LOCATION BORIANA            AZ
Established Series
Rev. RLB/RCH/PDC
05/2006

BORIANA SERIES


The Boriana series consists of very shallow and shallow, well drained soils that formed in alluvium from granitic rock. Boriana soils are on hills and mountains. Slopes are 10 to 35 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 26 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 51 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Lithic Haplustolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Boriana very flaggy sandy loam - woodland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

0i--0 to 2 inches; dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) slightly decomposed forest litter of ponderosa pine needles, dark brown (10YR 3/3) moist. (1 to 2 inches thick)

A--2 to 6 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) very flaggy sandy loam, black (10YR 2/1) moist; moderate medium granular structure; soft, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common medium roots; common fine tubular pores; 25 percent flagstones and 15 percent channers; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt irregular boundary. (4 to 6 inches thick)

C--6 to 12 inches; light gray (10YR 7/2) very flaggy sandy loam, grayish brown (10YR 5/2) moist; massive; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common medium roots; common fine tubular pores; 25 percent flagstones and 15 percent channers and gravel; slightly acid (pH 6.2); abrupt irregular boundary. (0 to 10 inches thick)

2Cr--12 to 14 inches; variegated white (10YR 8/1) and very pale brown (10YR 8/4) partially weathered gneiss. (0 to 3 inches thick)

2R--14 inches, gneiss.

TYPE LOCATION: Pima County, Arizona; 50 feet north and 1200 feet west of the southeast corner of Section 13, T. 14 S., R. 17 E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:

Soil Moisture: Intermittently moist in some part of the soil moisture control section during July-September and December-February. Driest during May and June. Udic ustic soil moisture regime.

Rock Fragments: 35 to 75 percent gravel, channers, cobble, flagstones and boulders

Soil Temperature: 47 to 52 degrees F.

Organic Matter: More than 2 percent in the surface

Clay content: Averages less than 18 percent in the control section

Depth to bedrock: 4 to 12 inches

A horizon
Value: 3, 4, or 5 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3, dry or moist
Reaction: Moderately acid to neutral

C horizon
Hue: 7.5YR, 10YR
Value: 5 through 8, dry
Chroma: 1, 2 or 3, dry or moist

The C and Cr horizons are not present in all pedons.

COMPETING SERIES: These are the Baller (CO), Demayo (CO), Docdee (NM), Far (AZ), Faraway (AZ), Huachuca (AZ), Oro Grande (NM), Rotagilla (NM), and Yaquican (AZ) series. Baller soils contain sandstone rock fragments mostly of cobble and stone size and have hue yellower than 10YR. Demayo and Docdee soils have more than 18 percent clay in the control section. Far soils have a typic ustic moisture regime. Faraway and Yaquican soils have mean annual soil temperatures greater than 52 degrees F. Oro Grande soils have 8 to 14 percent calcium carbonate equivalent in the control section. Rotagilla soils are in an aridic ustic soil moisture regime and should be reclassified in an Aridic Lithic subgroup.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Boriana soils are on hills and mountains and have slopes of 10 to 35 percent. These soils formed in alluvium from granitic rock. Elevations range from 6,800 to 8,800 feet. The mean annual precipitation is 24 to 30 inches. The mean annual air temperature is 45 to 50 degrees F. The frost-free period is 120 to 150 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: This is the Spudrock soil. Spudrock soils have bedrock at depths of 20 to 40 inches.

DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; rapid runoff; moderate permeability.

USE AND VEGETATION: Boriana soils are used for wildlife habitat and recreation. The present vegetation is Mexican white pine, ponderosa pine, white fir, Gambel oak, New Mexico locust, and an understory of grasses and annuals.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southern Arizona. This series is of moderate extent. MLRA is 39 and 41.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Phoenix, Arizona

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Pima County, Arizona; Soil Survey of Pima County, Arizona, Eastern Part; 1986.

REMARKS: The type location has been moved to the area where established.

Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:

Mollic epipedon - the zone from 2 to 6 inches (A horizon)

Paralithic contact - The boundary at 12 inches (Cr horizon)

Lithic contact - The boundary at 14 inches (R horizon)

Classified according to Keys to Soil Taxonomy Ninth Edition, 2003.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.