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Basin areas of central and northern Wyoming. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Fremont County, Wyoming, Riverton Irrigated Area; 1969.