LOCATION AMSTERDAM          MT
Established Series
Rev. JB-JAL
12/1999

AMSTERDAM SERIES


The Amsterdam series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in alluvium, lacustrine, or loess deposited materials mixed with volcanic ash. These soils are on alluvial fans, stream terraces and lake terraces. Slopes are 0 to 25 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 15 inches, and mean annual temperature is about 42 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-silty, mixed, superactive, frigid Typic Haplustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Amsterdam silty loam, cultivated (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).

Ap--0 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) silt loam; very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine and very fine granular structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)

Bw1--8 to 10 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) silt loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to strong fine blocky; very hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine pores; neutral (pH 6.6); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 5 inches thick)

Bw2--10 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) silty loam; dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine and medium blocky; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine pores; neutral (pH 6.9); clear wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)

Bk1--15 to 20 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) silt loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine roots; many fine pores; few soft masses of lime; strongly effervescent; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear wavy boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)

Bk2--20 to 28 inches; light gray (2.5Y 7/2) silt loam; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; moderate medium and coarse prismatic structure; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common fine roots; many fine pores; many soft masses and threads of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); diffuse wavy boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)

2Bk3--28 to 42 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) very fine sandy loam; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; massive breaking to weak plates; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; few fine roots; many fine pores; common soft masses and threads of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); diffuse boundary. (12 to 16 inches thick)

2C--42 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) very fine sandy loam; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) moist; massive breaking to plates; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; strongly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2).

TYPE LOCATION: Gallatin County, Montana; 500 feet north and 2,440 feet east of the SW corner of sec. 7, T. 2 S., R. 5 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil temperature - 40 to 45 degrees F.
Moisture control section - between 4 and 12 inches.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 15 inches.
Depth to Bk horizon - 10 to 22 inches.
NOTE - Volcanic ash influence begins at a depth of 24 to 32 inches.

Ap horizon - Value: 3 or 4 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 2 or 3
Texture: silt loam, loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.3

Bw1 horizon - Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Bw2 horizon - Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Reaction: pH 6.6 to 7.8

Bk1 horizon - Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 5 to 10 percent
Reaction: pH 7.4 to 8.4

Bk2 horizon - Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam, silty clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 15 to 35 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4

2Bk3 horizon - Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam, silt clay loam, and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 18 to 30 percent
Calcium Carbonate Equivalent: 15 to 35 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
NOTE: This horizon contains volcanic ash material or is influenced by volcanic ash.

2C horizon - Hue: 2.5Y or 10YR
Value: 5, 6 or 7 dry; 4, 5 or 6 moist
Chroma: 2, 3 or 4
Texture: silt loam and very fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 20 percent
Reaction: pH 7.9 to 8.4
NOTE: This horizon contains volcanic ash material or is influenced by volcanic ash.

COMPETING SERIES:

Bryant (SD) - does not have volcanic ash influence.

Golva (ND) - does not have volcanic ash influence.

Omio (ND) - has a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

Peritsa (MT) - has a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

Sen (ND) - has a paralithic contact at 20 to 40 inches.

Temvik (ND) - does not have volcanic ash influence.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:

Landform - alluvial fans, stream terraces and lake terraces.
Elevation - 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
Slope - 0 to 25 percent.
Parent material - alluvium, lacustrine, or loess deposited materials mixed with volcanic ash.
Climate - long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers.
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 19 inches.
Mean annual temperature - 38 to 43 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 90 to 110 days.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderately slow permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Amsterdam soils are used mainly for irrigated cropland and nonirrigated cropland; some in grass. Potential native vegetation is mainly

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Amsterdam soils are of moderate extent in intermountain valleys of southwestern Montana.

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

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Gallatin Valley Area, Montana, 1931.

REMARKS: Soil Interpretations Record: MT0499. Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: a mollic epipedon from the soil surfaces to 10 inches (Ap, Bw1 horizons); a cambic horizon from 10 to 15 inches (Bw2 horizon); horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation from 15 to 20 inches (Bk1 horizon); calcic horizon from 20 to 42 inches (Bk2, 2Bk3 horizons); a particle-size control section from 10 to 40 inches (Bw2, Bk1, Bk2, 2Bk3 horizons). Amsterdam soils have a frigid temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime. Laboratory Data: S71MT-31-2.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.