LOCATION BEISIGL NDEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Mixed, frigid Typic Ustipsamments
TYPICAL PEDON: Beisigl loamy fine sand - on an 11 percent plane north-facing slope in native rangeland. When described, the soil was moist to 15 inches and dry below. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated)
A--0 to 5 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) loamy fine sand, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; many very fine pores; 1 percent sandstone channers; slight effervescence; slightly alkaline; clear smooth boundary. (2 to 9 inches thick)
Bk1--5 to 12 inches; light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) loamy fine sand, light olive brown (2.5Y 5/4) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak fine granular; soft, very friable; nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine pores; 1 percent sandstone channers; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; clear smooth boundary.
Bk2--12 to 27 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) loamy fine sand, light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) moist; weak coarse and medium subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; common very fine pores; 1 percent coarse sandstone channers; strong effervescence; moderately alkaline; gradual smooth boundary. (Combined Bk horizons 10 to 30 inches thick)
Cr--27 to 60 inches; pale yellow (2.5Y 7/4) soft calcareous sandstone, light yellowish brown (2.5Y 6/4) moist; hard and brittle when dry; fractures greater than 4 inches apart.
TYPE LOCATION: Adams County, North Dakota; about 3.5 miles north of North Lemmon; 1460 feet south and 100 feet west of the northeast corner, sec. 15, T. 129 N., R. 92 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth to soft sandstone typically is 24 to 35 inches but ranges from 20 to 40 inches. Typically the soil is calcareous throughout, but in some pedons the A horizon is noncalcareous.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 2.5Y, value of 4 to 6 and 3 or 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. Typically, it is loamy fine sand but the range includes fine sandy loam and loamy sand. It is neutral to moderately alkaline.
The Bk horizon has hue of 2.5Y or 10YR, value of 5 to 7 and 4 to 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 4. Typically, it is loamy fine sand but the range includes fine sand and loamy sand. It is slightly alkaline or moderately alkaline.
The Cr horizon has value of 6 or 7 and 5 or 6 moist, and chroma of 2 to 6. The sandstone typically is slightly hard or hard and brittle when dry and easily crushed when moist.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Blanchard, Kenray, Seroco, Yecross and Zilditloi series. All of these soils are very deep. In addition, the Yecross soils have more medium and coarse sand.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Beisigl soils are on upland plains and side slopes of ridges, hills, buttes, and valley sides. The slope gradient commonly is 6 to 25 percent but ranges from 0 to 50 percent. The surface is plane or convex. Beisigl soils formed in materials weathered from soft sandstone of Paleocene age. The climate is cool and semiarid. Mean annual air temperature ranges from 38 to 45 degrees F. The mean annual precipitation varies from 12 to 16 inches, most of which is received in spring and early summer.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Amor, Arnegard, Flasher, Grail, Lihen, Parshall, Regan, Shambo, and Vebar soils. Amor soils occupy similar positions on nearby landscapes but have a fine-loamy particle-size control section. Arnegard soils occupy nearby drainageways, are fine-loamy and very deep. Flasher soils have a paralithic contract within a depth of 20 inches and are on crests of hills and ridges at elevations above Beisigl soils. Grail soils are very deep, have a fine textured control section, and occupy nearby drainageways. Lihen and Parshall soils have a mollic epipedon and are on side slopes and in drainageways downslope from Beisigl soils. In addition, Parshall soils are coarse-loamy. Regan soils are poorly drained and occupy side slopes and are in drainageways below Beisigl soils. Shambo soils have a fine-loamy particle-size control section and are on nearby terraces and alluvial fans. Vebar soils occupy similar positions on nearby landscapes, but have a mollic epipedon and a coarse-loamy particle-size control section.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Somewhat excessively drained. Runoff is negligible to low depending on slope. Permeability is rapid.
USE AND VEGETATION: Most areas of Beisigl soils are used for native range. Some are used for hay, pasture, and cultivated crops. Native vegetation includes needleandthread, prairie sandreed, little bluestem, and blue grama.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Beisigl soils are moderately extensive in southwestern North Dakota.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Denver, Colorado
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Adams County, North Dakota, 1983.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are: ochric epipedon - the zone from the surface of the soil to a depth of 5 inches (A horizon).
This soil was formerly mapped as Flasher or Vebar soils.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Pedon sample nos. S77ND001-1, S77ND001-2, S77ND001-3, and S77ND001-11, the typical pedon.