LOCATION BLASHKE                 AK

Established Series
Rev. EJK-JPM
02/2022

BLASHKE SERIES

The Blashke series consists of very deep, well drained soils formed in sand and gravel beach deposits. Blashke soils occur on uplifted beach terraces. Slopes range from 0 to 15 percent. Mean annual air temperature is about 41 degrees F. Mean annual precipitation is about 110 inches.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Sandy-skeletal, mixed Typic Humicryods

TYPICAL PEDON: Blashke extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam - on west facing slope of 2 percent under spruce-hemlock forest vegetation. (All colors are for moist soil).

Oe--4 to 3 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/2) mucky peat consisting of partially decomposed forest litter; 40 percent fiber, 15 percent rubbed; many very fine, common fine and medium roots; extremely acid (pH 3.6); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 2 inches thick)

Oa-- 3 to 0 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) muck consisting of decomposed forest litter; 10 percent fibers, 2 percent rubbed; common very fine, fine and medium roots; extremely acid (pH 3.5); abrupt wavy boundary. (3 to 8 inches thick).

E--0 to 1 inches; brown (7.5YR 5/2) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam; weak fine subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 55 percent gravel; common very fine and medium, and few fine roots; extremely acid (pH 3.8); abrupt wavy boundary. (0 to 3 inches thick).

Bh--1 to 4 inches; reddish black (10R 2.5/1) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; 55 percent gravel; few very fine, and common fine and medium roots; extremely acid (pH 3.9); abrupt wavy boundary. (1 to 4 inches thick).

Bhs--4 to 9 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 2.5/2) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 60 percent gravel, 5 percent cobbles; few fine and medium roots; extremely acid (pH 4.0); clear smooth boundary. (2 to 8 inches thick).

Bs--9 to 15 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/3) extremely gravelly coarse sandy loam; weak medium subangular blocky structure; very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; 60 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; few very fine roots; very strongly acid (pH 4.6); gradual smooth boundary. (4 to 8 inches).

C--15 to 60 inches; dark reddish brown (5YR 3/4) extremely gravelly loamy coarse sand; single grain; loose; 60 percent gravel, 15 percent cobbles; very strongly acid (pH 4.7).

TYPE LOCATION: West side of Zarembo Island in NW 1/4 Section 14, T.64S., R.80E., Copper River Meridian.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: Mean annual soil temperature ranges from 38 to 42 degrees F. Weighted average coarse fragment content in the control section ranges from 40 to 80 percent. Reaction in the mineral soil ranges from extremely acid to moderately acid.

The E horizon has hue ranging from 5YR to 10YR, value from 4 to 6 and chroma of 1 or 2.

The Bh and Bhs horizons have hue from 10R to 7.5YR, value of 2 or 3 and chroma of 1 or 2. Texture is loam, coarse sandy loam or loamy sand. Coarse fragments range from 30 to 70 percent.

The Bs horizon has hue from 5YR to 10YR, value of 3 or 4 and chroma from 2 to 4. Texture is coarse sandy loam or loamy sand. Coarse fragments range from 40 to 80 percent.

The C horizon has hue from 5YR to 2.5Y, value from 3 to 5 and chroma from 2 to 4. Texture is loamy coarse sand or coarse sand. Coarse fragments range from 40 to 80 percent.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Baranof, Krubate and Serene (WA) series. Baranof soils are stratified and frequently mottled. Krubate soils have very stony surfaces. Serene soils have a paralithic contact within 20 to 40 inches.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Blashke soils occur on low uplifted beaches adjacent to the sea. The soils formed in sand and gravel beach deposits. The climate is humid maritime with mean annual precipitation of about 110 inches and mean annual temperature of about 41 degrees F. Slope gradient ranges from 0 to 15 percent. Elevation ranges from sea level to 100 feet.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Karheen, Salt Chuck and Sokolof soils. Karheen soils are on slightly lower positions and are very poorly drained. Salt Chuck soils are on similar landforms but lack a spodic horizon. Sokolof soils are on similar landforms but have organic horizon throughout.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained. Very slow runoff. Permeability is rapid.

USE AND VEGETATION: The Blashke soils are used for timber production, wildlife habitat and recreation. Overstory vegetation is dominantly western hemlock and Sitka spruce. Understory vegetation is dominantly blueberry, red huckleberry and rusty menziesia.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southeast Alaska. The series is not extensive.

SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: WASILLA, ALASKA

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Stikine Area, Alaska, 1993.

REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this soil are: an albic horizon from 0 to 1 inch; a spodic horizon from 1 to 15 inches; greater than 6 percent organic carbon in the upper 4 inches of the spodic horizon; sandy skeletal material from 10 to 40 inches.

Laboratory data on this pedon is available as University of Idaho pedon #80-AK-0206, Stand Density Plot 220-223.

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National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.