LOCATION BENLOWE COTentative Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Lithic Haplustalfs
TYPICAL PEDON: Benlowe loam, on an east-facing 3 percent slope under pinyon pine and Utah juniper at an elevation of 7,600 feet. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)
A--0 to 4 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/2) loam, dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) moist; moderate very fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; 5 percent pebbles; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 4 inches thick)
Bt--4 to 8 inches; brown (7.5YR 4/4) gravelly sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, sticky and slightly plastic; few thin clay films on faces of peds; 15 percent pebbles; slightly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
BC--8 to 11 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/4) sandy clay loam, brown (7.5YR 4/4) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick)
Cr--11 to 13 inches; weathered, fractured Dakota sandstone bedrock.
R--13 inches; hard, fractured Dakota sandstone bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Montrose County, Colorado; about 1-1/2 miles north of Hwy 90 on Dry Creek Basin Road; located about 1350 feet north and 450 feet east of the southwest corner of section 26, T. 48 N., R. 11 W.; USGS Dry Creek Basin topographic quadrangle; latitude 38 degrees, 22 minutes, 59 seconds north and longitude 108 degrees, 03 minutes, 22 seconds west.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 44 to 46 degrees F. Mean summer soil temperature ranges from 55 to 56 degrees F. The particle-size control section ranges from 27 to 35 percent clay with 5 to 30 percent rock fragments. Depth to bedrock is 10 to 20 inches. Reaction is neutral through moderately alkaline.
The A horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 2 through 4 moist, and chroma of 2 or 3. It is loam or fine sandy loam with 15 to 25 percent clay and 5 to 30 percent rock fragments.
The Bt horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 4 or 5 dry, 4 or 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is sandy clay loam or clay loam with 27 to 35 percent clay and 5 to 30 percent rock fragments.
The BC or C horizon has hue of 10YR or 7.5YR, value of 5 through 7 dry, 4 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. It is sandy clay loam or sandy loam with 15 to 30 percent clay and 5 to 65 percent rock fragments.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Asaayi (T)(AZ), and Gulnare (T)(CO) series. Asaayi soils have less than 5 percent rock fragments. Gulnare soils are moist in the moisture control section during May and June.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Benlowe soils are on mesa tops and side slopes. Slopes range from 3 to 20 percent. The soils formed in residuum from interbedded sandstone and shale. Elevation ranges from 7,000 to 7,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 14 to 16 inches. The mean annual temperature is 42 to 44 degrees F. The frost-free period is 90 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Jemez, Loghill, and Kunz soils. Jemez soils have bedrock at 20 to 40 inches. Loghill soils have bedrock at 40 to 60 inches and the argillic horizon contains more than 35 percent clay. Kunz soils have bedrock at 60 or more inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow to very rapid runoff; moderate permeability.
USE AND VEGETATION: This soil is used for fuelwood, recreation, and wildlife habitat. Native vegetation is pinyon pine and Utah juniper with an understory of muttongrass, Indian ricegrass, western wheatgrass, and needleandthread.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern Colorado. The series is of minor extent. MLRA 48A.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES PROPOSED: Montrose County, Colorado, Ridgway Soil Survey Area, 1993. The name is from a pioneer in the area.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features include an argillic horizon from 4 to 8 inches, and a lithic contact at 13 inches. Last revised by the state 1/94.