LOCATION BROWER             ID
Established Series
Rev. RJB/DMD/JAL
12/2002

BROWER SERIES


The Brower series consists of very deep, well drained soils that formed in material weathered from granitic rock with some influence from loess. Brower soils are on south facing canyon slopes along the Salmon River and have slopes of 12 to 90 percent. The mean annual precipitation is about 20 inches and the mean annual air temperature is about 49 degrees F.

TAXONOMIC CLASS: Loamy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, mesic Entic Haploxerolls

TYPICAL PEDON: Brower gravelly loam, rangeland. (Colors are for dry soil unless otherwise noted.)

A1--0 to 2 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; 20 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (1 to 19 inches thick)

A2--2 to 9 inches; brown (10YR 4/3) very gravelly loam, very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, very friable; slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; 45 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); clear wavy boundary. (0 to 18 inches thick)

A3--9 to 25 inches; grayish brown (2.5Y 5/2) very gravelly loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; common very fine roots; 50 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6); gradual wavy boundary. (4 to 35 inches thick)

C--25 to 60 inches; brown (10YR 5/3) very gravelly loam, brown (10YR 4/3) moist; weak fine granular structure; slightly hard, friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; few very fine roots; 70 percent gravel; neutral (pH 6.6).

TYPE LOCATION: Idaho County, Idaho; 7 1/2 miles south-southwest of Riggins; about 2,440 feet north and 120 feet east of the southwest corner of sec. 20, T.23N., R.1E.

RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS: The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 49 degrees to 53 degrees F. These soils are usually moist, but are dry in all parts between depths of 8 and 24 inches for 60 to 90 consecutive days in late summer and early fall. Depth to bedrock is more than 60 inches. Thickness of the solum ranges from 10 to 40 inches. Rock fragments make up 35 to 85 percent of the layer between depths of 10 and 40 inches. The soils are slightly acid to moderately alkaline.

The A horizon has value of 4 or 5 and chroma of 2 or 3. It is a gravelly or very gravelly loam and is 10 to 20 inches thick.

COMPETING SERIES: This is the Sur series. Sur soils have a lithic contact at depths of 20 to 40 inches and a mean annual soil temperature of 54 degrees to 58 degrees F.

GEOGRAPHIC SETTING: Brower soils are on south-facing canyon slopes and have gradients of 12 to 90 percent. They formed in residuum from granite with some influence from loess in the upper part. Elevations are 2,000 to 3,500 feet. The climate is subhumid with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. Elevations are 2,000 to 3,500 feet. The climate is subhumid with warm dry summers and cool moist winters. Mean annual precipitation is 18 to 22 inches. Average January temperature is 35 degrees F.; average July temperature is 75 degrees F. Mean annual temperature is 47 degrees to 51 degrees F. Frost-free season is about 130 to 150 days.

GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: These are the Nazer, Oland and Spokel soils. Nazer soils have thick dark colored surface layers. Spokel and Oland soils have a base saturation of less than 75 in the upper 30 inches.

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

USE AND VEGETATION: Used mainly for rangeland. Vegetation is mainly bluebunch wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, Sandberg bluegrass, and widely spaced ponderosa pine.

DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Inextensive in Northern Idaho, possibly Eastern Oregon and Washington.

MLRA SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (MO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana

SERIES ESTABLISHED: Idaho County, Idaho, 1976.


National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.