LOCATION ADELMANN ID

Established Series
Rev. MEJ/ALH/
07/2011

ADELMANN SERIES

The Adelmann series consists of very deep, well drained soils with moderately low saturated hydraulic conductivity that formed in alluvium and colluvium from lacustrine deposits mixed with volcanic and sedimentary rocks. Slopes range from 4 to 50 percent in foothills. The average annual precipitation is about 14 inches and the average annual temperature is about 50 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Clayey-skeletal, smectitic, mesic Aridic Argixerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Adelmann cobbly sandy loam -- on a 16 percent convex south-southeast facing slope at 3,270 feet elevation in rangeland. When described on October 2, 1995, the soil was moist throughout. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A--0 to 3 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) cobbly sandy loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak thin platy structure parting to moderate fine granular; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine, few medium tubular pores; 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 inches thick)

AB--3 to 10 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) cobbly sandy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate fine and medium granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine and fine, few medium tubular pores; 10 percent cobbles, 10 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 12 inches thick)

Bt1--10 to 13 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds, in pores and bridging sand grains; 10 percent cobbles, 30 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.8); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 7 inches thick)

Bt2--13 to 22 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine, fine and medium roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; common prominent clay films on faces of peds, in pores and bridging sand grains; 10 percent cobbles, 45 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.1); clear smooth boundary.

Bt3--22 to 31 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) very gravelly sandy clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; strong fine and medium subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, very sticky and very plastic; few very fine and fine roots; few very fine and fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds, in pores and bridging sand grains; 10 percent cobbles, 45 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.1); gradual wavy boundary. (combined Bt2 and Bt3 horizons - 12 to 50 inches thick)

Bt4--31 to 46 inches; light yellowish brown (10YR 6/4) extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; very hard, friable, moderately sticky and moderately plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; common distinct clay films on faces of peds, in pores and bridging sand grains; 15 percent cobbles, 60 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear wavy boundary.

Bt5--46 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) extremely gravelly sandy clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine and fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; few distinct clay films on faces of peds, in pores and bridging sand grains; 20 percent cobbles, 60 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Ada County, Idaho; about 1.25 miles north and 1.25 miles west of Lucky Peak Dam; 1,165 feet south and 130 feet east of the northwest corner of section 2, T.2 N., R.3 E.; USGS Lucky Peak Quadrangle; Latitude - 43 degrees, 32 minutes, 33 seconds N. and Longitude - 116 degrees, 04 minutes, 26 seconds W., NAD 83.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mollic epipedon thickness - 10 to 20 inches
Depth to base of argillic horizon - 50 inches or more
Depth to bedrock - 60 inches or more
Particle-size control section - 35 to 50 percent clay; 35 to 70 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - moist less than 90 consecutive days when the soil temperature is greater than 47 degrees F.
Average annual soil temperature - 50 to 53 degrees F.

A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Clay content - 14 to 25 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 20 percent gravel, 5 to 20 percent cobbles, 0 to 15 percent stones/boulders and 15 to 35 percent total
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral

Bt1 horizon
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - CL or SCL
Clay content - 24 to 35 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 35 percent gravel, 5 to 35 percent cobbles, 0 to 35 percent stones/boulders and 25 to 50 percent total
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral

Bt2 and Bt3 horizons
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - CL, SC or C
Clay content - 35 to 50 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 50 percent gravel, 5 to 25 percent cobbles, 0 to 60 percent stones/boulders and 35 to 75 percent total

Bt4 and Bt5 horizons
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - CL or SCL
Clay content - 20 to 35 percent
Rock fragments - 10 to 65 percent gravel, 10 to 30 percent cobbles, 0 to 70 percent stones/boulders and 50 to 90 percent total

Some pedons have patchy secondary calcium carbonates below 36 inches

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Cassiro, Cochran, Eglirim, Fivesprings, Nammoth, Pickup and Ruclick series. Cassiro soils are 40 to 60 inches deep to a paralithic contact and have less than 10 percent cobbles and stones throughout. Cochran soils have average annual soil temperatures of 47 to 50 degrees F. and are 30 to 50 inches to the base of the argillic horizon. Eglirim soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to the base of the argillic horizon. Fivesprinqs, Nammoth, Pickup and Ruclick soils are 20 to 40 inches deep to a lithic contact.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Adelmann soils are on southerly facing hill backslopes and footslopes, fan remnants, butte escarpments and structural benches. Slopes range from 4 to 50 percent. These soils formed in alluvium and colluvium (commonly landslide deposits) from lacustrine deposits mixed with volcanic and sedimentary rocks. The elevation ranges from 2,875 to 4,100 feet. The average annual precipitation is 13 to 16 inches and the average annual temperature is 48 to 51 degrees F. The frost-free period is 120 to 150 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Aldape, Barbermill and Cranegulch soils. Aldape and Cranegulch soils have less than 35 percent rock fragments throughout. Barbermill soils are shallow to paralithic contact and have less than 35 percent rock fragments throughout. These soils occur on similar geomorphic positions.

DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained; moderately low saturated hydraulic conductivity.

USE AND VEGETATION: Adelmann soils are used mainly for rangeland. Natural vegetation is basin big sagebrush and bluebunch wheatgrass.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Ada County, Idaho. MLRA 11. Adelmann soils are of small extent.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Ada County, Idaho, 2011

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - zone from the surface to 10 inches (A and AB horizons)
Argillic horizon - zone from 10 to 60 inches (Bt1, Bt2, Bt3, Bt4 and Bt5 horizons)
Particle-size control section - zone from 10 to 30 inches
Soil moisture regime - aridic bordering on xeric
These soils are drier than other Xerolls in the region under similar precipitation due to early runoff and extended period of high evapotranspiration.

National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.