LOCATION ARGABAK WA
Established Series
Rev. HRG/KWH
12/2022
ARGABAK SERIES
The Argabak series consists of very shallow, well drained soils that formed in loess and residuum from basalt on ridgetops, hillslopes, and benches. Slopes are 0 to 65 percent. The average annual precipitation is about 11 inches and average annual temperature is about 49 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Aridic Lithic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Argabak very cobbly loam - rangeland, on a 9 percent southwest-facing slope at an elevation of 2,580 feet. The soil was dry when described. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated. All textures are apparent field textures.)
A--0 to 2 inches; yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very cobbly loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores, 25 percent pebbles and 25 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 5 inches thick)
Bt--2 to 6 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) extremely gravelly loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist, moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine roots; many very fine irregular pores; common distinct clay films on the faces of peds; 50 percent pebbles and 20 percent cobbles; neutral (pH 7.0); abrupt wavy boundary. (2 to 7 inches thick)
R--6 inches; fractured basalt, with silica coatings over 30 percent of total surface area.
TYPE LOCATION: Kittitas County Washington; 9 miles south of Kittitas, Washington, about 300 feet south and 2,200 feet east of the northwest corner, section 29, T. 16 N., R. 20 E.; USGS Badger Gap Topographic quadrangle Lat. 46 degrees 51' 08'' N., and Long. 120 degrees 21' 02'' W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature at the lithic contact ranges from 47 to 54 degrees F. These soils are dry more than half of the time. The mollic epipedon is 5 to 7 inches thick and includes all of or part of the argillic horizon. The particle-size control section averages 23 to 33 percent clay in the fine earth fraction and 35 to 75 percent rock fragments. Organic matter is estimated to range from 1 to 2 percent. Solum thickness and depth to a lithic contact ranges from 4 to 12 inches. Reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline throughout.
The A horizon has a value of 3 through 5 dry or moist and chroma of 2 through 4 dry and moist.
The Bt horizon has value of 3 through 5 dry or moist and chroma of 2 through 4 dry or moist. It is very or extremely gravelly loam, very gravelly clay loam or very cobbly loam. This horizon has moderate fine subangular blocky to weak medium subangular blocky structure.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the
Bellehelen,
Brier,
Chinabutte,
Clovercreek,
Duco,
Gwin,
Horseflat,
Orhood (T),
Reywat,
Upatad and
Windry. Bellehelen soils are dry in summer and fall except for 10 to 20 cumulative days between July and October and have moist chromas of 4 in the mollic epipedon. Chinabutte, Clovercreek, Orhood and Windry soils are 14 to 20 inches to bedrock. Duco soils lack silica coatings on the bedrock and have mollic epipedons 7 to 20 inches thick. Horseflat soils are 12 to 20 inches to a lithic contact. Gwin soils have a xeric moisture regime. Reywat soils have calcium carbonate coatings on the bedrock below the Bt2 horizon. Upatad soils have 5 to 15 percent silica concretions and lime coatings on rock fragments in the 2Btk horizon.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Argabak soils are on ridgetops, summits, hillslopes, scablands, till plains, and benches and have slopes of 0 to 65 percent. These soils formed dominantly in loess and residuum weathered from basalt with some glaciated areas also having glacial till. Elevations are 1,000 to 4,200 feet. These soils are in a semiarid climate with warm dry summers and cold moist winters. The average annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 15 inches. The average January temperature is about 25 degrees F.; the average July temperature is about 69 degrees F.; and average annual temperature is about 49 degrees F. The frost-free season is 110 to 180 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Benwy,
Clerf,
Grinrod,
Horseflat,
Vantage,
Boylston,
Windry and
Zen. Benwy soils are on old alluvial fans and are fine-loamy and greater than 40 inches deep. Clerf soils are on hillslopes and plateau sideslopes and Boylston soils are on hillslopes and ridgetops and both are clayey-skeletal and 20 to 40 inches to bedrock. Grinrod soils are on footslopes and sideslopes and are loamy-skeletal and 20 to 40 inches to bedrock. Horseflat soils are on hillslopes and canyon walls and are loamy-skeletal and 12 to 20 inches to bedrock. Vantage soils are on plateaus and ridgetops and are clayey-skeletal and 12 to 20 inches to bedrock. Zen soils are on plateaus and are fine-loamy and 20 to 40 inches to bedrock.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, slow to very rapid runoff; moderately slow permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is Sandberg bluegrass, thyme eriogonum, bottlebrush squirreltail and stiff sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Yakima, Kittitas and Douglas Counties, Washington. Series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Kittitas County, Washington, Yakima Training Center, 1994.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are a mollic epipedon from the surface to 6 inches, an argillic horizon from 2 to 6 inches and a lithic contact at 6 inches. The particle-size control section is the entire soil (A and Bt horizons).
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.