LOCATION ASHMOUNTAIN CA
Established Series
JBB/CES/JTW
09/2021
ASHMOUNTAIN SERIES
The Ashmountain series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in colluvium over residuum derived from granitic rocks. The Ashmountain soils are on hills and mountains. Slopes range from 6 to 30 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 700 mm and the mean annual air temperature is about 16 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Ultic Haploxeralfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Ashmountain fine sandy loam on a south-facing (176 degree), 24 percent slope under a canopy of blue oak and annual grasses at an elevation of 757 meters. (Colors are for dry soils unless otherwise noted. When described on April 22, 2013 the soil was moist throughout.)
A--0 to 17 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/3) moist; 9 percent clay; moderate coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, slightly sticky, nonplastic; common very fine and fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular, and common fine tubular pores; 3 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear smooth boundary. (12 to 26 cm thick)
Bt1--17 to 46 cm; brown (7.5YR 5/4) fine sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 13 percent clay; strong coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, very friable, slightly sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 10 percent faint brown (7.5YR 4/4) clay bridges between sand grains; 5 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6); clear smooth boundary. (23 to 32 cm thick)
Bt2--46 to 70 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 16 percent clay; strong coarse subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, moderately sticky, moderately plastic; common very fine and few fine roots throughout; common very fine, fine, and medium irregular pores; 5 percent faint clay films on all faces of peds and 50 percent distinct clay bridges between sand grains; 5 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear smooth boundary.
Bt3--70 to 110 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 18 percent clay; weak medium subangular blocky structure; moderately hard, friable, moderately sticky, very plastic; common very fine roots throughout; common very fine and fine irregular pores; 15 percent distinct silt coats on all faces of peds and 40 percent distinct clay bridges between sand grains; 7 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of Bt2 and Bt3 horizons is 55 to 64 cm)
BCt--110 to 135 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/3) sandy loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) moist; 14 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky, slightly plastic; 20 percent distinct clay bridges between sand grains and 40 percent distinct clay films on rock fragments; 10 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; strongly acid (pH 5.4); clear smooth boundary. (20 to 30 cm thick)
C--135 to 150 cm; brown (7.5YR 4/4) loamy sand, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; 6 percent clay; massive; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky, nonplastic; 10 percent subangular indurated granite gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.6).
TYPE LOCATION: Tulare County, California, approximately 2.6 km west of Ash Mountain Headquarters in Sequoia National Park; USGS 7.5 minute topographic quadrangle: North Palisade, California; WGS84 36.493687 latitude and -118.861172 longitude; UTM zone 11 4040318 meters N 333301 meters E NAD83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature: The mean annual soil temperature at 50 cm is 15 to 17 degrees C and the difference between mean summer and mean winter soil temperature is greater than 6 degrees C. The soils have a thermic temperature regime.
Soil moisture: The soils have a xeric soil moisture regime. The soil moisture control section is dry from about May to October (about 150 days).
Diagnostic Feature(s):
Ochric epipedon thickness: 12 to 18 cm
Argillic horizon thickness: 88 to 117 cm
Base saturation: 35 to 75 percent in one or more subhorizons of the argillic horizon (by sum of cations)
Particle size control section weighted average:
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Clay content: 13 to 18 percent
A horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 to 6 dry, 3 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4 dry, 2 to 4 moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 8 to 12 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: moderately acid to slightly acid
Upper Bt horizon (Bt1)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 10 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
Lower Bt horizons (Bt2 and Bt3)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 4 to 6 dry, 3 to 6 moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 15 to 20 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
BCt horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: sandy loam, fine sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 15 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
C horizon (where present)
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 3 or 4, dry or moist
Texture: loamy sand
Clay content: 3 to 8 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 15 percent gravel
Reaction: strongly acid to slightly acid
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family at this time.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: The Ashmountain soils are on linear backslopes of hills and mountain slopes. Slopes are 6 to 30 percent. These soils formed in colluvium over residuum derived from granitic rocks. Elevations are 415 to 1050 meters. The climate is Mediterranean with warm, dry summers and cool, moist winters. The mean annual precipitation is 670 to 735 mm and the mean annual air temperature is 15 to 17 degrees C. The frost free season is 240 to 285 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the
Andregg and
Shepherdsaddle soils. The Andregg soils are on convex backslopes of hills and are 50 to 100 cm to a paralithic contact. Shepherdsaddle soils are fine-loamy and occur on similar landscape positions to Ashmountain.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained, moderately high or high saturated hydraulic conductivity throughout the soil profile.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for recreation, wildlife habitat, and watershed. Vegetation is blue oak, interior live oak, buckeye, and annual grasses.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Sierra Nevada Foothills of California; MLRA 18. The series is not extensive.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Davis, California
SERIES PROPOSED: Tulare County, California, in Sequoia and Kings National Parks. Source of name from a prominent landform feature in Sequoia National Park.
REMARKS:
Particle Size Control Section for this pedon: 17 to 67 cm
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric Epipedon 0 to 17 cm
Argillic Horizon 17 to 135 cm
ADDITIONAL DATA:
NASIS User Pedon ID: 2013CA7929001
Soil classified using the 12th Edition of the Keys to Soil Taxonomy.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.