LOCATION ALKALICREEK WY
Tentative Series
IRD DMM-DJP-CBR
04/2018
ALKALICREEK SERIES
The Alkalicreek series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium derived from sedimentary rock. These soils are on alluvial flats. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 250 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 6.0 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine, smectitic, frigid Aridic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Alkalicreek clay loam, in rangeland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A--0 to 6 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; weak thin platy structure; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; many fine roots; many fine interstitial pores; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.1); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 12 cm thick)
Bt1--6 to 18 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay loam, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate medium angular blocky structure; very firm, hard, very sticky, very plastic; many fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 55 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear wavy boundary.
Bt2--18 to 35 cm; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) clay, dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) moist; moderate coarse angular blocky structure; very firm, hard, very sticky, very plastic; common fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 55 percent distinct clay films on all faces of peds; slightly effervescent; strongly alkaline (pH 8.6); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the Bt horizons is 15 to 44 cm)
By--35 to 75 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; weak medium angular blocky structure; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; few fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 10 percent threadlike gypsum masses; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); clear wavy boundary. (20 to 50 cm thick)
BCy--75 to 150 cm; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) sandy clay loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; friable, slightly hard, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; very few fine roots; many fine tubular pores; 20 percent threadlike gypsum masses; slightly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8).
TYPE LOCATION: Sweetwater County, Wyoming; Picket Lake, Wyoming, topographic quadrangle; 42 degrees 15 minutes 4.5 seconds north latitude and 108 degrees 22 minutes 33.55 seconds west longitude, datum WGS84.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature -- 6.0 to 8.0 degrees C.
Depth to argillic horizon -- 6 to 12 cm
Depth to gypsic horizon -- 25 to 50 cm
Linear extensibility 0 to 100 cm -- less than 6.0 cm
Particle-size control section (weighted averages)
Clay content -- 36 to 45 percent
Total rock fragments -- 0 to 10 percent
A horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR, dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5, dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Clay content: 30 to 35 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: pH 7.7 to 8.2
Bt horizon(s)
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR, dry or moist
Value: 4 or 5, dry or moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture (less than 2 mm fraction): clay loam, clay
Clay content: 36 to 45 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Sodium adsorption ratio: 5 to 12
Reaction: pH 8.5 to 9.0
By horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR, dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Clay content: 30 to 37 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Gypsum content: 5 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 4 to 8 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.8 to 8.4
BCy horizon
Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR, dry or moist
Value: 5 or 6 dry; 4 or 5 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture (less than 2 mm fraction): clay loam, sandy clay loam, loam
Clay content: 22 to 28 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Gypsum content: 5 to 15 percent
Electrical conductivity: 4 to 8 mmhos/cm
Reaction: pH 7.6 to 8.2
COMPETING SERIES:
Ferd (MT) -- soils do not have secondary gypsum accumulations
Mulstay (CO) -- soils do not have secondary gypsum accumulations
Phillips (MT) -- soils have an E horizon
Pinehill (MT) -- soils do not have secondary gypsum accumulations
Sonnett (MT) -- soils have an E horizon
Tymosling (CO) -- soils are moderately deep to paralithic contact
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform -- alluvial flats
Elevation -- 2,115 to 2,140 meters
Slope -- 0 to 4 percent
Parent material -- alluvium derived from sedimentary rock
Climate -- long, cold winters; cool, moist springs; short, warm summers
Mean annual precipitation -- 225 to 300 mm with peak periods of precipitation occurring during the spring
Mean annual air temperature -- 5.0 to 7.0 degrees C.
Frost-free period -- 40 to 90 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND SATURATED HYDRAULIC CONDUCTIVITY: Well drained, 0.5-15.0 um/sec.
USE AND VEGETATION: Alkalicreek soils are primarily used for rangeland. The potential native vegetation is western wheatgrass, green needlegrass, birdfoot sagebrush, Indian ricegrass, and bottlebrush squirreltail.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Alkalicreek soils are of small extent in southwestern Wyoming. MLRA 34A.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES PROPOSED: Sweetwater County, Wyoming, 2017. The name is derived from a local landmark.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ocrhic epipedon -- 0 to 6 cm (A horizon)
Argillic horizon -- 6 to 35 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Gypsic horizon -- 35 to 150 cm (By and BCy horizons)
Particle-size control section -- 6 to 35 cm (Bt1 and Bt2 horizons)
Alkalicreek soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime and an aridic moisture subclass.
Taxonomic version: Twelfth edition, 2014
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.