LOCATION ABEYTA CO
Established Series
Rev. JPP/KLS
04/2018
ABEYTA SERIES
The Abeyta series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in colluvium derived from sandstone and shale. Abeyta soils are on hillslopes and mountain slopes. Slopes range from 30 to 60 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 508 mm and the mean annual temperature is about 6.1 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Calciustolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Abeyta loam, on a northwest facing, simple, 36 percent slope in coniferous woodland at an elevation of 2,256 meters. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.) When described on December 22, 2005 the soil was moist from 0 to 38 cm and dry below.
Oi--0 to 5 cm; slightly decomposed plant material, neutral. (0 to 8 cm thick)
A1--5 to 15 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; very friable, soft, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; few very fine roots throughout; violently effervescent; 18 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary.
A2--15 to 38 cm; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) clay loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak medium subangular blocky structure parting to moderate medium granular; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine tubular pores; violently effervescent; 26 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of A1, A2 - 20 to 40 cm)
Bk--38 to 74 cm; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) clay loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure parting to strong fine subangular blocky; firm, hard, very sticky, very plastic; few very fine roots throughout; few very fine tubular pores; 5 percent parachanners; violently effervescent; 30 percent calcium carbonate equivalent; finely disseminated carbonates and fine threadlike carbonate masses; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (15 to 61 cm thick)
Cr--74 to 99 cm; weakly cemented calcareous shale bedrock, moderately alkaline.
TYPE LOCATION: Archuleta County, Colorado; about 8 kilometers southeast of Pagosa Springs; located about 610 meters east and 427 meters south of the northwest corner of Sec. 32, T. 35 N., R. 1 W.; Serviceberry Mountain USGS quad; Lat. 37 degrees, 13 minutes, 44 seconds, N. and Long. 106 degrees, 58 minutes, 33 seconds W., NAD 27.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature: 6.1 to 7.8 degrees C.
Mean summer soil temperature: 14.4 to 15.6 degrees C.
Depth to paralithic contact: 50 to 100 cm to shale bedrock
Depth to calcic horizon: 25 to 40 cm
Depth to cambic horizon: 25 to 40 cm
Thickness of the mollic epipedon: 25 to 40 cm
Particle-size control section: (weighted average)
Clay content: 35 to 45 percent
A1 horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3, dry or moist
Texture: loam
Clay content: 20 to 26 percent
Reaction: 7.4 to 8.4
A2 horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3, dry or moist
Texture: clay loam
Clay content: 27 to 37 percent
Reaction (pH): 7.8 to 8.4
Bk horizon
Hue: 10YR
Value: 5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3, dry or moist
Texture: clay or clay loam
Clay content: 30 to 45 percent
Pararock fragments: 0 to 5 percent
Calcium carbonate equivalent: 15 to 30 percent
Reaction (pH): 7.8 to 8.4
COMPETING SERIES: None listed.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - hillslopes
Elevation - 1,830 to 2,530 meters
Slopes - 30 to 60 percent
Parent material - colluvium derived from sandstone and shale
Mean annual air temperature - 5.6 to 7.2 degrees C.
Mean annual precipitation - 460 to 560 mm
Precipitation pattern - May and June are the driest months, July and August are the wettest months
Frost-free period - 80 to 100 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, rapid runoff, slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Major use is timber production, livestock grazing, wildlife habitat, and home site development. Native vegetation consists of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, snowberry, Arizona fescue, and Junegrass.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado; LRR D, MLRA 36; small extent.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES PROPOSED: Archuleta County, Archuleta County Area soil survey area, Colorado, 2008. The name is taken from Abeyta Mesa in the survey area.
REMARKS:
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - 5 to 38 cm (A1 and A2 horizons)
Calcic horizon - 38 to 74 cm (Bk horizon)
Paralithic contact - 74 cm to shale bedrock (Cr horizon)
Particle size control section - 25 to 74 cm (part of the
A2 and the Bk horizon)
Abeyta soils have a frigid temperature regime and are in an ustic soil moisture regime bordering on udic.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.