LOCATION SICKLESTEETS MT
Established Series
Rev. JB-JJU-EMM
04/2014
SICKLESTEETS SERIES
The Sicklesteets series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium or slide deposits derived from calcareous rock sources. These soils are on mountain slopes and landslides. Slopes are 8 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 22 inches, and mean annual air temperature is about 40 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive Ustic Haplocryalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Sicklesteets clay loam, forest (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 1.5 inches; slightly needles and twigs.
Oe--1.5 to 2 inches; moderately decomposed organic humus layer containing some charcoal; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0). (combined thickness of O horizons - 1 to 3 inches)
E--2 to 10 inches; reddish gray (5YR 5/2) clay loam, dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) moist; strong coarse granular structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (4 to 10 inches thick)
Bt1--10 to 18 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay with light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) on faces of peds; strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; strong fine blocky structure; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine, medium and coarse roots; continuous prominent clay films and very dark brown (10YR 2/2) organic staining in root channels and on some vertical faces of peds; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--18 to 29 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) cobble clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) broken and brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; strong medium blocky structure, parting to strong fine blocky; very hard, firm, very sticky and very plastic; common fine and medium, and few coarse roots; continuous prominent clay films and organic staining of very dark brown (10YR 2/2) in root channels and on some vertical faces of peds; 20 percent gravel and cobbles; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (combined thickness of Bt1, Bt2 horizons - 12 to 40 inches)
Btk1--29 to 47 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/6) cobbly clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; common fine and medium roots; common prominent clay films along root channels and on some faces of peds; 30 percent gravel and cobbles, and a few stones; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 18 inches thick)
Btk2--47 to 72 inches; reddish yellow (7.5YR 6/8) extremely cobbly clay loam, strong brown (7.5YR 5/6) moist; weak and moderate, fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few roots; few prominent clay films along root channels; 60 percent gravel and cobbles, and a few stones; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0).
TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; 600 feet east and 600 feet north of the southwest corner of sec. 14, T. 12N, R. 15W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature - 36 to 47 degrees F.
Depth to secondary calcium carbonate accumulation - 15 to 29 inches
Note: Some pedons may have a Bk horizon.
E horizon
Hue: 7.5YR 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3; dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, loam, clay loam or silty clay loam
Clay content: 18 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 3 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.3
Bt1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5 moist; 5 or 6 dry
Chroma: 3 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 60 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 25 percent--0 to 15 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
Bt2 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 25 percent--0 to 5 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Btk1 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR or 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 3 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam or clay
Clay content: 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 35 percent--5 to 10 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 3 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4
Btk2 horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 8; dry or moist
Clay content: 27 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 45 to 80 percent--30 to 40 percent gravel, 15 to 25 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.4
Bk horizon (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR, 5YR 2.5YR; dry or moist
Value: 5 to 7 dry, 4 to 6 moist
Chroma: 2 to 8; dry or moist
Texture: clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 40 percent
Rock fragments: 5 to 45 percent--5 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 20 percent cobbles, 0 to 5 percent stones
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 5 to 15 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES:
Findon (MT) - are moderately deep to a paralithic contact
Katlon (NM) - do not have secondary calcium carbonate accumulation
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - mountain slopes and landslides
Elevation - 5,000 to 9,700 feet
Slope - 8 to 60 percent
Parent material - colluvium or slide deposits derived from calcareous rock sources
Climate - long, cold winters, cool moist springs, short summers
Mean annual precipitation - 19 to 30 inches
Mean annual temperature - 36 to 42 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 30 to 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Sicklesteets soils are used mainly for woodland and grazing. Potential native vegetation is mainly Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine with an understory of snowberry, huckleberry, and pinegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sicklesteets soils are moderately extensive in southwestern Montana. MLRAs - 43B, 44B, 46.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County (Bridger Area), Montana, 1971.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - from 0 to 10 inches (Oi, Oe, E horizons)
Argillic horizon - from 10 to 72 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Btk1, Btk2 horizons)
Secondary calcium carbonate accumulation - from 29 to 72 inches (Btk1, Btk2 horizons)
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 30 inches (Bt1, Bt2, part of Btk horizons)
Sicklesteets soils have a cryic moisture regime and an ustic moisture regime bordering on udic.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Soil interpretations records - MT0359, MT0900.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.