LOCATION BRANHAM MT
Established Series
Rev. RB-DES-RJS
03/2012
BRANHAM SERIES
The Branham series consists of moderately deep, well drained soils that formed in slope alluvium, colluvium and residuum derived dominantly from granite and granitic gneiss. These soils are on hills, ridges and mountain slopes. Slopes are 0 to 70 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 16 inches and mean annual air temperature is about 37 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Coarse-loamy, mixed, superactive Ustic Haplocryolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Branham coarse sandy loam, grassland (colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted).
A1--0 to 2 inches; grayish brown (10YR 5/2) coarse sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many very fine roots; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); abrupt smooth boundary.
A2--2 to 4 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) coarse sandy loam, very dark brown (10YR 2/2) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine pores; 10 percent gravel; moderately acid (pH 5.8); clear smooth boundary. (combined thickness of the A1, A2 horizons - 4 to 11 inches)
Bw--4 to 22 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) gravelly coarse sandy loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and nonplastic; common very fine roots; many very fine and fine pores; few thin clay films bridging sand grains; 25 percent gravel; neutral (pH 7.1); clear smooth boundary. (8 to 20 inches thick)
BC--22 to 30 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/3) and very pale brown (10YR 8/2), dry or moist gravelly coarse sand; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few very fine roots; 30 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.6); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 14 inches thick)
R--30 inches; granite bedrock.
TYPE LOCATION: Madison County, Montana; 500 feet east and 300 feet south of the center of sec. 8, T. 2S, R. 6W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Soil temperature - 37 to 42 degrees F.
Mollic epipedon thickness - 7 to 12 inches
Depth to a lithic contact - 20 to 40 inches, but typically 24 to 32 inches
Control section
Clay - 4 to 18 percent
Sand - greater than 50 percent fine sand or coarser
Note: Some pedons may have a Cr horizon above the R horizon.
A horizons
Value: 3 to 5 dry; 2 or 3 moist
Chroma: 1 to 3; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam, sandy loam or loam
Clay content: 8 to 27 percent
Rock fragments: 0 to 35 percent--0 to 20 percent gravel, 0 to 15 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 5.6 to 7.3
Bw horizon
Value: 4 or 5 dry; 3 or 4 moist
Chroma: 2 to 4; dry or moist
Texture: coarse sandy loam or sandy loam
Clay content: 10 to 18 percent
Rock fragments: 10 to 35 percent--10 to 25 percent gravel, 0 to 10 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
BC horizon
Value: 5 to 8 dry; 4 to 7 moist
Chroma: 2 to 6; dry or moist
Texture: sand, coarse sand or loamy coarse sand
Clay content: 4 to 10 percent
Rock fragments: 15 to 35 percent--15 to 30 percent gravel, 0 to 5 percent cobbles
Reaction: pH 6.1 to 7.8
COMPETING SERIES:
Clergern (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches
Danielvil (MT) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches
Dinnen (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 40 inches
Levenmile (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches
Martland (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 40 inches
Redspoon (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 40 inches
Sawcreek (WY) - does not have a lithic contact above 40 inches
Sula (MT) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches
Teoculli (CO) - does not have a lithic contact above 60 inches
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform - hills, ridges and mountain slopes
Elevation - 5,500 to 7,000 feet
Slope - 0 to 70 percent
Parent material - slope alluvium, colluvium and residuum derived dominantly from granite and granitic gneiss
Climate - long, cold winters, moist springs and cool summers
Mean annual precipitation - 15 to 24 inches
Mean annual temperature - 35 to 40 degrees F.
Frost-free period - 50 to 70 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Well drained; moderate permeability in the upper 12 to 32 inches and rapid to the bedrock.
USE AND VEGETATION: Branham soils are used mainly for irrigated and nonirrigated hay and pasture and for rangeland. Potential native vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, and big sagebrush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Branham soils are moderately extensive in the foothills of southwestern Montana. MLRAs - 43B, 44B, 46.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana.
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Madison County Area, Montana, 1983.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - from 0 to 7 inches (A1, A2, upper 3 inches of Bw horizons mixed)
Cambic horizon - from 7 to 22 inches (Bw horizon)
Lithic contact - at 30 inches (R horizon)
Particle-size control section - from 10 to 30 inches (part of Bw, BC horizons)
Branham soils have a cryic temperature regime and an ustic moisture regime.
ADDITIONAL DATA: Laboratory Data - reference sample S-75MT-057-002.
Additional Information: Soil interpretations record - MT657.
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.