LOCATION AWLEY IDEstablished Series
The Awley series consists of very deep, somewhat excessively drained soils with moderately rapid permeability that formed in colluvium from basalt and volcanic ash. Slopes range from15 to 65 percent in mountains. The average annual precipitation is about 33 inches and the average annual temperature is about 38 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, isotic Andic Haplocryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Awley ashy loam, forested -- on a north-facing slope of 45 percent at 6,340 feet elevation. When described on October 18, 1994, the soil was moist to 36 inches and dry below. (Colors are for air-dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
Oi--0 to 1 inch; slightly decomposed forest litter.
A--1 to 8 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) ashy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); gradual smooth boundary. (7 to 10 inches thick)
Bw1--8 to 18 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) ashy loam, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 10 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.3); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 12 inches thick)
Bw2--18 to 25 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) gravelly ashy sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 25 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
Bw3--25 to 37 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) very gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 50 percent gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear wavy boundary. (10 to 20 inches thick)
C1--37 to 45 inches; light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) extremely gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/4) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 80 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)
C2--45 to 60 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/3) extremely gravelly sandy loam, olive brown (2.5Y 4/3) moist; massive; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine and fine, few medium and coarse roots; many very fine, fine and medium irregular pores; 70 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2).
TYPE LOCATION: Boise County, Idaho; about 5 miles southeast of Banks; 1,100 feet south and 2,250 feet west of the northeast corner of section 25, T.8 N., R.3 E.; USGS Banks Quadrangle; Latitude - 44 degrees, 00 minutes, 20 seconds N. and Longitude - 116 degrees, 02 minutes, 50 seconds W.; NAD 83.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mollic epipedon thickness - 10 to 20 inches
Andic properties thickness - 7 to 14 inches
Reaction - moderately acid or slightly acid
Depth to bedrock - greater than 60 inches
Base saturation (10 to 30 inches) - 50 to 75 percent
Particle-size control section - 7 to 14 percent clay; 35 to 75 percent rock fragments
Moisture control section - dry 45 to 60 consecutive days in the four months following the summer solstice
Average annual soil temperature - 37 to 40 degrees F.
Average summer soil temperature - 44 to 46 degrees F.
A horizon
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma - 2 or 3 dry or moist
Rock fragments - 0 to 15 percent gravel
Volcanic glass content - 5 to 20 percent
Bulk density - 0.85 to 1.0 g/cm3
Acid oxalate extract Al+1/2 Fe - 1.0 to 2.0 percent
Bw1 horizon
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 4 or 5 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry
Clay content - 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments - 5 to 25 percent gravel
Volcanic glass content - 5 to 10 percent
Acid oxalate extract Al+1/2 Fe - 0.4 to 1.2 percent
Bw2 horizon
Hue - 7.5YR or 10YR
Value - 5 or 6 dry, 3 or 4 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - L or SL
Clay content - 8 to 14 percent
Rock fragments - 15 to 35 percent gravel
Volcanic glass content - 5 to 10 percent
Acid-oxalate extract Al+1/2 Fe - 0.4 to 1.2 percent
Bw3 horizon
Hue - 7.5YR through 2.5Y
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - L or SL
Clay content - 8 to 14 percent
Rock fragments - 20 to 60 percent gravel, 0 to 45 percent cobbles and 35 to 75 percent total
C horizon
Hue - 7.5YR through 2.5Y
Value - 5 through 7 dry, 4 or 5 moist
Chroma - 3 or 4 dry or moist
Texture - SL or L
Clay content - 5 to 10 percent
Rock fragments - 25 to 80 percent gravel, 5 to 50 percent cobbles and 35 to 85 percent total
COMPETING SERIES: There are no other series in this family. The Bo series in a closely related family has less than 35 percent rock fragments.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Awley soils are on mountain slopes and ridges at elevations of 4,450 to 7,050 feet. These soils formed in colluvium from basalt and volcanic ash. Slopes range from 15 to 65 percent. The average annual precipitation is 28 to 36 inches. The average annual temperature is 36 to 39 degrees F. The frost-free period is 30 to 60 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Bo soils. Bo soils are coarse-loamy and occur on similar geomorphic positions.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained; medium to rapid runoff; moderately rapid permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: Awley soils are used mainly for timber production. Native vegetation is subalpine fir, Douglas-fir and mountain maple.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: West-central Idaho. MLRA 43. Awley soils are not extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Boise County Area, Idaho, Parts of Ada and Boise Counties, 2005.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon:
Mollic epipedon - zone from the mineral soil surface to 18 inches (A and Bw1 horizons)
Andic feature - zone from the mineral soil surface to 25 inches (A, Bw1 and Bw2 horizons)
Cambic horizon - zone from 18 to 37 inches (Bw2 and Bw3 horizons)
Particle-size control section - zone from 11 to 41 inches
Soil moisture regime - xeric
All depths related to diagnostic horizons and features listed in the range of characteristics are from the top of the first mineral horizon.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Reference sample no. - S94ID-015-010 (NSSL Pedon 95Z179) and S97ID-015-005 (NSSL Pedon 97P582)