LOCATION BRINEGAR IDEstablished Series
The Brinegar series consists of very deep, moderately well drained
soils on alluvial fans and terraces. They formed in mixed alluvium
from acid and basic igneous, and some sedimentary rocks. Permeability
is moderately slow. Slopes range from 0 to 8 percent. The average
annual precipitation is about 14 inches, and the average annual air
temperature is about 41 degrees F.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy, mixed, superactive, frigid Pachic Ultic Argixerolls
TYPICAL PEDON: Brinegar loam - cultivated. (Colors are for dry soil
unless otherwise noted.)
Ap--0 to 8 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, black (10YR 2/1)
moist; moderate fine and medium subangular blocky structure; slightly
hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many very fine and
fine roots; many fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.1); clear
smooth boundary. (7 to 9 inches thick)
A--8 to 14 inches; dark gray (10YR 4/1) loam, very dark brown (10YR
2/2) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; slightly hard,
firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine
roots; many fine tubular pores; 10 percent fine pebbles; slightly acid
(pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (5 to 9 inches thick)
Bt1--14 to 20 inches; gray (10YR 5/1) gravelly loam, very dark
brown (10YR 2/2) broken and dark brown (10YR 3/3) rubbed moist;
moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard, firm, slightly
sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine roots; many fine
tubular pores; few thin clay films on faces of peds and in pores; 15
percent fine pebbles; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (5
to 9 inches thick)
Bt2--20 to 23 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) sandy clay loam, brown
(10YR 4/3) moist; moderate medium subangular blocky structure; hard,
firm, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine and fine
roots; many fine tubular pores; few thin clay films on faces of peds
and in pores; slightly acid (pH 6.2); clear wavy boundary. (2 to 5
inches thick)
Bt3--23 to 33 inches; pale brown (10YR 6/3) clay loam, brown (7.5YR
4/4) moist; moderate fine and medium prismatic structure parting to
moderate medium angular blocky; very hard, very firm, sticky and
plastic; many fine roots between peds; many fine and few medium tubular
pores; continuous moderately thick clay films on faces of peds and in
pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy boundary. (7 to 12 inches
thick)
C1--33 to 40 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) coarse sandy loam,
brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; common fine and medium distinct strong brown
(7.5YR 5/6) mottles; massive; soft, very friable; few very fine and
fine roots; many fine tubular pores; slightly acid (pH 6.4); clear wavy
boundary. (6 to 10 inches thick)
C2--40 to 49 inches; light brown (7.5YR 6/4) gravelly coarse sand,
brown (7.5YR 5/4) moist; single grained; loose; few very fine and fine
roots; slightly acid (pH 6.5); clear wavy boundary. (8 to 10 inches
thick)
C3--49 to 52 inches; reddish brown (2.5YR 5/4) gravelly coarse
sand, reddish brown (2.5YR 5/4) moist; discontinuous manganese layer
that is black (N 2/) dry and moist; massive; slightly hard, firm;
slightly acid (pH 6.5); abrupt broken boundary. (0 to 4 inches thick)
C4--52 to 60 inches; very pale brown (10YR 7/4) gravelly coarse
sand, yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) moist; many medium and coarse
prominent yellowish red (5YR 4/8) mottles; single grained; loose;
slightly acid (pH 6.5)
TYPE LOCATION: Camas County, Idaho; about 2 miles north of Hill City;
1,100 feet south and 2,500 feet west of the NE corner of section 17,
T. 1 S., R. 12 E.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Average annual soil temperature - 41 to 45 degrees F
Depth to water table - less than 40 inches in spring to more than 60
inches in fall.
Depth to mottles - 30 to 45 inches
Mollic epipedon thickness - 20 to 27 inches
Reaction - slightly acid or neutral
Base saturation - 50 t0 70 percent
A horizon
Hue- 7.5YR or 10YR
Value- 3 or 4 dry, 2 or 3 moist
Chroma- 1 or 2
Bt horizon
Value- 4 through 6 dry, 2 through 4 moist
Chroma- 2 through 4
Texture - CL, SCL, GR-CL, L, GR-L
Clay content - 24 to 32 percent
C horizon
Texture - GR-L to GR-COS with fine textures present in some pedons
below 40 inches
COMPETING SERIES: These are the Bauscher, Bringmee (T), DeMasters,
Pinehurst, and Watchabob series. Bauscher, Bringmee, and DeMasters
soils are not saturated with water in early spring and lack mottles
above depth of 40 inches. Pinehurst soils have O horizons and 5YR hue,
dry. Watchabob soils are well drained and moderately deep over
bedrock.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Brinegar soils are on alluvial fans and terraces
and have slopes of 0 to 8 percent. Elevations are 4,800 to 6,000
feet. The soils formed in mixed alluvium weathered from granite,
andesite, basalt, and some sedimentary rocks. The climate is subhumid
continental, having cool dry summers and cold moist winters. Average
annual precipitation is 12 to 16 inches. Mean January temperature is
15 degrees F, mean July temperature is 66 degrees F, and the average
annual temperature is 39 degrees to 43 degrees F. Frost-free period is
about 60 to 100 days.
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Brailsford, Houk,
Marshdale, Riceton, Simonton, and Strom soils. Brailsford soils have a
light colored surface soil and are somewhat poorly drained. Houk soils
are fine-montmorillonitic and are somewhat poorly drained. Marshdale
soils are poorly drained and lack a B2t horizon. Riceton soils are
well drained, lack a B2t horizon and have a coarse-loamy control
section. Simonton soils are well drained. Strom soils are somewhat
poorly drained. Brailsford, Houk, Marshdale, and Strom soils are on
bottomland positions. Riceton and Simonton soils are on alluvial fans
and terraces.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Moderately well drained; very slow through
medium runoff; moderately slow permeability; occasional overflow during
snowmelt.
USE AND VEGETATION: These soils are used for irrigated and
nonirrigated small grains, hay, pasture, and range. Potential
vegetation in the natural plant community is mainly silver sage and
meadow plants.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Southwestern and south-central Idaho. The
series is moderately extensive.
MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Portland, Oregon
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Camas County, Idaho, 1977.
REMARKS: Diagnostic horizons and other features recognized in this
pedon are:
Mollic epipedon - the zone from 0 to 20 inches (Ap, A, and Bt1
horizons)
Argillic horizon - the zone from 14 to 33 inches (Bt horizons)
Particle-size control section - the zone from 14 to 33 inches (the
argillic horizon)
National Cooperative Soil Survey