LOCATION ALBICALIS          MT 
Established Series
Rev. ADI-HAL-JAL
5/97

ALBICALIS SERIES


The Albicalis series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on flood plains. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 12 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, nonacid, frigid Aeric Fluvaquents

TYPICAL PEDON: Albicalis loam, native grass (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).

A--0 to 8 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; many fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) and red (2.5YR 5/6) dry redox concentrations; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine and few medium roots; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

C1--8 to 20 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loam consisting of strata of loamy sand, silt loam and fine sandy loam, light brownish gray (10YR 6/2) dry; many fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) and red (2.5YR 5/6) dry redox concentrations; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; common very fine and fine tubular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); gradual wavy boundary. (0 to 20 inches thick)

C2--20 to 32 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam consisting of strata of loam and fine sandy loam, light gray (10YR 7/2) dry; few fine prominent red (2.5YR 4/6) and red (2.5YR 5/6) dry redox concentrations; massive; slightly hard, very friable, sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary. (8 to 14 inches thick)

Cg1--32 to 42 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam consisting of strata of loam and silty clay loam, gray (10YR 6/1) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6). (0 to 12 inches thick)

Cg2--42 to 60 inches; very dark gray (10YR 3/1) loam consisting of strata of loam and silty clay loam, gray (10YR 5/1) dry; massive; slightly hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; few fine and very fine roots; few very fine irregular pores; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8).

TYPE LOCATION: Granite County, Montana; 1,600 feet west and 800 feet south of the NE corner of sec. 19, T. 11 N., R. 14 W.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 41 to 46 degrees F.

Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.

Depth to seasonal high water table - 12 to 24 inches during the period from December to June.

Soil phases - heavy metal phase

A horizon - Value: 3, 4, or 5 moist; 5 or 6 dry

Chroma: 1 or 2

Redox concentrations: Abundance--none to many; Value--5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist

Clay content: 18 to 27 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent

C1 horizon - Value: 4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry

Chroma: 2 or 3

Redox concentrations: Abundance--common to many; Value--4,5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist

Texture: loam or clay loam, consisting of strata of silt loam, fine sandy loam, loamy sand, loam and clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 7.8

C2 horizon - Value: 4 or 5 moist; 5, 6, or 7 dry

Chroma: 2 or 3

Redox concentrations: Abundance--common to many; Value--4,5 or 6 dry; 3 or 4 moist

Texture: silt loam, loam or clay loam, consisting of strata of silt loam, fine sandy loam, loam and clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent

Cg1 horizon - Value: 3, 4, or 5 moist; 5 or 6 dry

Chroma: 1, 2, or 3

Redox concentrations: Abundance--none to many; Value--5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist; Chroma--4, 6, or 8

Texture: loam or silty clay loam consisting of strata of silt loam, clay loam, and fine sandy loam

Clay content: 18 to 35 percent

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent

Cg2 horizon - Hue: 5Y, 10YR, or 2.5Y

Value: 3, 4, or 5 moist; 5 or 6 dry

Chroma: 1 or 2

Redox concentrations: Abundance--none to many; Hue--2.5Y or 10YR; Value--5 or 6 dry, 4 or 5 moist; Chroma--4 or 6

Texture: loam or sandy loam consisting of strata of loamy sand, sand, sandy clay loam, and silt clay loam

Clay content: 18 to 27 percent

Coarse fragments: 0 to 45 percent--0 to 10 percent cobbles, 0 to 35 percent pebbles

Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Calcium carbonate equivalent: 0 to 10 percent

COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landforms- flood plains.

Elevations- 3,600 to 6,200 feet.

Slopes- 0 to 4 percent.

Parent material - alluvium derived from mixed sources.

Climate- long, cold winters; moist springs; and warm summers.

Mean annual precipitation - 10 to 19 inches.

Mean annual temperature - 39 to 44 degrees F.

Frost-free period - 70 to 105 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Albicalis soils are used mainly for range and native grass hay production with small grains grown in rotation. Potential native vegetation is mainly basin wildrye, tufted hairgrass, northern reedgrass, prairie cordgrass, slender wheatgrass, Canada wildrye, sedges, rushes, willows, and rose.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Albicalis soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Granite County, Montana, 1997.

REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT1496. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
an ochric epipedon from the surface to 8 inches (A horizon); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (C1, C2, and Cg1 horizons). Albicalis soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic moisture regime.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.