LOCATION BOSLER WYEstablished Series
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, frigid Ustic Calciargids
TYPICAL PEDON: Bosler fine sandy loam-rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise stated.
A--0 to 4 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; 10 percent fine gravel; neutral (pH 7.2); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 6 inches thick)
Bt1--4 to 7 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) fine sandy loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common fine and very fine roots; few faint clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent fine gravel; mildly alkaline (pH 7.4); clear smooth boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
Bt2--7 to 15 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) sandy clay loam, dark brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium prismatic structure parting to moderate medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and plastic; common fine roots; common distinct clay films on faces of peds; 5 percent fine gravel; mildly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 12 inches thick)
Btk--15 to 19 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, brown (10YR 5/3) moist; weak medium prismatic structure parting to weak medium subangular blocky; hard, friable, sticky and slightly plastic; few fine roots; few distinct clay films in pores and on ped faces; violently effervescent, calcium carbonate as common fine and medium soft masses, filaments, seams, and as coatings on gravel; 10 percent fine gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.0); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 8 inches thick)
Bk--19 to 30 inches; very pale brown (10YR 8/3) loam, pale brown (10YR 6/3) moist; massive; hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; violently effervescent, calcium carbonate as many prominent soft masses and as thick coatings on gravel; 10 percent fine gravel; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); abrupt smooth boundary. (8 to 18 inches thick)
2C--30 to 60 inches; very gravelly sand; single grained, loose; slightly effervescent in some strata, noneffervescent in others; 40 percent fine and medium granitic and quartzitic gravel.
TYPE LOCATION: Albany County Wyoming; 1,600 feet south and 330 feet west of the NE corner of sec. 12, T. 15 N., R 74 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The depth of contrasting 2Bk or 2C horizon is 20 to 40 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 41 to 47 degrees F., and the mean annual summer temperature ranges from 59 to 63 degrees F. Rock fragment content above the 2Bk or 2C horizon ranges from 0 to 15 percent gravel.
The A horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 5 or 6 dry, 3 through 5 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. EC is less than 2 mmhos. This horizon is typically free of carbonates but may effervesce slightly in some pedons. Reaction ranges from neutral through moderately alkaline.
The Bt and Btk horizons have hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 4 through 6 dry, 3 through 6 moist, and chroma of 2 through 4. Texture is sandy clay loam or clay loam with 20 to 35 percent clay and more than 35 percent fine sand or coarser. EC is less than 2 mmhos. Reaction is neutral through moderately alkaline. The Bt is a diagnostic argillic horizon, and in most pedons the Btk is also part of the diagnostic argillic.
The Bk horizon has hue of 7.5YR through 2.5Y, value of 6 through 8 dry, 5 through 7 moist, and chroma of 1 through 4. Texture is loam with 18 to 27 percent clay. EC is less than 2 mmhos. Reaction is moderately or strongly alkaline. The Bk is a diagnostic calcic horizon with 15 to 35 percent calcium carbonate equivalent.
The 2C or 2Bk horizon has variable colors depending upon the lithochromic colors of the clean sand and gravel. Texture is gravelly sand, extremely gravelly sand, very gravelly loamy sand, loamy sand or sand. This horizon may be stratified with lenses of sand or gravel. Rock fragments vary with strata but average from 0 to 70 percent fine and medium quartzitic or granitic gravel. There is less than 5 percent cobbles present.
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Platoro, Relsob, and Tigiwon series. Platoro and Tigiwon soils do not have calcic horizons. In addition, the Tigiwon soils have sandy-skeletal material at 10 to 20 inches. Relsob soils are typically noncalcareous throughout; but when carbonates occur above the 2C, they are discontinuous.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Bosler soils are on gently to moderately sloping relict high terraces, fan aprons, and fan piedmonts. They formed in medium textured, mixed alluvium over sand and gravel strata. Elevation ranges from 6,000 to 8,000 feet. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 9 to 14 inches of which about half falls as snow and rain in April, May, and early June. The mean annual temperature ranges from 40 to 45 degrees F. The frost-free season is estimated to be 70 to 110 days depending upon elevation, aspect, and air drainage.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Alcova, Forelle, Rock River, and Ryan Park soils. The Alcova, Forelle, and Rock River soils are similar but do not have the strongly contrasting sand and gravel at 20 to 40 inches. The Ryan Park soils have less than 18 percent clay in the argillic horizon and also do not have contrasting textures at 20 to 40 inches.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; slow and medium runoff; moderate permeability. In some areas where this soil is irrigated, a seasonal water table occurs at 20 to 40 inches during the irrigation season.
USE AND VEGETATION: Rangeland and wildlife habitat. Limited areas are used for irrigated cropland and pastureland. Native vegetation is big sagebrush, needleandthread, thickspike wheatgrass, and bluebunch wheatgrass. Small grain such as oats and barley is common where irrigated.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Intermountain basins and plains in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado. The series is of moderate extent.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Jackson County, Colorado; 1973.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Ochric epipedon - 0 to 4 inches (A)
Argillic horizon - 4 to 15 inches (Bt1,Bt2)
Calcic horizon - 15 to 30 inches (Btk,Bk)
Lithologic discontinuity - 30 inches (2C)
Borollic subgroup - Frigid temperature regime and organic carbon content meet the requirements for borollic.