LOCATION BUSHONG MT
Established Series
Rev. HAL-BDD-KLS
03/2023
BUSHONG SERIES
The Bushong series consists of very deep, poorly drained soils that formed in alluvium. These soils are on stream terraces, outwash plains and floodplains. Slopes are 0 to 4 percent. Mean annual precipitation is about 380 mm, and mean annual air temperature is about 6 degrees C.
TAXONOMIC CLASS: Fine-loamy over sandy or sandy-skeletal, mixed, superactive, calcareous, frigid Aeric Endoaquents
TYPICAL PEDON: Bushong loam, in pasture (colors are for moist soil unless otherwise noted).
Oi--0 to 3 cm; partially decomposed organic matter. (3 to 5 cm thick)
A--3 to 8 cm; very dark grayish brown (10YR 3/2) loam, dark grayish brown (10YR 4/2) dry; moderate fine granular structure; soft, very friable, nonsticky and nonplastic; many fine and very fine and common medium roots; common fine and very fine discontinuous irregular pores; 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.2); clear smooth boundary. (5 to 10 cm thick)
Bw--8 to 13 cm; dark brown (10YR 3/3) loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; soft, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine and common medium roots; common fine and very fine discontinuous irregular pores; few fine faint dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; 5 percent gravel; slightly effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); clear smooth boundary. (3 to 10 cm thick)
Bk--13 to 41 cm; brown (10YR 4/3) gravelly loam, brown (10YR 5/3) dry; moderate fine subangular blocky structure; slightly hard, very friable, slightly sticky and slightly plastic; many fine and very fine and common medium roots; common fine and very fine discontinuous irregular pores; many fine distinct brown (7.5YR 4/4) redox concentrations; 10 percent cobbles and 20 percent gravel; disseminated calcium carbonate; few fine masses of lime; violently effervescent; moderately alkaline (pH 8.4); gradual wavy boundary. (10 to 30 cm thick)
2C--41 to 155 cm; brown (10YR 5/3) very cobbly sand, pale brown (10YR 6/3) dry; single grain; loose, nonsticky and nonplastic; few medium and common fine and very fine roots; common fine and very fine discontinuous irregular pores; many medium distinct dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) redox concentrations; 30 percent cobbles and 25 percent gravel; slightly alkaline (pH 7.8); gradual wavy boundary.
TYPE LOCATION: Powell County, Montana; about 150 meters east and 30 meters north of the SW corner of sec. 6, T. 6 N., R. 9 W.
RANGE IN CHARACTERISTICS:
Mean annual soil temperature--5 to 8 degrees C
Soil moisture control section--10 to 30 cm
Depth to seasonal high water table--30 to 60 cm
Depth to horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation--8 to 20 cm
Electrical conductivity--0 to 2 mmhos/cm throughout
A horizon
Hue--10YR, 2.5Y, or 5Y
Value--2 or 3 moist, 4 or 5 dry
Chroma--1 or 2
Clay content--15 to 25 percent
Rock fragment content--0 to 10 percent total; 0 to 5 percent cobbles; 0 to 5 percent gravel
Reaction--pH 7.4 to 8.4
Calcium carbonate equivalent--0 to 5 percent
Bw horizon
Hue--10YR or 2.5Y
Value--3 or 4 moist, 4 or 5 dry
Chroma--2 or 3
Texture--loam, clay loam, or sandy loam
Clay content--15 to 30 percent
Rock fragment content--5 to 35 percent total; 0 to 5 percent cobbles; 5 to 30 percent gravel
Reaction--pH 7.4 to 8.4
Calcium carbonate equivalent--0 to 5 percent
Bk horizon
Hue--10YR or 2.5Y
Value--4 or 5 moist, 5 or 6 dry
Chroma--3 or 4
Texture--sandy loam, loam or clay loam
Clay content--15 to 30 percent
Rock fragment content--5 to 35 percent total; 0 to 15 percent cobbles; 5 to 20 percent gravel
Reaction--pH 7.4 to 8.4
Calcium carbonate equivalent--3 to 15 percent
2C horizon
Value--4, 5, or 6 moist, 6 or 7 dry
Chroma--2 or 3
Texture--sand or loamy sand
Clay content--2 to 6 percent
Rock fragment content--40 to 80 percent total; 10 to 30 percent cobbles; 25 to 55 percent gravel
Reaction--pH 6.6 to 7.8
COMPETING SERIES: There are no competing series.
GEOGRAPHIC SETTING:
Landform--stream terraces, flood plains and outwash plains
Elevation--1100 to 1900 meters
Slope--0 to 4 percent
Parent material--alluvium
Climate--long, cold winters; moist springs; warm summers
Mean annual precipitation--250 to 480 mm, much of which falls as snow or as spring rain
Mean annual air temperature--4 to 7 degrees C
Frost-free period--70 to 105 days
GEOGRAPHICALLY ASSOCIATED SOILS: None listed.
DRAINAGE AND PERMEABILITY: Poorly drained, moderate permeability to the 2C horizon; then rapid below.
USE AND VEGETATION: Bushong soils are used for pasture. The native vegetation is tall reedgrass, mannagrass, tufted hairgrass, willow, and Baltic rush.
DISTRIBUTION AND EXTENT: Bushong soils are of small extent in southwestern Montana; MLRAs 43B and 44.
SOIL SURVEY REGIONAL OFFICE (SSRO) RESPONSIBLE: Bozeman, Montana
SERIES ESTABLISHED: Powell County, Montana, 1995
REMARKS: Soil interpretation record: MT1392
Diagnostic horizons and features recognized in this pedon are:
A thin dark surface--3 to 13 cm (A, Bw horizons)
Horizon of secondary carbonate accumulation--13 to 41 cm (Bk horizon)
Lithologic discontinuity--41 cm to cobbly sand (2C horizon)
Particle-size control section--25 to 100 cm (Bk horizon and part of the 2C horizon)
Bushong soils have a frigid temperature regime and an aquic soil moisture regime.
Converted to metric and O horizons were updated to start at zero. Competing series section was not updated. 01/2023
National Cooperative Soil Survey
U.S.A.